S. Korea buys kimchi from China as demand grows

Global demand for kimchi continues to grow, with South Korean exports on track to hit an all-time high in 2025. But at home, more South Koreans are consuming Chinese-made kimchi.

According to trade data by the (South) Korea Customs Service, the cumulative kimchi exports in 2025 reached $137.39 million as of October, up 2 percent from a year earlier.

During the same 10-month period, imports amounted to $159.46 million, rising 3.1 percent and outpacing the 2 percent growth in exports.

As a result, the kimchi trade balance so far this year remains in the red, with the deficit widening 10.3 percent from a year ago to $22.07 million.

Kimchi, a fermented vegetable dish served with almost every meal in South Korea, is a cornerstone of food culture on the Korean Peninsula.

There are more than 150 recognized types, made with radish, cucumber, spring onions and other vegetables, seasoned with blends of chili powder, garlic, ginger and fermented seafood paste, and shaped by local climates and tastes.

But how South Koreans consume kimchi is changing. Single-person households have more than tripled since 2000, now accounting for more than 36 percent of all households, and fewer people make kimchi at home.

Persistent inflation

Price remains the key driver behind the rise in imports.

Officials say persistent inflation and surge in domestic cabbage prices, caused by extreme weather, have continued to push demand for cheaper Chinese-made kimchi.

Imports of Chinese kimchi hit a record $189.86 million in 2024, up 16.1 percent from 2023.

Exports totaled $163.57 million in 2024, double the figure from 2017, and have steadily grown on the back of rising global interest in South Korean food. They reached $148.12 million in 2022, $155.6 million in 2023, and then set a new record in 2024.

Japan remains the largest market for South Korean kimchi, importing $47.55 million worth as of October. The United States brought in $36.01 million, a 5.8 percent decrease. In Europe, the Netherlands imported $7.97 million, a 3.3 percent decline. Canada imported $7.63 million, up 17.6 percent, while Australia saw a slight increase to $6.68 million.

THE KOREA HERALD, SOUTH KOREA