Last Year's Agricultural and Marine Food Exports Reach $12 Billion... 'Record High'

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Kim Hyewon] Last year, the export volume of agricultural and marine food products reached a record high of $12 billion.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 3rd that the export value of agricultural and marine food products last year was $12 billion, an increase of 5.3% compared to the previous year.

This set a new record just one year after the previous record high of $11.4 billion in 2021.

The export value of agricultural food products increased by 3.2% year-on-year to $8.83 billion. The export value of marine food products rose by 11.8% to $3.16 billion.

By item, the export value of processed rice products and ramen increased by 10.1% and 13.5%, respectively, while yuzu (tea) and pears grew by 6.6% and 3.5%, respectively.

An official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs analyzed, "In the case of processed rice products, growing interest in Korean food culture, especially in the US and Europe, positively influenced exports, with tteokbokki and instant rice gaining popularity."

He added, "The growth of processed foods such as ramen and beverages was also remarkable, with increased demand in various countries driven by preferences for convenience foods, the Korean Wave, and active promotion of excellence."

In the case of marine food products, the export value of toothfish, a deep-sea fish caught in the Antarctic Ocean, increased by 101.1%, while abalone and tuna rose by 19.8% and 4.0%, respectively. Gim, which has held the top spot in marine food exports since 2019, decreased by 5.4% last year, but its export value was $655 million, accounting for about 40% of the total export value along with tuna ($602 million).