K-Ramen Boom, First $400 Million Export in H1... Record High

Tentative Total of $446.2 Million
16.4% Increase Compared to Same Period Last Year

Ramen export value in the first half of this year exceeded 400 million dollars for the first time, marking the highest record based on the first half of any year.

Ramen display at a large supermarket in Seoul [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) and the Korea Customs Service on the 4th, the ramen export value from January to June this year was tentatively estimated at 446.2 million dollars. This is a 16.4% increase compared to the previous highest export value in the first half of last year (383.284 million dollars).

The historical ramen export value for the first half of the year has steadily increased since 2015, when it was 103.834 million dollars, rising to 216.183 million dollars in the first half of 2018, and surpassing 300 million dollars for the first time in the first half of 2020 with 302.076 million dollars. It has now exceeded the 400 million dollar mark for the first time in three years.

The global growth of the convenience food market, including ramen, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the spread of non-face-to-face interactions, is understood to have influenced ramen exports. Additionally, interest in Korean ramen has significantly increased as 'Jjapaguri' (Nongshim Chapagetti and Neoguri) featured in the movie Parasite and BTS member Jimin eating Samyang Foods' Buldak Bokkeum Myun during live broadcasts became a hot topic.

Meanwhile, the total export value of agricultural and livestock food products in the first half of this year was 4.4311 billion dollars, a 1.4% decrease compared to the same period last year. By region, exports to ASEAN countries decreased by 7.0%, and exports to the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom decreased by 6.6% compared to the same period last year.

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