Nongshim is constructing a new export-oriented production facility in Busan.
On the 27th, Nongshim held a groundbreaking ceremony for its Busan Noksan export factory. It will be built on a spare site of the existing noodle production facility, Noksan Factory, covering approximately 11,280 square meters (3,400 pyeong) with a total floor area of 48,100 square meters (14,500 pyeong), and is scheduled to be completed in the second half of 2026.
After completing the Noksan export factory, Nongshim plans to initially operate three production lines to produce 500 million ramen annually. When combined with the production volume from the Busan plant, which has been responsible for export production (600 million annually), and the Gumi plant’s export volume (100 million annually), the annual ramen production capacity for exports from Nongshim will increase to 1.2 billion, double the current level. Nongshim also plans to increase production capacity further by adding more lines according to overseas sales trends.
A Nongshim official noted, "In line with the growth of overseas markets, we can add up to eight production lines to the Noksan export factory, tripling our production capacity. As we are preparing for our second leap in the global market, centered around Shin Ramyeon Tumba, we aim to solidify our status as a 'K-ramen representative company' with appropriate production capabilities."
The Nongshim export-exclusive factory will be built, accumulating decades of artificial intelligence (AI) smart factory know-how that Nongshim has developed while operating both domestic and overseas plants. It will include a quality inspection system applying 'Nongshim-style AI deep learning' technology and a system that predicts and addresses problems using big data. The factory is also set to receive global quality certifications suitable for an export-exclusive facility, including sustainable palm oil roundtable (RSPO) and halal certification. Additionally, Nongshim plans to integrate energy-saving equipment and optimize energy use to operate an environmentally friendly factory.
In March, Nongshim established its European corporation, Nongshim Europe B.V., in Amsterdam, Netherlands, accelerating its push into the European market. Based on the production capacity of the Noksan export factory, it plans to expand sales of major products, including Shin Ramyeon, in Europe and introduce new products tailored to local tastes, with an aim to quadruple European sales by 2030. Nongshim also expects that the construction of the Noksan export factory will allow it to target the South American and South Asian markets, which have growth potential in the ramen market.