'All-Time High' K-Food Plus Exports Reach $13.6 Billion Last Year... "Target Set at $16 Billion for This Year"

2025 Exports Up 5.1% Year-on-Year
Instant Noodle Exports Surpass 1.5 Billion Dollars

Last year, K-Food+ exports surpassed 13.6 billion USD, setting a new all-time high. For the first time, ramen exports as a single item exceeded 1.5 billion USD, driving the overall growth in exports. The government plans to raise K-Food exports to 16 billion USD this year.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on January 12 that the provisional export value of K-Food+ in 2025 reached 13.62 billion USD, up 5.1% from the previous year, marking the highest performance ever recorded.

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K-Food+ refers to the inclusion of upstream and downstream industries such as smart farms, agricultural machinery, and veterinary pharmaceuticals in addition to agricultural and food products (K-Food). Specifically, last year, exports of agricultural and food products reached 10.41 billion USD, while the agricultural industry recorded 3.22 billion USD. Both sectors achieved their highest figures since records began.

Exports of agricultural and food products have shown continuous growth for ten consecutive years since 2015. In particular, exports increased by 4.3% year-on-year, setting a new record and surpassing 10 billion USD for the first time ever. Ramen, as a single item, exceeded 1.5 billion USD for the first time. In addition, eleven items, including sauces, kimchi, grapes, and strawberries, also achieved their highest-ever export values.

Ramen exports increased by 21.9% year-on-year, reaching a record 1.52 billion USD. A Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs official explained, "Expanding production in line with growing global demand and establishing a stable supply chain were key factors," adding, "New products such as cheese-flavored spicy ramen were well received, and not only traditional key markets like China and the United States but also regions such as Central Asia (CIS) and the Middle East (GCC) showed high growth rates."

Exports of sauces expanded due to the global popularity of K-spicy flavors. In China, spicy sauces that were mainly sold online expanded their sales channels to major offline retail stores, driving export growth. In the United States, the trend for spicy and sweet flavors led to increased consumption of gochujang and other sauces (such as tteokbokki and barbecue sauces).

Ice cream exports expanded significantly, especially to the United States, Canada, and Japan, reaching 100 million USD for the first time ever. The Ministry believes that the launch of new products reflecting wellness food trends-such as vegan, low-fat, and sugar-free options-contributed to this growth.

Exports of the agricultural industry reached 3.22 billion USD, an 8.0% increase from the previous year, achieving both the highest export value and growth rate since official statistics began in 2022. Exports increased across major items such as agricultural machinery, pesticides, fertilizers, seeds, and veterinary pharmaceuticals.

Agricultural machinery achieved a robust 10.8% growth rate despite unfavorable trade conditions, such as the United States imposing tariffs on steel and aluminum derivatives, by diversifying product lineups for the U.S. market and pioneering new markets in Asia and Europe. Pesticide exports saw steady demand growth for finished products, particularly in Asian markets like China, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The export base was further strengthened by multinational companies increasing contract manufacturing with Korean firms, leading to a significant improvement in export performance. Veterinary pharmaceuticals saw a 9.8% year-on-year increase in exports, driven by comprehensive support such as overseas market research and enhanced marketing, as well as growing demand in Europe to replace Chinese-made lysine (an animal nutritional supplement).

Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mireyong stated, "Despite challenging trade conditions due to tariff and non-tariff measures, we achieved record-breaking results based on the positive perception of K-Food and the quality competitiveness of K-Food+ products." She added, "The government has set the 2026 K-Food+ export target at 16 billion USD, and we will strongly support our companies-centered around the 'K-Food Export Task Force' involving both the public and private sectors-so that globally competitive products can further expand into markets worldwide."