A scene from the 26th Daegu International Food Industry Expo. [Provided by Daegu]
A scene from the 26th Daegu International Food Industry Expo. [Provided by Daegu]

Daegu city announced Sunday that it had concluded the 26th Daegu International Food Industry Expo (K-FOOD EXPO 2026) at Exco, which ran from Wednesday through Saturday.

The expo drew more than 19,000 visitors and generated a combined 109.2 billion won ($81 million) in domestic and international business consultations.

A total of 233 food-related companies participated in this year's exhibition, spanning processed foods, agricultural and marine products, livestock goods, food machinery and catering equipment.

An export consultation session drew 80 overseas buyers from 20 countries — including the United States, Canada and Australia — along with 16 specialized trading firms, producing 972 consultations over two days.

Reflecting growing global interest in K-food, the value of export consultations reached $57.1 million, a roughly 48 percent increase from the previous year.

A separate domestic procurement session involving 19 local distributors generated 141 consultations worth approximately 32.8 billion won.

The international food pavilion featured 29 companies from 12 countries — including Vietnam, Poland and India — occupying 32 booths and showcasing distinctive food products from their respective nations.

A joint pavilion organized by Daegu and the South Jeolla Province-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City under the banner of the "Dalbit Alliance" brought together food companies from both regions, presenting a range of local agricultural products including fermented pastes and kimchi.

An academic conference held alongside the expo, organized by the Korean Society for Food Engineering, focused on the theme of "Future Food Technology Through the Digital Revolution," with participants discussing the latest research trends and directions for technological development.

Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho said the expo "was a meaningful occasion for promoting market expansion and industrial exchange for local food companies," adding that the city would "continue to actively support businesses in entering both domestic and international markets while enhancing the expo's expertise and competitiveness."


kbj7653@heraldcorp.com