S. Korea's instant noodle exports surge over 30% so far this year

South Korean exports of instant noodles reached US$573 million in the January-October period, increasing by 32.4 percent from a year earlier, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The surge was attributed by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) to the global popularity of home cooking as the outbreak forced people to stay home longer.

According to KITA, China is the most promising export market with its imports of South Korean instant noodles rising by 43.7 percent in March and 104 percent in April.

From January to July, South Korea's instant noodles accounted for 58 percent of China's total imports, surging from 49 percent in 2018.

The US and Hong Kong were the second and third-biggest exporter of South Korean instant noodles.