K-food exports were found to be concentrated in the United States, China, and Japan. These three countries accounted for half of all agri-food exports.
According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) on Jan. 18, last year's agri-food exports totaled $10.2 billion (about 15.0164 trillion won). Of that, 46% came from the United States, China, and Japan.
By country, exports to the United States were $1.803 billion, accounting for 17.5% of the total. China recorded $1.586 billion (15.45%), and Japan posted $1.306 billion (12.7%).
The concentration of K-food exports has persisted for years. The share of agri-food exports going to the United States, China, and Japan was 46.9% in 2021, 45.6% in 2022, 45.9% in 2023, and 45.4% in 2024.
By contrast, exports to Europe and the Middle East remain in the single digits. Last year, exports of agri-food products to European Union (EU) countries, including the United Kingdom, totaled $773 million. That is about 7.5% of the total. Exports to Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain came to $411 million (4%).