Kimchi market projected to grow amid rising South Korean imports from China

The global kimchi market is projected to grow from USD 497.56 billion in 2024 to USD 763.59 billion by 2032, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5%. This expansion is largely driven by the rising international popularity of Korean cuisine.

Despite this growth, South Korea faces a significant shift in its domestic supply. In 2025, the country imported a record 336,221 tons of kimchi, with approximately 99 percent of those imports originating from China. Government surveys indicate that more than 40 percent of restaurants in South Korea now serve imported kimchi as a side dish, and over half use it as a cooking ingredient.

This trend is attributed to economic factors such as cabbage prices, climate change, and thin profit margins for restaurants. While the global market for fermented foods continues to expand, South Korea has become a major consumer of Chinese-produced kimchi.