A DELEGATION of 25 South Korean beef importers left WA yesterday after touring processing plants, feedlots and farms this week.
WA's beef processors and exporters met the delegation and discussed the WA beef industry with a view to increasing sales to South Korea.
The North Asia nation is WA's biggest importer of beef, annually taking more than 4000 tonnes.
The delegate's tour started on Monday with a visit to the Narrogin Beef Producers' feedlot, followed by a dinner with exporters and processors at the Bluewaters Grill restaurant in Applecross.
On Tuesday, the group visited the Harvey Beef processing plant and Alcoa Farms.
Before flying to Brisbane on Wednesday afternoon the group inspected the Western Meat Packers plant.
Harvey Beef and Western Meat Packers export the bulk of WA beef to South Korea.
The tour was a joint initiative between Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) and the Agriculture Department.
MLA's Korean business development manager Charlie Ko is based in the Seoul office.
He said the delegation enjoyed the opportunity to inspect the WA beef industry.
"This group represents 60pc of the market share of beef sales in Korea and 75pc of chilled beef imports," Mr Ko said.
"The importers have been very impressed with what they have seen this week.
"Biosecurity of the beef they import is very important to them, and to see the clean, green countryside where the cattle are raised was pleasing for them.
"To be able to bring them to WA and let them see your industry first hand and how the cattle are raised and processed is very important to the ongoing relationship between WA and Korea."