Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Maritime Affairs announces exports of agricultural and fishery products in 2022
Record high in 1 year… $10 billion for second year in a row
Demand for Korean food culture rises in each country following the pandemic
Processed rice products such as tteokbokki and instant rice are popular in the US and Europe
Ramen, citron tea, growing pears… “Convenience food preference and Korean wave influence”
Despite restrictions on face-to-face activities due to COVID-19 quarantine and the global economic downturn, K-Food captivated the taste buds of people around the world. Last year, exports of agricultural and fishery products reached 12 billion dollars (approximately 15 trillion won), another record high in a year. Breaking the $10 billion mark for two consecutive years. It is analyzed that the demand for Korean food culture among consumers in each country has increased as interest in health has increased since the pandemic along with the effect of the Korean Wave.
Spreading Awareness of ‘Korean Food = Healthy Food’
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 3rd that exports of agricultural and fishery products last year reached a record high of 12 billion dollars, up 5.3% from the previous year. It is a record that broke the record of 11.4 billion dollars in 2021, the highest export amount in one year. Agricultural food exports were $8.83 billion and seafood exports were $3.16 billion. Agricultural food exports increased by 3.2% and aquatic food exports by 11.8% from the previous year.
By item, processed rice exports and ramen exports increased by 10.1% and 13.5%, respectively, while citron (tea) and pears increased by 6.6% and 3.5%, respectively.
In particular, exports of processed rice products increased by 28.2% in the US and 19.6% in the European Union (EU) compared to the previous year. Ramen sales increased by more than 20% in China (26.0%), where Corona 19 is rampant, as well as in the EU, the UK and Russia. Korean pears jumped more than 30% in North America and ASEAN, and citrons became known overseas for their vitamin and other efficacy, and only in the United States.
An official from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food said:In the case of rice processed foods, as interest in Korean food culture increases, tteokbokki and instant rice are popular in the US and Europe.The high level had a positive effect on exports,” he explained. In addition, the growth of processed foods such as ramen and beverages was remarkable. Demand for convenience foods is increasing in each country thanks to the popularity of convenience foods, the influence of the Korean Wave, and active promotion of excellence.The Ministry of Agriculture and Food analyzed that it did.
▲ A Korean food corner at the Carrefour store in Doha, Qatar. In Qatar, Korean ramen is a popular food among young people and the middle class, accounting for 34% of Qatar’s imported ramen market.
Seaweed and tuna export twins… Toothfish 101%↑
Tuna, Indonesia 314%, Thailand 49% increase
‘Healthy food’ abalone, exports to Japan and Vietnam skyrocket
Seaweed and tuna are exports of seaweed, deep-sea fish caught in the Antarctic Sea, which are classified as high-priced food ingredients such as steaks. Exports of tooth meat increased by 101.1%, and abalone increased by 19.8% amid recognition as a health food. As for abalone, live abalone exports to Japan (18.1%) and Vietnam (103.9%) increased significantly. Oysters nearly doubled growth in the Thai market.
Seaweed, which has been the number one seafood export since 2019, decreased by 5.4% last year, while tuna increased by 4.0%. Tuna exports were 314.2% from Indonesia and 48% each from Thailand and the Philippines. In Indonesia, the growth of the Southeast Asian market has had a positive impact on exports, such as a surge in demand for high-quality Korean skipjack tuna following the vitalization of the canned food processing industry.
Kwon Jae-han, head of the Agricultural Innovation Policy Office at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, “We will continue to strive to continue the growth of Korean agri-food exports this year by discovering and nurturing new items with high export potential and actively utilizing the spread of the Korean Wave.” “We will do our best to support exports and strengthen industrial competitiveness so that fishery products can revitalize national exports,” said Lee Gyeong-gyu, head of the Fisheries Policy Office at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.
▲ Abalone
abalone. Yonhap News data photo
Correspondent Sejong Kang Ju-ri
