Exports of Korean Ramyeon Reached Record High of USD 1.02 Billion in October 2024

Sejong, 1 November 2024 — The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) announced that the cumulative value of exports of Korean ramyeon (instant noodles) at the end of October in 2024 reached a record high of USD 1.02 billion (tentative figures), up by 30% from a year earlier. 

<Exports of Ramyeon>

• USD 790 million in October 2023 → USD 1.02 billion in October 2024 (up by 30%)

• 200,000 tonnes in October 2023 → 250,000 tonnes in October 2024 (up by 25.5%)

The exports of ramyeon have continued to grow for nine consecutive years since 2014. A growth trajectory in the exports has continued, thus surpassing USD 100 million in a month value in April 2024 for the first time. Since then, USD 100 million or more in the exports of ramyeon have been recorded every month until October 2024. Exports of ramyeon to China, the world’s largest consumer market of ramyeon, reached USD 210 million, and exports to the U.S. reached USD 180 million.

<Yearly Cumulative Export Value of Ramyeon>

• USD 210 million in 2014 → USD 380 million in 2017 → USD 600 million in 2020 → USD 950 million in 2023

<Yearly Cumulative Export Value of Ramyeon by Markets until October 2024>

• USD 210 million to China, up by 18.6% from a year earlier → USD 180 million to the U.S., up by 65% → USD 80 million to the Netherlands, up by 57.7%

The export growth of ramyeon is attributed to the rising global popularity of Korean culture (e.g. dramas and movies) and food. On this wave, a challenge of eating Korean ramyeon has become a global trend around the world, including the U.S. and Europe, through social networking services. Amid this phenomenon, Korean food companies developed products tailored to the tastes of local consumers and the MAFRA provided support for the food industry to expand their entry into overseas markets. Such public-private efforts have led to an increase in the supplies of ramyeon to large retail stores in overseas markets. 

Minister Song Miryung of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said: “We will continue efforts to ensure that various kinds of ramyeon can be exported along with Korean food culture. To this end, we will provide support for ramyeon’s promotion based on K-food recipes and K-content. The government support will also be extended to product development, localization, customs clearance, etc. In addition, for the remaining period of this year, we will give an all-out support to increase the exports of ramyoen.”