Crispy and Nutritious Frozen Dumplings... "K-Food Star" Exports Stagnate as Imports Surge, Here's Why

Export Volume Stagnant for Five Years
Imports More Than Double
Impact of Expanded Local Production and Increased B2B Food Service Imports

Frozen dumplings, which had established themselves as a leading export item amid the global K-food boom, have entered a period of stagnation over the past five years. While export volumes have remained flat, imports have risen rapidly, narrowing the trade surplus and signaling a turning point for the growth model of frozen dumplings, one of the flagship K-food products.

According to export and import statistics from the Korea Customs Service on January 22, the export value of frozen dumplings last year was recorded at $62.64 million. This is a slight decrease compared to $63.71 million in 2021. Export volume also remained at around 18,000 tons over the past five years, decreasing from 18,932 tons in 2021 to 18,727 tons in 2025.

In contrast, imports have shown a clear upward trend. Last year, the import value of frozen dumplings reached $18.5 million, a significant increase from $10.59 million in 2021. Notably, in 2024, imports surged to $23.6 million, the highest level in the past five years.

As a result of rising imports, the trade surplus has also shrunk. The trade surplus for frozen dumplings peaked at $56.21 million in 2023, then fell to $41.9 million in 2024, and remained at $44.14 million in 2025.

The trend is similar when measured by volume. While export volumes remained largely unchanged, import volumes more than doubled from 1,767 tons in 2023 to 3,547 tons in 2024, and remained high at 2,899 tons in 2025.

Industry experts believe that the stagnation in frozen dumpling exports cannot be attributed solely to a slowdown in demand. They point out that the statistics reflect the impact of major domestic food companies significantly increasing local production in North America and Asia.

For example, CJ CheilJedang has been expanding local production and distribution in the United States, led by its dumpling brand Bibigo. As a substantial portion of Bibigo dumplings sold in North America are now produced locally, the volume previously exported from Korea has naturally declined. Pulmuone has also been strengthening its localization strategy by operating frozen food production bases, particularly in the western United States.

An industry insider stated, "If you look only at export statistics, it may appear stagnant, but in reality, companies have relocated their production bases to reduce tariff and logistics costs. Frozen dumplings are shifting from being a 'Korean export product' to a 'globally produced local product.'"

Frozen dumplings image. Pixabay

Industry observers note that after rapidly expanding in overseas Korean and Asian markets, frozen dumplings have now entered a phase of slower growth. With the initial export boom having ended, further volume growth is now limited.

Conversely, the rapid increase in imports is attributed to changing demand in foodservice, institutional catering, and B2B (business-to-business) channels. Frozen dumplings from China, Vietnam, and Thailand are lower in price and can be supplied in standardized formats, making them increasingly popular among franchise restaurants and catering companies.

In the domestic food distribution market, rising labor and production costs have led to a growing emphasis on price competitiveness over country of origin. As a result, there have been many cases where domestically produced products are being replaced by imports.

It is also notable that while export volumes have remained almost unchanged for several years, export values have fluctuated year by year. This suggests that exchange rate and unit price adjustments, rather than volume growth, have had a greater impact. Factors such as global grain and meat price fluctuations, sharp changes in exchange rates, and adjustments to local distribution margins have combined to create a situation where even with the same volume exported, dollar-denominated results can vary.

Industry experts believe that, as frozen dumplings have already reached the mainstream stage in the global market, a simple volume expansion strategy has reached its limit. This is why major companies such as CJ CheilJedang, Pulmuone, and Daesang are focusing on premium product lines, vegan and plant-based dumplings, and developing recipes tailored to local tastes.

Another industry insider emphasized, "Frozen dumplings have already passed the 'expansion phase' and entered the 'maintenance phase' in the global market. Without premiumization or differentiation, it will be difficult for frozen dumplings to maintain their status as a leading export item."