At the Gangwon Hoengseong plant that produces Daesang’s packaged kimchi’Jonggajip’, employees mix kimchi-so (sauce) with pickled cabbage and put it in the packaging. Photo = provided by target
Last year, exports of kimchi reached a record high. This is due to the spread of K-food’s popularity through cultural contents last year, and the spread of expectations that kimchi, a fermented food, will help improve immunity amid a new coronavirus infection (Corona 19). Kimchi was exported to more than 80 countries around the world, including Japan and the United States, which are major export countries last year, imprinting the spicy taste of Korea.
According to the Korea Customs Service on the 8th, last year’s kimchi exports rose 37.6% year-on-year to $144.51 million. It exceeded the previous maximum in 2012 ($166.61 million) in eight years, making a new record.
By country, the export value of Japan, a major exporter, was 71.1 million dollars, nearly half of the total (49.2%). The United States ($23.6 million), Hong Kong ($776 million), Taiwan ($5.87 million), Australia ($564 million), and the Netherlands ($5.15 million) were followed.
Kimchi was also exported to South American and Middle Eastern countries such as Uruguay ($10.6 million) and the United Arab Emirates ($73,000) and Qatar ($230,000). Kimchi has also spread to the Pacific Islands, including the Northern Mariana Islands ($130,000).
Photo = Getty Image Bank
The food industry is interpreting this because the awareness of K food including kimchi increased by riding the Korean Wave, and the demand for foods that strengthened immunity increased after the Corona 19 incident. Major kimchi exporters are Daesang, CJ CheilJedang, and Pulmuone.
As the largest export ever, the trade balance of kimchi was the lowest in eight years. Last year, imports of kimchi rose 16.4% to $152.43 million. The Kimchi trade balance showed a deficit of $791 million. It was the lowest level since 2012 (-$4.23 million).
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