Instantaneous noodles, or “ramyeon,” are displayed on cabinets at a CU comfort retailer, Jan. 11. Yonhap
Korea’s exports of meals and agriculture-related merchandise reached a report excessive of $13.62 billion in 2025, pushed by the worldwide reputation of Korean meals merchandise, akin to “ramyeon” noodles, sauces and fruits, the agriculture ministry mentioned Monday.
Exports within the “Okay-Meals Plus” sector expanded 5.1 p.c from a yr earlier to the brand new annual excessive, in line with the Ministry of Agriculture, Meals and Rural Affairs. Okay-Meals Plus is a time period coined by the native authorities to advertise exports of Korean meals and agricultural items, together with farm equipment and veterinary drugs.
Intimately, outbound shipments of agricultural and meals merchandise rose 4.3 p.c on-year to $10.41 billion, surpassing the $100 billion mark for the primary time and marking the tenth consecutive yr of on-year improve.
Exports of agriculture industry-related merchandise, akin to farm equipment and veterinary drugs, jumped 8 p.c on-year to the highest-ever determine of $3.22 billion final yr, in line with the ministry.
The ministry attributed the sturdy efficiency in meals exports to report outbound shipments of Korean prompt noodle merchandise, also referred to as “ramyeon,” and 11 different merchandise, together with sauces, kimchi, ice cream, strawberries and pork.
Ramyeon exports hit $1.5 billion for the primary time, surging 21.9 p.c from a yr earlier, whereas exports of sauces climbed 4.6 p.c to $411.9 million.
Shipments of ice cream jumped 21.6 p.c to $111.3 million and grape exports soared 46.3 p.c to $84.7 million. Exports of strawberries grew 4 p.c to $72 million.
By area, the USA was the largest importer of Korean agro-food merchandise, with shipments including 13.2 p.c on-year to $1.8 billion in 2025, amid the rising reputation of Korean ramyeon, sauces and ice cream there.
Exports to China went up 5.1 p.c to $1.58 billion, led by sturdy demand for spicy ramyeon and sauces for fried hen and “tteokbokki,” or spicy road meals made with rice muffins.
Shipments to Europe expanded 13.6 p.c to $773.7 million amid sturdy demand for Okay-street meals, kimchi and chicken-related merchandise, whereas exports to the Gulf Cooperation Council within the Center East superior 22.6 p.c to $411.6 million.
