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Exports of K-Food Plus in Q1 of 2025: USD 3.18 billion, up by 7.9% from the Previous Year: 홍보담당관; 2025.04.07; 384

Exports of K-Food Plus in Q1 of 2025: USD 3.18 billion, up by 7.9% from the Previous Year

Sejong, 7 April 2025 — On 3 April, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) announced that the cumulative value of exports of K-Food Plus for the first quarter of the year 2025 reached USD 3.18 billion (provisional figures), up by 7.9% from the same period a year ago.

* K-Food Plus (K-Food+) is a term referring to agri-food products, combined with the products from related forward- and backward-linked industries (e.g. smart farms, agricultural equipment, pet food, veterinary medical products, etc.). Agri-food products means processed and non-processed food products, excluding aquatic food products.

* USD 2.9523 billion in Q1 of 2024 → USD 3.1843 billion in Q1 of 2025 (7.9% ↑)

Exports of agri-food products reached a record high of USD 2.48 billion, up by 9.6% from the same period a year ago. By export markets, exports of agri-food products to the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) reached USD 81 million, up by 37.9% from the same period a year ago; exports to the European Union (EU), including the U.K., reached USD 222 million, up by 34.1%; exports to North America reached USD 487 million, up by 21.7%; and exports to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), including Mongolia, reached USD 116 million, up by 15.7%.

* USD 2.2639 billion in Q1 of 2024 → USD 2.4802 billion in Q1 of 2025 (9.6% ↑)

Among processed food products having recorded USD 100 million or more in exports, larger increases in exports from the same period a year ago were seen in ramyeon (USD 344 million in exports, up by 27.3%), tobacco products (USD 261 million, up by 14.5%) and sauces (USD 101 million, up by 9.1%).

Spicy tastes growing popular around the world drove up the exports of ramyeon to the ASEAN region, the EU, the CIS, and the GCC as well as to major markets such as the U.S. and China. In the case of tobacco products, the Korean wave pushed up the popularity higher for thin Korean cigarettes in the states of the GCC such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The exports of cigarettes to the CIS such as Russia and Mongolia increased as well. In the case of sauces, the exports were driven up by spicy sauces (e.g. Carbo Buldak sauce, Buldak Mayo sauce, etc.) and Korean-style chicken sauces that suit the tastes of local consumers, as well as by traditional Korean jang such as doenjang (soybean paste) and gochujang (red chili paste).

* Exports to China: USD 76 million, up by 74.3% from the same period a year ago

* Exports to the U.S.: USD 62 million, up by 32.3% from the same period a year ago

* Exports to the ASEAN region: USD 53 million, up by 7.7% from the same period a year ago

* Exports to the EU: USD 50 million, up by 10.1% from the same period a year ago

* Exports to the CIS: USD 17 million, up by 68.2% from the same period a year ago

* Exports to the GCC: USD 13 million, up by 50.1% from the same period a year ago

* Exports to the GCC: USD 49 million, up by 83.6% from the same period a year ago

* Exports to the CIS: USD 29 million, up by 100.2% from the same period a year ago

* Exports to the U.S.: USD 23.5 million, up by 11.4% from the same period a year ago

* Exports to Japan: USD 11.6 million, up by 29.5% from the same period a year ago

* Exports to the CIS: USD 9.8 million, up by 26.6% from the same period a year ago

Among non-processed food products having recorded USD 10 million or more in exports in the first quarter of 2025, grapes and chicken meat products were listed on the top spots in terms of year-over-year growth rates. Exports of grapes reached USD 13.8 million, up by 40.6% from the same period a year ago. Exports of chicken meat products reached USD 26.7 million, up by 14.1% from the same period a year ago.

Vietnam is the largest importer of Korean chicken meat products. Exports of chicken meat products to Vietnam increased to USD 21.7 million, up by 13% from the same period a year ago. Exports of chicken meat products to the U.S. increased to USD 1.7 million, up by 25.1% from the same period a year ago. The export growth to the U.S. was led by an increase in exports of samgyetang, Korea’s heat-treated chicken products. Exports of samgyetang increased on the back of a growing trend of U.S. consumers looking for ready-to-eat food, as well as an expansion of entry of home meal replacements (HMRs) into large-scale retail stores and Korean supermarkets in the U.S. In 2024, the first export of Korea’s chicken meat products was made to the EU. The exports of chicken meat products to the EU in the first quarter of 2025 reached USD 500,000, and thus exceeded the value recorded during the same period a year ago.

Exports of grapes to Taiwan reached USD 5.2 million in the first quarter of 2025, up by 158.5% from the same period a year ago, with exports to Hong Kong at USD 2.2 million (up by 9.5%) and exports to the U.S. at USD 1.7 million (up by 119.4%). The export growth was driven by an increase in the sales of small grapes in Taiwan and the U.S. The MAFRA plans to expand export markets for Korean grapes while cultivating green and red varieties of grapes.

Exports of products from the agro-industry reached USD 700 million in the first quarter of 2025, up by 2.3% from the same period a year ago. Agro-industrial products listed on the top spots in terms of export volumes are veterinary medical products, agricultural pesticides, seeds, and fertilizers.

* An agro-industry means an industry with forward- and backward-linkages with agriculture and agri-food products, as well as crop and livestock farming.

* Exports of veterinary medical products: USD 66.4 million, up by 60.8% from the same period a year ago

* Exports of agricultural pesticides: USD 212.2 million, up by 33.7% from the same period a year ago

* Exports of seeds: USD 12.6 million, up by 49.1% from the same period a year ago

* Exports of fertilizers: USD 116.4 million, up by 16.9% from the same period a year ago

As of the end of February, veterinary medical products reached USD 66.4 million, up by 60.8% from the same period a year ago. This export growth was led by an increase in the exports of lysine supplements, vaccines, and medical devices. Exports of lysine supplements reached USD 36.2 million, up by 174% from the same period a year ago, which was fuelled by an increase in demand from Eastern Europe. Exports of vaccines reached USD 5.8 million, up by 16.6% from the same period a year ago, which was driven by an increase in demand for chicken vaccines in the Middle East. Exports of medical devices reached USD 8.7 million, up by 8.3% from the same period a year ago.

Agricultural pesticides recorded USD 212.2 million in exports in the first quarter of 2025, up by 33.7% from the same period a year ago. Exports of agricultural pesticides are expected to continue on an upward trend in China, Brazil, and Vietnam. Exports of seeds reached USD 12.6 million, up by 49.1% from the same period a year ago, which was fuelled by a sharp increase in demand for Korean vegetable seeds in China and other countries. Exports of fertilizers reached USD 116.4 million, up by 16.9% from the same period a year ago.

* Exports to China: USD 48.9 million, up by 63.1% from the same period a year ago

* Exports to Brazil: USD 41.5 million, up by 93.8% from the same period a year ago

* Exports to Vietnam: USD 31.7 million, up by 100.5% from the same period a year ago

* Exports to China: USD 2.2 million, up by 349.7% from the same period a year ago

* Exports to the U.S.: USD 1.5 million, up by 45.9% from the same period a year ago

* Exports to India: USD 1.2 million, up by 25.2% from the same period a year ago

* Exports to Thailand: USD 33.2 million, up by 16.3% from the same period a year ago

* Exports to Australia: USD 27 million, up by 47.9% from the same period a year ago

* Exports to Vietnam: USD 21 million, up by 52.2% from the same period a year ago