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K-Food Craze: Noodles Top $1B Export Milestone
19 Jan
Summary
- K-Food exports reached a record $13.62 billion in 2025.
- Instant noodle exports surpassed $1.52 billion, a 22% increase.
- New flavors like cheese ramen boosted sales in China and the US.
South Korean food exports, dubbed "K-Food+", have achieved unprecedented success, reaching a record $13.62 billion in 2025. This figure represents a 5.1% increase from the previous year and signifies the tenth consecutive year of export growth.
Instant noodles, known as ramyeon, emerged as the top-performing product category. Their exports surged by nearly 22%, surpassing $1.52 billion. This remarkable achievement marks the first time a single food item has exceeded $1 billion in international sales.
The ministry noted that global demand for Korean noodles continues to grow. Companies have expanded production and strengthened supply chains to meet this demand, with unique flavors like cheese-flavored spicy noodles proving particularly popular in markets including China, the U.S., Central Asia, and the Middle East.
