The South Korean government has announced an extension of its tariff-free policy on a wide range of imported fruits for the first half of 2025, as part of its ongoing effort to tackle food price inflation.
Since April 2024, imports of bananas, pineapples, mangoes, grapefruit, avocados, durian, and mangosteen have benefited from tariff exemptions. Last Thursday (2 January), the government confirmed these exemptions will remain in place through June 2025, subject to quota limits, according to Fruitnet.
Under normal circumstances, bananas, pineapples, mangoes, grapefruit, and avocados face a 30 percent import duty, while durian incurs a 45 percent tariff. The new quotas, closely aligned with 2024 import volumes, ensure tariff-free imports within specified thresholds:
Bananas: 200,000 tonnes (total imports in 2024: 227,000 tonnes)
Pineapples: 46,000 tonnes
Mangoes: 25,000 tonnes
Grapefruit: 6,000 tonnes
Avocados: 2,000 tonnes
Durian: 1,700 tonnes
Mangosteen: 1,400 tonnes
Mandarins will see a reduced tariff of 20 percent, down from 50 percent, on imports up to 2,800 tonnes. However, mandarins from the United States already enjoy a lower 9.6 percent duty under the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (KORUS).
Similarly, tariffs on orange imports will drop from 50 percent to 20 percent on a quota of 10,000 tonnes, applicable only during January and February.
This continued tariff relief reflects South Korea’s strategic efforts to manage food costs while maintaining adequate supply in its domestic market.
