The value and volume of kimchi exports are poised to hit record highs this year, buoyed by the product’s soaring popularity.
Data from the Korea Customs Service reveals that kimchi exports from January to September this year reached $118.85 million, marking a 10.6 percent upswing compared to the same period last year. The exported volume surged by 8.1% to 33,828 tons. Since the onset of the pandemic, total exports skyrocketed, going from $104.99 million in 2019 to a record $159.95 million in 2021.
Recent trends show the United States overtaking Japan and Southeast Asian nations as the fastest-growing importer of kimchi. As cited by Minho Kim from aT LA, kimchi exports to the U.S. from January to September tallied at $30.64 million, a staggering 41.2 percent leap from $21.71 million in the corresponding period last year, underscoring kimchi’s escalating popularity in the U.S.
Industry experts attribute the burgeoning interest in kimchi to the Hallyu (Korean Wave), recognizing it as a healthy superfood. The availability of kimchi in mainstream retailers like Walmart, Costco, Target, Vons, and Ralphs has amplified its reach beyond Korean Americans, catering to a broader consumer base.
“With the burgeoning kimchi demand, a multitude of brands, ranging from major corporations to local Korean enterprises like NongHyup Kimchi, are carving a niche in the U.S. market,” conveyed an industry insider.
Esteemed Korean kimchi brands such as CJ Bibigo Kimchi, Daesang Jongga Kimchi, and NongHyup Pungsan Kimchi, among others, are gaining prominence in the U.S. To fortify its global foothold, Daesang inaugurated a kimchi factory in Los Angeles, acquiring Lucky Foods to enhance its production capabilities.
Korean markets have also intensified the import of authentic Korean kimchi, diversifying consumer choices. “The surge in imported Korean kimchi is not only due to its palatable appeal but also its cost-effectiveness,” shared a manager at Zion Market, highlighting a trend toward smaller packaging among non-Korean customers.
Moreover, online kimchi sales are on an upward trajectory, with various platforms offering a plethora of kimchi assortments, mirroring the burgeoning consumer appetite for this culinary staple.
BY EUNYOUNG LEE, JUNHAN PARK [lee.eunyoung6@koreadaily.com]
