Europe Outpaces the U.S. and China in K-food Export Growth as Exports Hit Record High

[Financial News] K-food exports are driving growth and reaching record highs as major domestic food companies step up their expansion into Europe. In terms of growth rates, Europe has surpassed the traditional leading export markets of the United States and China, emerging as a new core market for K-food.
According to Korea Agricultural Trade Information (KATI) on the 27th, South Korea's agricultural and fishery product exports totaled $9.515 billion from the beginning of this year through last month, up 7.7% from the same period a year earlier. This marked the highest figure ever recorded for the period. Processed foods accounted for the largest share at $6.117 billion, followed by fishery products at $2.487 billion and fresh foods at $911 million.
Noodles, including ramen, were the top-performing export item. Ramen alone generated $1.426 billion in exports, once again demonstrating that it is at the center of the global K-food boom. Its exports also rose 25.0% from the same period a year earlier.
Snacks generated $531 million in exports, while beverages reached $461 million, with K-desserts and snack products helping drive the strong performance.
By destination, exports to the United States, the largest export market, rose 10.0% year on year to $1.708 billion. China also maintained steady growth, with exports increasing 14.8% to $1.592 billion. By contrast, exports to Japan fell 7.5% to $1.233 billion. The decline was attributed to broad decreases in exports of most products, excluding ramen and snacks, as the weak yen persisted.
The most notable performance came from the European market. Exports to Europe, including the European Union and the United Kingdom, totaled $865 million. Although this was lower than the figures for the United States and China, the region's 24.5% year-on-year growth rate surpassed those of the major export markets.
This indicates that K-food export channels, which had previously focused on the United States and Asian markets, are successfully taking root across Europe. The progress follows intensive efforts by domestic food companies, including CJ CheilJedang, Nongshim and Samyang Foods, to expand local infrastructure and secure distribution networks.
CJ CheilJedang has designated Europe as a key region in its strategy to expand K-food into new global territories. It is strengthening its market push by establishing local production facilities and expanding its product lineup. The company is currently building a new plant near Budapest, Hungary, as it establishes a local production system in Europe. Production of bibigo dumplings is targeted to begin in the second half of this year.
Nongshim and Samyang Foods, which are leading the K-ramen boom, have each established European subsidiaries in the Netherlands, a global logistics hub. They are accelerating entry into major local distribution channels and expanding sales networks for their ramen lineups across Europe. Samyang Foods also established an additional sales subsidiary, Samyang Foods UK, in the United Kingdom early this year.
An industry source said, "Europe is a market with high regulatory barriers and a conservative nature, but demand for Korean food culture has been growing explosively recently along with the spread of K-culture." The source added, "K-food's growth in Europe will accelerate further over the next few years once companies complete the establishment of local production and distribution hubs."
[email protected] Kim Seo-yeon Reporter