S.Korea's exports of instant noodles exceed $800 mn mark in 2022

South Korea's exports of instant noodles such as ramen last year exceeded $800 million to break an all-time record.

Export data released on Thursday by the Korea Customs Service (KCS) said overseas shipments of instant noodles last year such as ramen, fresh noodles, udon, domestic-type noodles and japchae, or glass noodles with vegetables and meat, rose 12% from 2021 to $862 million. 

This was yet another historic performance by instant noodles, whose exports have set record highs every year since 2014.

From January and February this year, they increased 19% from 2021 to $147 million, another all-time mark for the period.

In weight, such exports broke another national mark with 260,000 tons, up 10.3% and second only to China worldwide with 460,000.

The KCS said that because demand for simple foods grew amid more time spent at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, ramen grew popular as a leading Korean food thanks to the global Hallyu boom fueled by Korean movies and dramas.

By noodle type, ramen saw sales hit a record $765 million, up 13.5% from 2021, and set another all-time mark with $132 million in January and February this year.

By market, China was the biggest buyer with $191 million, followed by the US with $120 million and Japan $68 million. Instant noodle exports last year also went to 143 countries, the most in the country's history.

Write to Kyeong-je Han at hankyung@hankyung.com