K-Food exports at 'all-time high'...trade deficit remains unchanged

Published 2025년 10월 31일

Tridge summary

[Reporter Hong Lan, Korea Farmers and Fishermen Newspaper] The government announced that K-Food exports have reached an all-time high, but the agricultural and fishery trade deficit is expanding, leading to repeated concerns in the National Assembly about the need for improvement. The Customs Service announced on October 28 that, with the reclassification of the Harmonized System (HS) codes, K-Food exports achieved the highest record to date. According to the Customs Service, as of the cumulative total for September 2025, K-Food exports increased by 8.9% compared to the same period last year, reaching 84.81 billion dollars, marking the highest figure for the same period. The Customs Service stated, "The success of the movie K-Pop Demon Hunters and the hosting of the 2025 APEC Summit have contributed to this growth."

Original content

The government announced that K-Food exports have reached an all-time high, but the widening agricultural trade deficit is raising concerns in the National Assembly, with calls for immediate improvement. The Customs Service announced on October 28 that K-Food exports achieved the highest record to date with the reclassification of the Harmonized System (HS) codes. According to the Customs Service, as of September 2025, the cumulative K-Food export amount was $848,100,000, an 8.9% increase from the previous year, marking the highest figure for the same period. The Customs Service explained, "The surge in interest in K-Food is a result of the global spotlight on Korea due to the success of the movie 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' and the hosting of the 2025 APEC Summit." Processed foods, which account for over 60% of total K-Food exports ($519,800,000), increased by 6.7% and led the export growth. Fisheries products ($232,600,000) saw an 11.2% increase due to the booming seaweed exports, ...

Source: Agrinet