In the first quarter of this year, exports of K-food and the agricultural industry totaled $3.35 billion, up 3.5% from the same period a year earlier. Exports of instant noodles and snacks, as well as strawberries, grapes, and pears, increased, and shipments to the Middle East also surged.
According to the "K-food+ export trends for the first quarter of 2026" released on the 3rd by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, agri-food exports rose 4% to $2.56 billion, while the agricultural industry increased 2.1% to $790 million.
By region, exports to the Middle East (GCC) jumped 32.3%. The Chinese-speaking region (14.5%) and North America (6.3%) also saw a large growth rate. The ministry said, "Although exports to the Middle East fell in March due to worsening logistics and weaker consumption, there was strong export momentum through February for items such as tobacco and ginseng."
By item, exports increased for processed foods such as instant noodles (up 26.4%), snacks (11.4%), beverages (4.5%), rice-processed foods (9.4%), and ice cream (18%), as well as for fresh produce such as strawberries (14.7%), grapes (24.6%), and pears (69.2%).
The ministry said, "Snacks and beverages are popular in the Chinese market, and plant-based ice cream is popular in Canada and the European Union (EU)," adding, "Rice-processed foods such as instant rice and frozen fried rice are strong in the United States, and rice cakes such as tteokbokki rice cakes are strong in ASEAN countries including Vietnam." In addition, strawberry exports increased in Singapore and Thailand, grapes in Taiwan, and pears in the United States.
In the agricultural industry, farm machinery (3.9%), pesticides (0.7%), and fertilizers (6.2%) led exports. Farm machinery grew mainly in North America and Southeast Asia, while pesticides maintained growth in South American markets such as Brazil. However, veterinary medicines saw a slight decline in overall results due to reduced exports of lysine (a nutritional supplement for animals).