South Korean food exports surpass $10 billion in record 253 days
South Korea’s agricultural, seafood and processed-food exports exceeded $10 billion after 253 days, 19 days earlier than last year. Ramen led the expansion, while seaweed, oysters, strawberries and grapes broadened growth across products and markets.
Exports cross $10 billion after 253 days
South Korea’s agricultural, seafood and processed-food exports surpassed $10 billion, or approximately 13.4 trillion won, after 253 days of the year. The milestone was reached 19 days earlier than last year, making it the fastest achievement on record, according to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation, known as aT.
Daily Sports Korea reported that the sector first crossed the annual $10 billion threshold in 2021 and has reached it progressively earlier each year. The latest figures indicate that overseas demand is spreading beyond processed products such as ramen to fresh fruit and seafood, giving exporters a more diversified base for growth.
Ramen leads as fresh produce gains ground
Ramen remained the largest named growth driver. Exports rose 27.2% year on year to $1.3076 billion. Seasoned seaweed exports increased 8.0% to $462.65 million, while oyster shipments grew 8.2% to $65.60 million. The figures show that convenient packaged foods continue to generate scale, while seafood suppliers are also expanding sales abroad.
Fresh produce recorded faster percentage growth from a smaller base. Strawberry exports increased 15.5% to $60.98 million, and grape exports jumped 64.6% to $45.18 million. Separate Korea Agricultural Trade Information data for January-July put strawberry exports at $59.74 million, up 15.8% from the same period last year. Over those seven months, grape exports rose 34.4% and oriental melon exports increased 7.0%.
Growth broadens across major and emerging markets
The United States was the largest market cited, with exports rising 12.9% to $1.81448 billion. Shipments to China grew 14.0% to $1.66966 billion. The United Arab Emirates posted the fastest increase among the named destinations, up 49.9% to $331.71 million, while exports to the Netherlands advanced 14.4% to $229.55 million. Double-digit gains in established markets and rapid expansion in the UAE point to opportunities across both mature retail channels and newer regional demand centres.
The government and aT plan further support during the second half of the year. Measures include identifying products suited to consumers in the United States and ASEAN, promoting fresh-grape exports, expanding logistics through a combined hub in Vietnam and shared cold-chain operations in the Middle East, and operating a one-stop support system involving 15 organisations. That system will help exporters address non-tariff barriers including European Union packaging rules and Indonesia’s mandatory halal certification. Jeon Gi-chan, aT’s director for food exports, said the objective is to turn interest associated with Korean cultural content into repeat purchases by expanding both products and markets.
