MENA Newswire, SEOUL: South Korea’s agricultural and food exports rose to a record US$10.2 billion in 2025, as overseas demand for Korean farm produce and processed food items remained strong, according to data released by the Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation. The annual tally marked the highest value recorded for the category and underscored the sector’s expanding role in South Korea’s broader export economy.
The data showed exports were heavily concentrated in a small group of markets. The United States, China and Japan together accounted for about 46% of South Korea’s agricultural and food exports in 2025. The United States was the largest destination, taking 17.5% of shipments valued at about US$1.8 billion, followed by China with a 15.4% share, or about US$1.58 billion, and Japan with 12.7%, or about US$1.3 billion.
Beyond the top three, Asian destinations continued to dominate the rankings. Vietnam, Taiwan and Hong Kong rounded out the six largest markets for South Korean agricultural and food products, reflecting the sector’s strong footprint in nearby consumer markets. Officials and industry groups have highlighted the importance of maintaining access to major buyers while broadening the customer base across regions.
Shipments to Europe and the Middle East were smaller but remained meaningful components of the export mix. Exports to the European Union, including Britain, totaled about US$773 million in 2025, representing 7.5% of the annual total. Exports to Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman, accounted for about 4%, or roughly US$411 million, according to the same data.
K-food exports set record in 2025
Separate government figures tracking a wider “K-Food Plus” category, which includes both food exports and related agricultural industries, also reached a record in 2025. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs reported exports in this broader category totaling US$13.62 billion, up 5.1% from a year earlier. Within that total, agrifood exports were reported at US$10.41 billion, while related agricultural industries contributed US$3.22 billion.
The broader category includes products and inputs linked to agriculture beyond finished foods, such as farm machinery, agrochemicals, seeds and veterinary medicines, alongside packaged and processed foods. The ministry has used the “K-Food Plus” framework to track export performance across the supply chain, reflecting how consumer demand and industrial shipments can move together in overseas markets.
Government widens market outreach
South Korean authorities have taken steps aimed at expanding export destinations as the industry grows. The agriculture ministry launched a public-private task force in December to identify strategic products by region, develop market entry projects and expand support measures tied to export growth. Officials have also increased buyer outreach in emerging markets through regular trade consultations and strengthened local marketing activities overseas.
As part of that push, the government designated priority markets and has moved to broaden the list. The selection previously included countries such as South Africa and Chile, and the ministry has said it will expand the priority group to include Argentina, Qatar, Turkey, Ghana and India. The initiatives are designed to support exporters seeking customers beyond the largest established markets while maintaining the scale of shipments to key destinations.
The export data highlight both the sector’s growth and its reliance on a limited number of major buyers. With nearly half of agricultural and food exports shipped to the United States, China and Japan, officials and companies have pointed to diversification as an operational focus, particularly in regions where imports of Korean products are rising. The 2025 results place a clear numerical benchmark for the industry as it pursues broader geographic reach while sustaining record export levels.