Ramen up 24%, Ice Cream up 23.1%, Sauces up 18.4%
In the first half of this year, Korea's K-food exports increased by more than 8%, driven by strong performances in ramen, ice cream, and sauces.
On July 3, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that K-food exports in the first half of this year reached $5.16 billion, marking an 8.4% increase compared to the same period last year.
The regions with the highest export growth rates were North America (24.3%), the European Union (including the UK, 23.9%), the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC, 17.8%), and the Commonwealth of Independent States (including Mongolia, 9.0%), in that order.
By quarter, export growth rates were 9.8% in the first quarter and 7.7% in the second quarter. In Korea's key markets?the United States, China, and Japan?the export growth rate in the second quarter was even higher than in the first quarter.
Among processed foods with export performance exceeding $50 million, the top items with the highest year-on-year growth rates were ramen (24.0%), ice cream (23.1%), and sauces (18.4%).
A Ministry official explained, "Ramen is gaining global popularity for its spiciness, and new products such as spicy cream ramen are receiving positive responses from overseas consumers. In major markets like China and the United States, a stable distribution system has been established, centered on local subsidiaries and large retail stores, while entry into new markets such as Europe and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) has also been active."
For sauces, increased awareness of Korean cuisine and the popularity of spicy ramen have led to growth in products such as gochujang, ssamjang, spicy sauces, and bulgogi sauce, particularly in the United States, Japan, and China. In the case of ice cream, sales at large retail stores have increased in the United States, the largest export market. In markets where dairy product exports are difficult, such as Canada, exports have grown through the substitution of plant-based ice cream.
Among chicken exports, fresh poultry continued its growth trend in the first quarter (7.6%) despite strengthened quarantine measures in Vietnam, the largest export destination for spent laying hens. The strong performance in heat-processed poultry exports was attributed to the popularity of samgyetang and frozen chicken, with the United States being the top export destination. In the first half of this year, exports to the EU and the UK, where quarantine negotiations were concluded last year, have already more than doubled the total annual figure from the previous year.
Exports from the agricultural industry in the first half of the year also reached $1.5 billion, a 3.1% increase compared to the previous year. The items with the highest year-on-year growth rates were veterinary medicines, pesticides, seeds, and fertilizers. As a result, the first-half export value of K-Food Plus (+), which combines agri-food and the agricultural industry, reached $6.67 billion, a 7.1% increase from last year.
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Miryeong stated, "Despite challenging global trade conditions such as reciprocal tariffs with the United States and exchange rate fluctuations, the continued growth of K-Food Plus exports in the first half of 2025 is the result of joint efforts by export companies and the government as a public-private team." She added, "Building on the solid K-Food Plus export performance in the first half, we will actively support export companies in product development, overseas online and offline promotions, consulting on tariff and non-tariff barriers, and responses to export risks such as exchange rates and logistics, in order to achieve the $14 billion export target by the end of the year."
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