First Half Ramen Export Value Hits Record High Again... "Thanks to Increased Home Consumption Demand and K-Content Popularity"

First Half Ramen Export Value Up 19.9% Year-on-Year
Breaking Record High Following Last Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] It has been revealed that ramen export value in the first half of this year recorded the highest ever for the second consecutive year. This is analyzed to be due to the popularity of K-content such as popular music, movies, and dramas, along with the steady increase in demand for home dining caused by COVID-19.

According to the Korea Customs Service on the 8th, ramen export value from January to June this year was $383.4 million (approximately 497.6 billion KRW), a 19.9% increase compared to the first half of last year ($319.69 million).

By country, China ranked first with $91.91 million, followed by the United States ($47.86 million), Japan ($30.32 million), Taiwan ($14.83 million), the Philippines ($14.77 million), Thailand ($14.60 million), Malaysia ($13.04 million), Australia ($12.77 million), Canada ($11.59 million), and the Netherlands ($11.30 million).

Ramen exports have been on a continuous upward trend since 2015. In 2020, when COVID-19 began to spread in earnest, ramen export value in the first half of the year rose by 37.4% compared to the same period the previous year.

The main reason behind this is the overall increase in home dining as social distancing measures continued in various countries. The industry also sees the global popularity of 'K-content' such as popular music, movies, dramas, and variety shows as a significant factor that has increased interest in Korean cuisine.