'Ramen Surpassing Cigarettes'... Over 100 Million Dollars Exported in May Alone

This year, the scale of ramen exports has increased significantly, surpassing tobacco products to become the top export item in agricultural and food products (K-Food).

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 4th that the cumulative export value of K-Food as of May (provisional) recorded $3.96 billion, a 7.6% increase compared to last year. The export growth rate has been rising over the past three months, with 3.6% in March, 6.3% in April, and continuing upward recently.

The export boom is led by ramen, snacks, beverages, processed rice products, and kimchi. The most exported item this year is ramen, with $486.2 million worth exported. Last year, the top export item was tobacco products, but this year, ramen exports have grown dramatically to become the number one export item. In May alone, ramen exports exceeded $100 million, reaching $107.3 million. A Ministry official explained, "In China, the largest export market for K-ramen, our exporters have expanded their presence in major online distribution channels, resulting in a 27.7% increase compared to the previous year. Additionally, ramen exports are showing strong growth worldwide, with increases of 71.4% in the U.S. market, 24.8% in the ASEAN region, and 49.5% in Europe."

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Since the beginning of this year, snack exports have risen 12.6% year-on-year to $291.6 million. The Ministry attributes this to the expansion of Korean bakery franchises' distribution networks in the U.S. and the recovery of bakery ingredient (dough) exports to Japan.

Beverage exports increased by 13.1% to $269.7 million. This growth is mainly due to increased exports of plant-based beverages (China), energy drinks (Cambodia), and children's drinks (Vietnam). With summer approaching, the Ministry expects beverage exports to continue rising.

Kimchi exports grew by 6.4% to $70.7 million, driven by growth in the U.S. and European markets. Chicken meat exports, including Samgyetang, increased by 6.6% to $37.8 million. Samgyetang (heat-processed poultry) was first exported to Europe in May this year, with 8.5 tons (approximately $5 million) shipped to Germany, the Netherlands, and other European countries. This followed the resolution of export quarantine requirements last year after 27 years since negotiations began with the European Union (EU) in 1996.

By market, exports increased to the U.S., China, ASEAN, and Europe. Notably, exports to China turned positive with a 2.9% increase year-on-year as domestic consumption in China recovered. The U.S. and Europe showed steady consumption, increasing by 17.8% and 32.2%, respectively. However, exports to Japan declined by 5.8% year-on-year due to the ongoing weak yen, high inflation, and declining real wages in Japan.

Kwon Jae-han, Director of the Agricultural Innovation Policy Office at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "Thanks to exporters' efforts to diversify products tailored to local markets and to expand markets, agricultural and food exports continue to grow. We will closely support export companies to achieve the best export performance this year and actively resolve difficulties in cooperation with related ministries, dedicating ourselves to pioneering new markets."

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