This article was published on the ChosunBiz RM report site on April 23, 2025, at 11:16 a.m.
In the first quarter, while the import volume of fruit beverages such as wine and champagne significantly increased compared to the previous year, the import value decreased. Imports of ready-to-cook meals such as meal kits and popular products like honeycomb and peanut butter that trended on social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube also saw notable increases.
On the 23rd, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced the '2025 First Quarter Food Import Trends,' stating that the number of food products imported into the country was over 203,000, with a total import value of $8.66 billion (approximately 12.3656 trillion won), marking a 2.9% increase in the number of imports and a 3.5% increase in value compared to the same period last year.
Recent reports from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety noted that due to the impact of economic recession in the country, the social atmosphere prioritizing economic viability and the increasing preference for convenience due to the rise of single-person households was becoming evident. The import of fruit beverages increased by 47.9% from 12,000 tons last year to 18,000 tons this year; however, the import value decreased from $110 million (157 billion won) to $100 million (143 billion won), a drop of 8.1%. The price per kilogram of imported fruit beverages fell from $9.2 in the first quarter of last year to $5.7 in the first quarter of this year. The Ministry explained, "This seems to reflect consumer sentiment that favors reasonably priced products of adequate quality over high-priced items."
The import value of ready-to-cook meals such as meal kits, which can be easily warmed or boiled at home, reached $4.4 million (63 billion won) in the first quarter of this year, an increase of 114.5% from the same period last year ($2 million). The import value of processed seafood products like fillets increased from $83 million (118.6 billion won) in the first quarter of last year to $140 million (200 billion won) this year, marking a 64.9% rise. Additionally, imports of dairy products such as cheese, whole milk powder, and butter significantly increased, which is analyzed to be a result of changing consumption patterns due to the westernization of the national diet.
Furthermore, imports of products related to social media trends have dramatically increased. Since last year, the 'yogurt ice cream' topped with various ingredients gained massive popularity, leading to a surge in honeycomb imports. The import value skyrocketed from $1,500 (2.1 million won) in the first quarter of last year to $385,000 (550 million won) in the first quarter of this year, a 256-fold increase. As the 'peanut butter diet' attracted attention, imports of peanut butter and nuts significantly increased. In the first quarter, the import value of peanut butter reached $8.7 million (124 billion won), a 101.7% increase compared to the previous year, while the import value of nuts was $120 million (1.715 trillion won), up 38.1% from the previous year. The trend of mixing marshmallows and snacks with dried fruit to create 'chewy cookies' has also led to an increase in marshmallow imports.
During this period, the import volume of food for price stabilization due to domestic supply and demand instability increased. The first quarter import volume of fresh agricultural products such as onions, cabbages, napa cabbages, and tangerines was 379,000 tons, representing a 13.5% increase compared to the same period last year. Conversely, the import volume of wheat, widely used as a food manufacturing ingredient, decreased from 739,000 tons in the first quarter of last year to 571,000 tons in this quarter, and corn declined from 636,000 tons to 594,000 tons. This is believed to reflect the increase in international grain prices due to recent extreme weather patterns and reduced cultivation areas.
During this period, South Korea imported food from a total of 150 countries, with the United States (soybeans, wheat, etc.), China (kimchi, polypropylene, etc.), and Australia (wheat, food raw materials requiring refining, etc.) accounting for 58.5% of the total import volume at 2.75 million tons.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety stated, "We plan to continue to analyze the trends in the increase or decrease of imported foods and domestic and international consumption trends to strengthen inspections and create an environment where the public can consume imported foods with assurance."