Finland's interest in Korean instant noodles and K-foods is increasing - South Korea report

Finland has emerged as a major market for South Korea's ready-to-eat food exports. Although the export value is not large at present, the demand for ready-to-eat foods has increased since the spread of COVID-19, and South Korea
This is because interest in cooking is gradually increasing. According to the Korea Trade and Investment Promotion Corporation (KOTRA), South Korea will export ramen and other noodles to Finland for a total of 180,020 in 2022.
00 dollars (approximately 27.1 million yen), an increase of 45.4% compared to the previous year. The share of Finland's total noodle import value ($91.51 million/approximately 13.6 billion yen) is 0.2%, which is still insignificant.
However, it is showing a steady increasing trend. Especially compared to 2020, it has approximately doubled. The Finnish food market has been showing steady growth recently. Star, a global market research organization
According to Statista, the size of the Finnish food market in 2022 will be $17 billion (approximately 2,537 billion yen), a growth of 3.6% compared to the previous year. Last 5 years, year
The average growth rate was only 2.9%, but it has continued to grow steadily since 2019, when it grew rapidly by 4.7% compared to the previous year. Average annual growth rate from 2022 to 2026 is 4.0
% is expected. As demand increases, so does the demand for diversity. Up until now, pasta, frozen pizza, and Thai-style frozen foods have been the main products, but there is a growing interest in instant foods from Japan and South Korea.
At the same time, the import value of noodles, a typical instant food, is increasing. The main importing countries are Italy (34%), Thailand (14%), Germany (11%) and Sweden (9%).
%), the Netherlands (8%), and South Korea ranks 24th. A KOTRA official said, ``Korean ramen and other instant foods, which are currently still a niche market, are gradually being sold to large distribution networks in the Asian market.''
"The expansion of channels is creating an opportunity for Korean food companies," he said, adding, "In July, a JeeAn Mart equipped with instant ramen cookers opened in Helsinki."
I told you. However, the same official advised, ``In the case of Finland, there are many sensitive factors regarding food imports, so it is necessary to familiarize yourself with local regulations through cooperation with local importers.''
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