According to data released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on July 4, South Korea’s K-Food Plus (K-Food+) exports for the first half of 2025 reached a provisional total of $6.67 billion. This marks a 7.1% increase compared to the same period last year.

K-Food+ encompasses not only fresh and processed agricultural foods but also includes agri-industry sectors such as smart farms, agricultural machinery, and animal pharmaceuticals. Exports solely attributed to agricultural foods, categorized as K-Food, rose by 8.4% year-on-year to $5.16 billion in the first half of 2025.

Exports expanded most significantly in North America (up 24.3%), the European Union and United Kingdom (up 23.9%), the Gulf Cooperation Council (up 17.8%), and the Commonwealth of Independent States plus Mongolia (up 9.0%). The export growth rate held steady, rising by 9.8% in the first quarter and 7.7% in the second quarter. Notably, the second quarter saw stronger growth in major markets such as the United States, China, and Japan compared to the first quarter.

Among processed foods with exports exceeding $50 million, ramen stood out with $731.7 million in exports (up 24.0%), followed by ice cream at $65.5 million (up 23.1%), and sauces at $228.4 million (up 18.4%). The strong performance of ramen was led by the popularity of spicy new products, and major retailers in the U.S. and China have established stable distribution channels. Additionally, South Korean products continue to make inroads into new markets in Europe and ASEAN countries.

The sauce segment also benefited from the growing international recognition of Korean cuisine, with exports of products such as gochujang, ssamjang, and specialty sauces increasing in key markets including the U.S., Japan, and China, spurred on by the global popularity of spicy ramen. Ice cream sales at major U.S. retailers saw notable growth, and plant-based ice cream drove alternative demand in Canada and other markets.

In the fresh foods category, chicken and yuzu (Korean citrus) showed significant gains. Chicken exports climbed 7.9%, maintaining an upward trend from the first quarter (up 7.6%) despite tighter quarantine measures in Vietnam, a major destination. Heat-treated poultry products, including samgyetang and frozen chicken, saw demand led by the United States.

Following the conclusion of quarantine trade negotiations last year, exports to the EU and United Kingdom in the first half of 2025 have already surpassed twice the total for all of last year. Yuzu also performed well, with South Korean yuzu tea benefiting from a healthy image that boosted sales across the U.S., Japan, and the EU, helped by entrance into major American retail chains and an expanded range of product offerings in Japan.

Agri-industry exports neared $1.5 billion, reflecting 3.1% growth. Animal pharmaceuticals reached $167.2 million (up 51.0%), and agrochemicals stood at $490.2 million (up 22.4%), both recording double-digit increases. Among animal pharmaceuticals, lysine exports soared by 160% on the back of strong European demand. Chemical preparations saw rising shipments to Brazil and Southeast Asia, while medical devices experienced increased demand in the U.S. and Europe. Seed exports rose by 14.1% to $27.3 million, and fertilizer exports reached $222.1 million (up 6.8%), particularly in key Southeast Asian markets.

Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mi-ryeong commented, “Despite external factors such as tariffs and exchange rates, the steady growth of K-Food+ exports is a testament to strong public-private collaboration.” She added, “Building on this first-half performance, we will continue to support exporters through policies involving promotion, consulting, and logistics to achieve $14 billion in exports by year-end.”

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=Korea Policy Briefing