Food exports in Korea
Korea: Food exports was 1.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Food exports in Korea, 1962–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
In 2024, food exports in Korea stood at 1.6%.
The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and up 41.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food exports in Korea peaked at 39.2% in 1962 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 2007.
That places Korea 178th out of 196 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Food exports in Korea, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 39.2% | — |
| 1963 | 19.5% | -50.3% |
| 1964 | 22.4% | +15.3% |
| 1965 | 16.7% | -25.8% |
| 1966 | 19.1% | +14.4% |
| 1967 | 14.1% | -26.1% |
| 1968 | 11.7% | -17.0% |
| 1969 | 10.6% | -9.6% |
| 1970 | 9.6% | -8.9% |
| 1971 | 8.0% | -16.5% |
| 1972 | 7.5% | -6.7% |
| 1973 | 8.4% | +11.5% |
| 1974 | 7.8% | -6.5% |
| 1975 | 13.2% | +69.1% |
| 1976 | 7.6% | -42.2% |
| 1977 | 10.6% | +38.6% |
| 1978 | 8.4% | -20.6% |
| 1979 | 8.2% | -2.5% |
| 1980 | 7.4% | -9.9% |
| 1981 | 6.9% | -7.1% |
| 1982 | 5.6% | -18.9% |
| 1983 | 5.0% | -10.5% |
| 1984 | 4.4% | -12.5% |
| 1985 | 4.1% | -5.8% |
| 1986 | 4.8% | +17.0% |
| 1987 | 4.6% | -4.2% |
| 1988 | 4.2% | -9.9% |
| 1989 | 3.7% | -10.0% |
| 1990 | 3.3% | -10.9% |
| 1991 | 3.2% | -4.8% |
| 1992 | 2.9% | -9.2% |
| 1993 | 2.6% | -9.6% |
| 1994 | 2.5% | -3.7% |
| 1995 | 2.3% | -9.8% |
| 1996 | 2.3% | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 2.1% | -6.3% |
| 1998 | 2.0% | -6.6% |
| 1999 | 2.0% | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 1.5% | -22.1% |
| 2001 | 1.7% | +8.1% |
| 2002 | 1.5% | -7.5% |
| 2003 | 1.4% | -11.0% |
| 2004 | 1.2% | -14.2% |
| 2005 | 1.1% | -9.3% |
| 2006 | 0.9% | -13.3% |
| 2007 | 0.9% | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 0.9% | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 1.1% | +22.7% |
| 2010 | 1.1% | -5.4% |
| 2011 | 1.1% | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 1.2% | +5.2% |
| 2013 | 1.1% | -5.1% |
| 2014 | 1.2% | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 1.2% | +6.2% |
| 2016 | 1.4% | +14.8% |
| 2017 | 1.3% | -7.1% |
| 2018 | 1.3% | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 1.5% | +16.0% |
| 2020 | 1.6% | +11.6% |
| 2021 | 1.5% | -9.5% |
| 2022 | 1.5% | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 1.6% | +11.8% |
| 2024 | 1.6% | -1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 19.1% | 10.6% | 39.2% | 8 |
| 1970s | 8.9% | 7.5% | 13.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.1% | 3.7% | 7.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.5% | 2.0% | 3.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.2% | 0.9% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.2% | 1.1% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.6% | 1.5% | 1.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Korea
- 175 Saudi Arabia 1.9% compare
- 176 Botswana 1.9% compare
- 177 Bermuda 1.8% compare
- 179 Hong Kong, China 1.6% compare
- 180 Guyana 1.5% compare
- 181 New Caledonia 1.4% compare
More private sector data for Korea
- Merchandise trade 71.6% (2025)
- Food imports 6.3% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 60.1% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 631.89 billion current US$ (2025)
- Manufactures exports 87.3% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 709.33 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 13,724 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3788 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 3.76 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 12,226 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food exports in Korea?
- Food exports in Korea was 1.6% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food exports recorded in Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 39.2% in 1962.
- What is the lowest food exports recorded in Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 2007.
- How does Korea rank for food exports?
- Korea ranks 178th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is food exports rising or falling in Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 41.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Food exports (% of merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Food comprises the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 0 (food and live animals), 1 (beverages and tobacco), and 4 (animal and vegetable oils and fats) and division 22 (oil seeds, oil nuts, and oil kernels). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise exports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a resident and a non-resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.