South Korea saw its kimchi imports hit an all-time high in the first quarter of this year, driven by rising raw material prices due to poor cabbage harvests and the impact of a strong dollar.

According to the Korea Customs Service on Sunday, the country’s kimchi imports totaled $47.56 million from January to March, up 16.7 percent from $40.75 million in the same period a year ago.

The import volume rose 10.1 percent to 8,097 tons, but the increase in value was steeper due to the high exchange rate.

kimchi imports were already at a record high of $189.86 million last year, with its volume exceeding 300,000 tons for the first time.

The rapid increase in kimchi imports also led to a widening trade deficit.

Kimchi exports hit a record $163.57 million last year, up 5.1 percent, but the trade deficit widened to $22.69 million as imports grew faster - nearly three times the previous year‘s $7.98 million deficit.

The kimchi trade balance has remained in the red for three consecutive years since a temporary surplus in 2021 due to the controversy sparked by the poor manufacturing process of a kimchi factory in China.

Most kimchi imports come from China and are used more in restaurants than at home.

Industry experts attribute the increase in imports to rising cabbage prices.

The production of Korean highland cabbage was sluggish due to an unusual heatwave last summer and fall.

Winter cabbage growth was also hindered by cold waves and heavy snowfall, leading to a surge in the price of cabbage, the key ingredient in kimchi.

According to Statistics Korea, cabbage prices rose 15.6 percent year-on-year in April, while kimchi prices were up 20.7 percent.

Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. (aT) also reported that the average retail price for a head of cabbage was 5,442 won ($3.9) last month, up 24 percent from the same period last year.

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