S. KOREA'S FOOD EXPORTS HIT RECORD HIGH IN 2025

SEJONG, Jan 12 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- South Korea's exports of food and agriculture-related products reached a record high of US$13.62 billion in 2025, driven by the global popularity of Korean food products, such as "ramyeon" noodles, sauces and fruits, the agriculture ministry said Monday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, exports in the "K-Food Plus" sector expanded 5.1 per cent from a year earlier to the new annual high, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

K-Food Plus is a term coined by the local government to promote exports of Korean food and agricultural goods, including farm machinery and veterinary medicine.

In detail, outbound shipments of agricultural and food products rose 4.3 per cent on-year to US$10.41 billion, surpassing the US$100 billion mark for the first time and marking the 10th consecutive year of on-year increase.

Exports of agriculture industry-related products, such as farm machinery and veterinary medicine, jumped eight per cent on-year to the highest-ever figure of US$3.22 billion last year, according to the ministry.

The ministry attributed the strong performance in food exports to record outbound shipments of Korean instant noodle products, also known as "ramyeon," and 11 other products, including sauces, kimchi, ice cream, strawberries and pork.

Ramyeon exports hit US$1.5 billion for the first time, surging 21.9 per cent from a year earlier, while exports of sauces climbed 4.6 per cent to US$411.9 million.

Shipments of ice cream jumped 21.6 per cent to US$111.3 million and grape exports soared 46.3 per cent to US$84.7 million. Exports of strawberries grew four per cent to US$72 million.

By region, the United States was the biggest importer of Korean agro-food products, with shipments adding 13.2 per cent on-year to US$1.8 billion in 2025, amid the growing popularity of Korean ramyeon, sauces and ice cream there.

Exports to China went up 5.1 per cent to US$1.58 billion, led by robust demand for spicy ramyeon and sauces for fried chicken and "tteokbokki," or spicy street food made with rice cakes.

Shipments to Europe expanded 13.6 per cent to US$773.7 million amid strong demand for K-street food, kimchi and chicken-related products, while exports to the Gulf Cooperation Council in the Middle East advanced 22.6 per cent to US$411.6 million.

-- BERNAMA-YONHAP