Clients take pleasure in “ramyeon” at a comfort retailer in Seoul, Jan. 11. Yonhap
Korea’s exports of agricultural and meals merchandise stay closely concentrated in the USA, China and Japan, information confirmed Sunday, highlighting the necessity to diversify markets to maintain progress.
Outbound shipments of farm produce and meals gadgets reached a file $10.2 billion in 2025, with 45.6 % going to the three largest markets of the U.S., China and Japan, in keeping with information from the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Meals Commerce Corp.
The U.S. ranked first with $1.8 billion in imports of Korean meals merchandise, accounting for 17.5 % of Korea’s whole meals exports, adopted by China with a 15.4 % share and Japan with 12.7 %.
Vietnam, Taiwan and Hong Kong rounded out the highest six locations, underscoring the dominance of Asian markets.
However exports to the European Union, together with Britain, totaled $773 million, or 7.5 % of the overall, whereas shipments to Center Japanese international locations, resembling Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman, accounted for about 4 %.
In response, the federal government and the business have stepped up efforts to develop new markets.
The agriculture ministry launched a public-private job drive in December to establish strategic merchandise by area, promote numerous initiatives for market entry and increase assist measures for export progress.
Authorities are additionally rising outreach to consumers from rising markets by means of biannual commerce consultations and strengthening native advertising efforts.
The federal government designated 5 international locations, together with South Africa and Chile, as precedence markets final 12 months and has determined to increase the checklist to incorporate Argentina, Qatar, Turkey, Ghana and India.
“We’re increasing into second- and third-tier cities within the U.S., China and Japan, reasonably than focusing solely on main cities,” a ministry official mentioned. “We’re additionally working to foster progress within the Center East and Africa as strategic markets.”
