K-food exports hit high of $4.77B as demand for ramyeon heats up

Korean instant noodles at a grocery store in Mumbai, India [JOONGANG ILBO]

Korea's food exports hit $4.77 billion in the first half of this year, a new record for the January-June period driven primarily by rising demand for ramyeon and frozen gimbap (seaweed rolls) in the United States, Europe and the Middle East.

Packaged ramyeon was the top export item at $590 million, a 32.3 percent increase from the previous year. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs attributed the spike in exports to the popularity of spicy instant noodles like Buldak alongside the release of regional specials.

Ottogi recently released Oppa Ramyeon in Vietnam, borrowing its name from the Korean word for older brother, while Pulmuone is set to release Seoul Ramyeon in the United States through a collaboration with the Seoul Metropolitan Government in August.

Korea's ramyeon exports to China rose 30.3 percent over a year ago to $113.8 million, and those to the United States were up 58.3 percent to $100.1 million. Shipments to Europe jumped 52.1 percent — resulting in more than $100 million-worth of instant noodles exported to the three markets each.

When it comes to the K-food overall, the United States is the largest export destination, recording a notable 17 percent increase over the same period last year at $736.8 million, followed by a 3.1 percent increase in China at $702.8 million. Europe recorded a robust 30.2 percent increase to reach $339.8 million. Japan, the largest importer last year, saw a 7 percent decrease, resulting in $671.3 million this year.

Processed foods with rice saw an ever higher increase in exports of 41.4 percent over last year, totaling $136.9 million. Popular rice-related processed foods include frozen gimbap as well as fried rice, tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), rice drinks and makgeolli (rice wine). Frozen gimbap and processed rice are gaining popularity in the United States, with Costco selling the Korean rolls in wholesale stores around the country.

Kimchi, the dish that represented Korea for decades, only saw a 4 percent increase in worldwide exports, but saw a large increase in the United States, at 18.9 percent, thanks to the growing popularity of fermented and vegan foods. It also saw an impressive 40 percent increase in exports to Europe and a 30.4 percent increase in the Middle East.

The Food Ministry plans to increase K-food exports by working with other government departments, including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, to develop new markets in India and Central and South America.

BY CHO YONG-JUN [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]