Overview
- Official customs data show exports rose 37% in value to $6.14 million and export volume climbed 47.6% to 657 metric tons in the first four months of 2026.
- The United States remained the largest single market, accounting for 41.7% of export value, and shipments to the US and Canada together made up more than half of exports.
- Korean sesame oil now ships to 62 countries with sharp gains in new markets, including a 167.9% surge to Australia and a 42.7% increase to Europe led by demand in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
- Customs officials attribute the rise to consumer preference for natural, minimally processed oils and to wider exposure to Korean recipes through global media that leads viewers to buy Korean pantry items.
- The jump in sesame oil builds on broader K‑food export momentum and could prompt more supermarket shelf space for Korean pantry goods while helping exporters expand distribution and reach new home cooks abroad.