South Korea’s agricultural food exports have approached $4 billion as of May this year, driven by a surge in demand for processed foods, particularly ramen noodles.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) said that the agricultural food export reached $3.96 billion from January to May this year, which reflects a 7.6% year-on-year increase.
The export of ramen noodles has been an exceptional performer, exceeding $100 million for two consecutive months. In May alone, ramen exports amounted to $107.3 million, contributing to a cumulative export value of $486.2 million from January to May this year, a 36.2% increase compared to the same period last year. Ramen exports to China and the U.S. saw significant growth, with increases of 27.7% and 71.4%.