SEOUL —
South Korea's exports of kimchi increased 6.9 per cent from a year earlier to
hit a record high in 2024, driven by growing global popularity of Korean
cuisine, government data showed on Sunday.
Outbound shipments of kimchi, a traditional Korean side dish
typically made from fermented cabbage, reached a fresh high of 47,100 tons,
according to data compiled by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural
Affairs.
The country had exported 44,000 tonnes of kimchi in 2023 and
41,100 tons in 2022, reports Yonhap news agency.
The value of kimchi exports also climbed to a new record
high of US$163.6 million in 2024, up 5.2 per cent from the previous year.
"Kimchi exports showed stable growth last year thanks
to rising popularity of kimchi overseas as one of the foods representing Korea,
and a vegan and fermented food product, despite unfavourable circumstances,
such as a disruption in cabbage supplies due to climate change and higher
shipping costs," an official at the food ministry said.
South Korea exported kimchi to 95 nations last year,
according to the data.
Japan was the biggest importer of kimchi, while the United
States came in second and the Netherlands third.
Canada and Australia followed next at Nos. 4 and 5, with
shipments to the two countries jumping 61.5 per cent and 37.2 per cent on-year,
respectively.
Meanwhile, South Korea's exports of agricultural goods and
related products grew 6.1 per cent from a year before to a record high in 2024
amid growing overseas demand for instant noodles and processed rice items, the
agriculture ministry said.
Outbound shipments from the so-called K-Food Plus sector
reached $13 billion last year, compared with $12.28 billion recorded in 2023,
according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
K-Food Plus encompasses a diverse range of food products and
related items from fresh and processed goods to agricultural equipment and
solutions.
By product, exports of instant noodles surged 31 per cent
on-year to $1.24 billion and shipments of snacks jumped 17.4 per cent to $770.4
million.
