K-Food Sailing Smoothly... 9.6% Increase in Exports in Q1 This Year

Record-High First Quarter Performance
GCC Up 37.9%, EU Up 34.1%
Processed Foods Including Ramen Increase by 11.1%

K-Food exports are sailing smoothly, surpassing last year's record-high performance.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 3rd that K-Food exports in the first quarter of 2025 reached $2.48 billion, a 9.6% increase compared to the same period last year. This once again exceeded the first quarter of last year’s record-high performance of $2.264 billion.

Exports of agricultural industries such as smart farms, agricultural machinery, and animal pharmaceuticals also recorded $741 million, a 2.3% increase. Accordingly, the combined export value of agricultural food and agricultural industries, called K-Food Plus(+), achieved $3.108 billion, up 7.9% from last year.

K-Food exports showed an increasing trend in most regions. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) increased by 37.9%, and exports to the European Union (EU), including the United Kingdom, rose by 34.1%. North America and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) also increased by 21.7% and 15.7%, respectively.

The increase in processed food exports was led by ramen. A Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs official explained, "Ramen exports have increased worldwide, not only in major markets such as China and the United States but also across ASEAN, the EU, the CIS, and the GCC, as the trend of spicy flavors spreads globally. Overall, a stable online and offline distribution system is maintained, and promotion through social networking services (SNS) also plays a role."

Among fresh foods, grape exports increased by 40.6%, and chicken by 14.1%. Grape exports increased due to the expansion of sales of smaller bunches for personal consumption rather than large premium bunches for gifts in markets such as Taiwan and the United States. Chicken exports to Vietnam, the largest export destination, increased by 13.0%. Samgyetang exports increased as home meal replacement (HMR) products aligned with the trend of convenient meals in the U.S. market expanded their presence not only in Korean grocery stores but also in local retail outlets.

Kang Hyung-seok, Director of Agricultural Innovation Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "Despite external instability factors, the strong performance of K-Food Plus(+) exports in the first quarter is the result of dedicated efforts by the public and private sectors working as one export team. The government will do its best to strengthen responses to external risks, resolve difficulties faced by Korean export companies, enhance quality competitiveness, support logistics infrastructure, and diversify markets to sustain export growth and achieve this year’s export targets."

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