Seoul: South Korea's food exports reached an unprecedented high through November this year, as reported by the agricultural ministry on Wednesday, edging closer to the government's yearly target of US$10 billion. Outbound shipments of agricultural products amounted to $9.05 billion over the January-November period, marking an 8.1 percent increase from the previous year.According to Yonhap News Agency, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy highlighted that the country has experienced an on-year growth in agricultural product shipments for 15 consecutive months. The surge was notably driven by the export of instant noodles, which soared by 30 percent on-year to $1.13 billion within the first 11 months of the year. Similarly, snack exports rose by 16.5 percent, reaching $705 million.There was also a significant rise in the global demand for processed rice products, such as frozen "gimbap" or seaweed rice rolls, and ready-to-eat steamed rice packs. These exports increased by 39.3 percent over the same pe riod, totaling $275 million, fueled by growing demand in key markets like the United States and China.Exports of instant coffee products showed a modest increase of 2.8 percent, surpassing $300 million for the first time, driven by rising interest from overseas food manufacturers and general consumers alike. By destination, exports to the U.S. surged by 20 percent on-year to $1.4 billion during the 11-month period, while shipments to China saw a 7 percent increase, amounting to $1.38 billion.The ministry noted that exports to the U.S. are expected to continue growing throughout the remainder of 2024, aided by the additional release of products at major retailers. Conversely, shipments to Japan experienced a decline, dropping 5.2 percent to $1.27 billion, as indicated by the data.
- September 13, 2026
