K-food exports hit $10b at record pace, 19 days ahead of last year

South Korea's food and agricultural exports crossed the $10 billion mark at the fastest pace on record, reaching the milestone in 253 days this year — 19 days earlier than last year. Ramyun led the way by surpassing $1.3 billion, while fresh produce including grapes and strawberries posted double-digit growth.

The Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation, known as aT, announced Monday that agri-food exports had exceeded $10 billion this year. Since first crossing the threshold in 2021, K-food exports have reached the milestone progressively earlier each year, with this year setting a new record.

Growth was broad-based across major export markets. Exports to the United States, the largest market, rose 12.9 percent year-on-year to $1.81 billion. China climbed 14.0 percent to $1.67 billion. The UAE rose 49.9 percent to $331.71 million, while the Netherlands grew 14.4 percent to $229.55 million.

Ramyun was the standout performer by product category. Exports of the instant noodle reached $1.31 billion, up 27.2 percent from the same period last year, driven by an expanding global retail network and growing demand for spicy flavors.

Fresh produce also contributed to the gains. Strawberry exports rose 15.5 percent to $60.98 million, while grape exports surged 64.6 percent to $45.18 million. Among seafood products, seasoned dried seaweed climbed 8.0 percent to $462.65 million, and oysters grew 8.2 percent to $65.60 million.

To sustain export momentum through the rest of the year, aT is pursuing five priorities under its second-half K-food export strategy, dubbed "BOOST." The initiative centers on developing flagship strategic products, targeting emerging and high-potential markets, promoting through global retail networks, providing on-site support for exporters, and addressing non-tariff barriers.

aT is also advancing a "NEXT K-Food Project" to identify export products tailored to regional consumer trends. The agency plans to focus marketing on kimchi and K-sauces in the United States, and street food and halal products in Southeast Asia. Fresh grapes, entering peak harvest season, will receive particular attention, with aT aiming to expand placement in major retail stores and help the category reach $100 million in exports.

aT will also expand its export logistics network. The agency will operate a multi-hub logistics center in Vietnam launched this year and stabilize cold-chain transport extended to the Commonwealth of Independent States and Latin America. A pilot joint cold-storage logistics project in the Middle East is also set to launch in the second half.

The agency will address non-tariff barriers including the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation and Indonesia's mandatory halal certification requirements. Fifteen affiliated agencies will work through a one-stop export support hub to help exporters resolve difficulties, and seminars on non-tariff barriers are also planned.

Jeon Gi-chan, aT's director of export food affairs, said the early achievement of the $10 billion target reflects the rising global standing of K-food. "The next challenge is to move beyond being a food people try once, thanks to the popularity of K-content, and become something local consumers buy repeatedly and consume as part of their daily lives," he said. He added that aT would work to broaden K-food exports' growth drivers — from a handful of hit products to a wider range of promising items, from key markets to the entire globe, and from fleeting interest to sustained consumption.