News1Last year, exports of instant noodles (ramen, etc.) reached an all-time high of $862 million (up 12.0% from the previous year). Demand for instant noodles increased due to self-isolation and telecommuting during the COVID-19 period, as well as increasing interest in Korean culture and food. This is because it has been imprinted as a representative K-food through movies and broadcasts amid global popularity. Amid the diversification of products from regular ramen to jjajang, fire chicken, and halal (food permitted by Islam) ramen to raw noodles, udon, and noodles, exports reach 143 countries around the world, including not only China, the United States and Japan, but also the Middle East and Africa. According to the Korea Customs Service on the 30th, exports of instant noodles (ramen, etc.) continue to increase even during the COVID-19 period, breaking the record for the largest export every year. $200 million in 2011 → $500 million in 2019 → $800 million in 2022. Exports in January and February (cumulative) of this year also recorded the highest amount of $147 million during the same period (up 19.0% compared to the same period last year), and another record is expected to be broken. It is analyzed that it has become a cultural product, such as the global tasting challenge (fire noodle challenge) through social media becoming popular. Last year, export weight reached 260,000 tons, up 10.3% from the previous year. This is an all-time high, a four-fold increase over the past 10 years. 260,000 tons of instant noodles are equivalent to about 2.1 billion bags (120g), and the length of the noodles alone is about 100 million km, which is enough to circle the earth 2,670 times. The export weight of 260,000 tons is the second largest in the world after China. China (460,000 tons) ranked first, followed by Indonesia (180,000 tons).
