Trade & Business

Overseas Market Research Case 13: Korea International Trading Potential Buyer Discovery

Case 13: Korea International Trading Potential Buyer Discovery

This case covers a follow-up buyer discovery project commissioned by Korea International Trading (formerly 코리아디스플레이 International) after its earlier request in Case 8 for importer contact identification. After mapping importers of industrial chemical raw materials in Case 8, the scope was expanded to additional product groups, particularly steel and metal items, to identify a fresh set of potential buyers in Bangladesh.

The case illustrates a structured buyer discovery process aligned with the multi-product strategy of a general trading company. It also shows how prior research outcomes can be reused to improve speed, trust, and cross-selling potential in adjacent sectors.

Korea International Trading
Client
General trading company
Buyer discovery
Research Type
Steel and metals
18 firms
Buyers Identified
Final validated list
28 days
Project Duration
Request to delivery
6
Buyer Meetings
3 virtual + 3 onsite
3 firms
Case 8 Linkage
Expanded from prior buyers

Research Request and Scope

Korea International Trading Case 13 Research Request
ItemDetails
ClientKorea International Trading (formerly 코리아디스플레이 International, now Korea International Trading)
Requested ProductsSteel products (HS 72), non-ferrous metals (HS 74-81)
RequestIdentify 15-20 potential buyers, import records, and purchase interest
Case 8 LinkageCheck whether prior chemical raw material buyers also handle metals
PriorityAnnual imports above USD 2 million, preference for Korean sourcing experience
DeadlineWithin 28 days
Special NoteMulti-product trading company approach focused on cross-selling opportunities

Methodology and Synergy with Case 8

01
Reusing buyers from Case 8
Among the 15 chemical raw material importers identified in Case 8, the team first checked which companies also handled steel or metal products. Three firms were confirmed as mixed chemical-and-metal importers and were included immediately in the buyer list. Their prior contact history improved both access and trust.
02
Discovering new buyers
Using customs and import data, 60 companies importing HS 72 steel products and HS 74-81 non-ferrous metals were extracted. These were cross-checked against BSEC industry information, the KOTRA buyer database, and the trade office network, resulting in a first screening list of 40 companies.
03
Phone and email verification
The 40 screened companies were contacted to verify current operations, major import items and sourcing countries, annual import scale, and interest in Korean steel and metal products. Out of 30 successful contacts, 22 were actively importing relevant items and showed credible purchasing potential.
04
Site visits and final selection
From the 25 candidates comprising 22 qualified companies plus 3 linked from Case 8, the top 18 were selected for onsite validation. The team checked business existence, financial condition, supporting import records, warehouse and inventory conditions, and discussed concrete demand for Korean products with company representatives.

Buyer Discovery Results and Matching Outcomes

Buyer Segmentation
Grade A (USD 5M+ imports)4 firms
Grade B (USD 2M-5M)8 firms
Grade C (Under USD 2M)6 firms
Linked from Case 83 firms (1 A, 2 B)
Matching Outcomes
Buyer Meetings3 virtual + 3 onsite
Quotation Requests4 cases (3 A-tier + 1 B-tier)
Sample Discussions2 cases (steel coil and pipe)
Cross-Selling2 bundled chemical + metal opportunities
Follow-up Request
Extension of Case 8
Reuse Case 8 Data
3 linked companies confirmed
Search New Database
60 targets to 40 screened
Phone Verification
22 passed
Field Validation
18 final buyers
Buyer Matching
6 meetings and cross-selling
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Case 13 is a follow-up buyer discovery project tailored to the multi-product strategy of a general trading company. By expanding the scope from chemical raw materials in Case 8 to steel and metals in Case 13, the project uncovered not only 18 validated buyers but also cross-selling opportunities with three previously identified companies. The process shows how a disciplined screening pipeline can convert a broad universe of 60 prospects into a focused set of meetings and actionable commercial leads.

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Overseas Market Research Case 13: Korea International Trading Potential Buyer Discovery | Dhaka Trade Portal