Thinking of Making Kimchi This Year? Cabbage and Radish Prices Down 50%, Kimchi Demand Rising

Wholesale Prices Down in Late October Compared to Last Year
A Different Situation from Last Year’s "Golden Cabbage" Crisis
Increased Summer and Autumn Production and Shipments
Large Supermarkets See Rising Sales of Kimchi Ingredients Like Salted Cabbage

Unlike last year, when the so-called "golden cabbage" crisis caused turmoil, this year cabbage prices have stabilized and are trending downward, leading to signs that more consumers are planning to make kimchi at home. Major distribution channels such as large supermarkets are seeing increased demand and interest in ingredients for kimchi, including salted cabbage and radishes.

According to KAMIS, the agricultural and fishery product distribution information service operated by the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), as of the previous day, the wholesale price for one head of cabbage (standard quality) was 1,835 won. This represents a 54.3% drop compared to the average price of 4,014 won in late October last year. After the Chuseok holiday, prices hovered around 2,500 won but have since fallen to the upper 1,000-won range. Compared to the three-year average price, which excludes the highest and lowest prices from the past five years, current prices are 26.2% lower. The wholesale price of radishes, another key kimchi ingredient, is 1,020 won per piece for top-quality produce, which is 54.1% cheaper than the late October 2024 average of 2,224 won and 30.4% lower than the average price for the same period in previous years.

Last year, a shortage of cabbage around mid-September, coinciding with the Chuseok holiday, caused prices to skyrocket. As a result, major packaged kimchi manufacturers suspended online sales and adjusted supply to distribution channels, leading to a "kimchi shortage." This year, however, the situation is the complete opposite.

Industry experts attribute the price drop to increased production of summer and autumn cabbage and favorable growing conditions, which led to higher shipments after the holiday. According to the Agricultural Outlook Center at the Korea Rural Economic Institute, summer cabbage production this year is expected to reach 233,000 tons, a 4.5% increase from last year, while autumn cabbage production is projected at 1,231,000 tons, up 5.8%. As a result, the average wholesale price of cabbage (standard quality) this month is expected to be 10,000 won per 10 kg, which is 33.3% lower than the same period last year.

The "kimchi makers" who prepare kimchi at home are also moving quickly. According to Emart, from October 1 to 21, cabbage sales at Emart and Emart Traders increased by 10% year-on-year, while radish sales grew by about 40%. For the first time this year, Emart held a pre-order event for salted cabbage through its application Order Pick before the Chuseok holiday (September 18-22), selling about 75% of the event stock.

Homeplus also saw a 29% increase in pre-order sales of salted cabbage online from October 10 to 21 compared to the same period last year. Additionally, the limited-edition Haenam salted cabbage (20 kg per box, priced at 29,900 won), planned for October 10-15, sold out first in the central region, where kimchi-making starts early.

Lotte Mart also doubled its salted cabbage sales from October 1 to 21 compared to last year. In the first round of pre-orders for salted cabbage at Lotte Mart and Lotte Super from October 1 to 8, all 60,000 boxes of event stock, including the main product "Haenam salted cabbage" (20 kg per box, 29,990 won), were sold out.

Large supermarkets are ramping up kimchi ingredient sales in response to this trend. Emart is holding a pre-order event for salted cabbage through Order Pick until October 29, increasing the supply of regular salted cabbage (20 kg) from 40,000 to 60,000 boxes compared to last year. Homeplus has also expanded its first round of salted cabbage pre-orders, running until October 29, by about 20% year-on-year. Fresh oysters from the southern coast, another kimchi ingredient, are being offered to membership customers at a 50% discount. During the same period, Lotte Mart is selling pre-ordered salted cabbage from Haenam, Goesan, and Pyeongchang highland areas, and is also introducing 50 tons of fresh oysters sourced from Tongyeong, Geoje in South Gyeongsang Province, and Goseong in Gangwon Province.

An industry insider commented, "There are concerns that the continued autumn rains before and after the Chuseok holiday may affect cabbage shipments from production areas," adding, "We are closely monitoring price fluctuations, quality, and supply conditions."