Ramyun products are displayed at a hypermarket in Seoul. [Yonhap]
Ramyun products are displayed at a hypermarket in Seoul. [Yonhap]

South Korea's "K-Food Plus" exports hit an all-time high in the first half of this year, reaching $7.05 billion — up 4.1 percent from the same period last year. Ramyun was a standout performer, generating $940 million in exports.

The K-Food Plus category encompasses agricultural and food products — including fresh and processed foods — as well as agricultural inputs, veterinary medicines and pet food.

Agrifood exports alone totaled $5.38 billion, a 5.0 percent increase, according to data released Saturday. By region, the Middle East posted the sharpest growth at 25.2 percent, followed by Latin America (19.5 percent), Europe (17.9 percent), North America (11.0 percent) and the greater China region (9.5 percent).

Exports to the United States rose 11.3 percent to $1.04 billion, driven by ramyun, snacks and kimchi. China climbed 9.4 percent to $810 million on the back of strong ramyun shipments.

Among processed food categories, ramyun led with $940 million in exports, a 27.9 percent increase. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs expects annual ramyun exports to surpass $1 billion more than a month earlier than the early September milestone reached last year.

Snack exports rose 7.2 percent to $400 million, beverages grew 3.1 percent to $350 million, and rice-processed foods climbed 7.9 percent to $150 million.

Ice cream exports reached $70.5 million, up 7.7 percent year-on-year, buoyed by consumer demand for health-conscious options such as zero-sugar and vegan products.

Kimchi exports totaled $86 million, a 3.2 percent increase from the same period last year.

North American shipments rose 15.3 percent to $31 million, accounting for roughly 40 percent of total kimchi exports. Exports to Central Asia also climbed 32.2 percent to $507,000, aided by the development of cold-chain logistics infrastructure.

Sesame oil exports grew 12.0 percent to $8.4 million, supported by placements in warehouse stores in the United States and other major markets and rising demand for salad dressings.

Among fresh produce, strawberry exports climbed 15.9 percent to $61 million, grapes rose 27.5 percent to $18 million, and pears surged 62.3 percent to $8 million.

Pork exports increased 4.4 percent year-on-year to $19 million, as fresh meat shipments expanded following the conclusion of quarantine negotiations with Singapore for Jeju-raised pork.

Agricultural industry exports for the first half totaled $1.66 billion, up 1.4 percent from a year earlier. Agricultural machinery exports rose 3.2 percent to $706 million on expanded entry into European markets, while fertilizer exports grew 14.4 percent as producers broke into new markets including India and the Philippines.

Veterinary medicine exports recovered across key markets in North and Central America, Europe and Southeast Asia, rising 2.0 percent to $197 million.

Pet food exports edged up 1.0 percent to $81 million, driven by growing demand in overseas companion-animal markets.

However, pesticide exports fell 4.1 percent and seed exports declined 6.1 percent, weighed down by geopolitical instability in the Middle East and non-tariff barriers.

The ministry plans to support an export recovery in the second half through overseas licensing and approval assistance, expanded local marketing and government-to-government cooperation.

"We will broaden our push into promising markets with a focus on strategic products, while stepping up preemptive measures and support to address food regulation and certification issues, as well as the distribution of imitation K-food products," said Kim Jeong-uk, director general for agricultural industry innovation policy at the ministry.


20ki@heraldcorp.com