Seoul: South Korea's exports of food and agriculture-related products reached a record high of USD13.62 billion in 2025, driven by the global popularity of Korean food products, such as "ramyeon" noodles, sauces, and fruits, the agriculture ministry said Monday.

According to Philippine News Agency, Food and Rural Affairs, exports in the "K-Food Plus" sector expanded 5.1 percent from a year earlier to the new annual high. K-Food Plus is a term coined by the local government to promote exports of Korean food and agricultural goods, including farm machinery and veterinary medicine.

Exports of agricultural and food products alone climbed 4.3 percent to USD10.41 billion, marking 10 consecutive years of growth. Shipments of agriculture-related products, including farm machinery and veterinary medicine, jumped 8 percent to a record USD3.22 billion.

The ministry attributed the strong performance in food exports to record outbound shipments of Korean instant noodle products, also known as "ramyeon," and 11 other products, including sauces, kimchi, ice cream, strawberries, and pork. Ramyeon exports hit USD1.5 billion for the first time, surging 21.9 percent from a year earlier, while exports of sauces climbed 4.6 percent to USD411.9 million.

Shipments of ice cream jumped 21.6 percent to USD111.3 million, and grape exports soared 46.3 percent to USD84.7 million. Exports of strawberries grew 4 percent to USD72 million.

By region, the United States led imports of Korean agro-food products at USD1.8 billion, up 13.2 percent, while China imported USD1.58 billion, driven by demand for spicy ramyeon and sauces for fried chicken and tteokbokki. Exports to Europe rose 13.6 percent to USD773.7 million, and shipments to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries surged 22.6 percent to USD411.6 million.