Seoul: South Korea's kimchi exports are projected to reach an all-time high this year due to increasing global demand for Korean cuisine, customs data revealed.

According to Yonhap News Agency, overseas sales of kimchi, a traditional Korean side dish typically made from cabbage, amounted to US$137.39 million in the first 10 months of 2025. This marks a 2 percent increase from $134.67 million recorded during the same period last year, as per data from the Korea Customs Service.

Imports of kimchi also experienced growth, rising 3.1 percent on-year to $159.46 million from $154.59 million over the same timeframe. If the current trend continues, full-year exports are anticipated to surpass the previous record of $163.57 million set in 2024, driven by sustained global interest in Korean cuisine.

Japan maintained its position as the largest buyer of Korean kimchi, with imports valued at $47.55 million from January to October, representing a 4.4 percent increase from the previous year. In contrast, exports to the United States decreased by 5.8 percent on-year to $36.01 million, and shipments to the Netherlands fell by 3.3 percent to $7.97 million.