Korea aims to build cold chain logistics center in Rotterdam by 2027

Korea aims to build a cold chain logistics center in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam by 2027 to better export refrigerated and frozen food, the presidential office said.

Korea aims to build a cold chain logistics center in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam by 2027 to better export refrigerated and frozen food. Pictured are packaged kimchi, which were exported to 93 countries this year, on display at a supermarket in Seoul. [YONHAP]

Korea aims to build a cold chain logistics center in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam by 2027 to better export refrigerated and frozen food, the presidential office said.

Korea's Busan Port Authority and the Netherlands Port of Rotterdam Authority are to sign a letter of intent for the project during President Yoon Suk Yeol's ongoing state visit to the country this week, senior presidential secretary for economic affairs, Park Chun-sup, said.

"It will be aimed at constructing the first cold chain logistics center in Europe by 2027 by renting a plot of land inside the Port of Rotterdam," Park told reporters in Amsterdam on Monday.

"With the growing interest of European consumers in K-food, we expect it to help increase our fresh food exports and reduce the logistical costs of exporting companies," he said.

Park added that Korean shipments of frozen goods to Europe are expected to quadruple by 2030, making securing additional cold chain logistical hubs on the continent critical.

BY KIM JU-YEON, YONHAP [kim.juyeon2@joongang.co.kr]