South Korean Instant Noodle Exports Exceed Last Year's Full-Year Total, Forecast to Grow 30% in 2027

Industry sources said Thursday that South Korean instant noodle exports are expected to grow 30% in 2027 from this year, driven by expanded production capacity. According to Sina Finance, exports rose 26% to $1.59 billion from January through October this year, exceeding last year's full-year total of $1.52 billion and its 22% growth rate. A source in the industry said investments by major instant noodle producers in production facilities are expected to continue supporting export growth next year. Nongshim, a leading South Korean instant noodle maker, opened its first plant dedicated to exports last month in Busan, a southern port city. About 40% of the company's instant noodle sales currently come from overseas markets, including the United States, China and Japan. Nongshim operates seven plants in South Korea and six overseas—two in the United States and four in China—and sells flagship products such as Shin Ramyun, Chapagetti and Neoguri worldwide. Samyang Foods, known for its globally popular Buldak noodles, is expanding capacity to meet rising demand. Its sales totaled 2.28 trillion won, about $1.7 billion, from January through September this year, nearly matching its full-year total of 2.35 trillion won last year. Last July, Samyang began construction of its first overseas production base in China, which is scheduled to begin operations in January 2027. On Wednesday, the company announced plans to invest 218.6 billion won in its second overseas plant, in Vietnam, which is expected to be completed in 2029. Meanwhile, South Korean exports of agricultural, fishery and food products rose 6.1% year over year to $10.85 billion in the first 10 months of this year.