Exports of ramyeon (instant noodles) from January to September this year hit a record high. Shown is the instant noodle section at a hypermarket in Seoul. (Yonhap News)  

By Jung Joo-ri

Exports of ramyeon (instant noodles) from January to September this year hit a record high of KRW 800 billion.

The item's export volume in the first three quarters of the year reached an estimated USD 568.2 million (approximately KRW 810 billion), according to Korea Agricultural Trade Information under Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corp. The amount is also up 18% from the figure of USD 481.6 million over the same period last year.

By country, China was the biggest ramyeon market with USD 132.4 million (KRW 188.7 billion), up 24.7% thanks to rising demand for convenience food and stronger interest in Korean noodles backed by the Hallyu boom in China.

Exports to the U.S. jumped 15.2% to USD 63.7 million (KRW 90.8 billion) from the same period last year, but those to Japan dipped 2.3% to USD 45.8 million (KRW 65.3 billion).

Ramyeon exports from January to September accounted for 84% of the annual total last year. Their volume has kept setting records every year since 2015, which saw USD 218.8 million (KRW 311.7 billion), to last year, which saw USD 674.41 million (KRW 961 billion).

The corporation said, "Stronger online marketing thanks to Hallyu's (Korean Wave) popularity Korean Wave) and continued demand for convenience food in case of a COVID-19 resurgence have kept exports growing."

etoilejr@korea.kr