'K-Food Craze'... Record High Agricultural Food Exports of $6.2 Billion in Q1-Q3

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Provisional Cumulative Agricultural Food Exports for January-September

Exports to New Southern and Northern Markets Increase... Growth in Traditional Foods and Ramen

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Despite the global COVID-19 pandemic, South Korea's agricultural and food exports recorded $6.2 billion in the first to third quarters of this year, achieving the highest performance ever. The 'K-Food craze' has spread worldwide.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 6th that the cumulative agricultural and food export amount from January to September this year (provisional) reached $6.1926 billion, a 12.3% increase compared to the same period last year. Over the past five years, exports from January to September were $5.04 billion in 2017, $5.1 billion in 2018, $5.18 billion in 2019, and $5.52 billion last year, maintaining the $5 billion level before surpassing the $6 billion mark for the first time this year. The ministry explained, "Despite the continued spread of COVID-19 variants and challenging logistics conditions, fresh agricultural products ($1.0813 billion, 9.7%) and processed foods ($5.1113 billion, 12.8%) showed steady export growth."

By country (region), exports were $1.3638 billion (21.8%) to the New Southern region, $948.3 million (15.7%) to China, $925.4 million (5.1%) to the United States, $1.0441 billion (6.0%) to Japan, $323.4 million (11.1%) to the European Union (including the UK), and $233.9 million (33.6%) to the New Northern region. Growth continued in most existing major markets such as Japan, China, and the United States, as well as in new markets including the New Southern, New Northern, and Europe.

By product, traditional Korean foods such as kimchi, sauces, and ginseng, as well as ready-to-eat meals like ramen, showed notable increases. Kimchi exports reached $123.8 million (14.1%), ginseng $182.4 million (22.9%), sauces $269.2 million (16.5%), and noodles $604.7 million (8.6%). The ministry stated, "Thanks to ongoing interest in health, promotion of functionality and cooking methods, kimchi exports increased in diverse markets including Japan, the United States, and Europe."

Kimchi exports showed high growth rates in Japan ($63.3 million, 16.4%), the United States ($21.3 million, 22.0%), and the EU and UK ($11.3 million, 35.1%). Ginseng exports also increased in China ($71.4 million, 30.5%), the United States ($25.7 million, 49.4%), and Vietnam ($17.9 million, 32.8%). Sauces, including tteokbokki sauce and spicy sauces, performed well in the United States ($63.2 million, 18.6%), the New Southern region ($45.9 million, 7.9%), and Russia ($24.9 million, 25.0%). Ramen's popularity overseas rose due to the spread of the Korean Wave, and demand for convenient meals continued amid COVID-19, leading to increases in Japan ($46.9 million, 27.3%), Taiwan ($23.9 million, 23.8%), and Malaysia ($19.0 million, 27.0%).

The ministry said, "The fourth quarter is the season when fresh agricultural products such as strawberries, grapes, and pears are exported in earnest, and we plan to provide focused support in collaboration with related agencies from logistics to sales." It added, "We will also promote various sales and marketing activities, including differentiated marketing from other domestic products, to expand exports of strategic items in line with the year-end consumption peak."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.