Korean ice cream is making a global splash, riding the wave of the ongoing K-wave phenomenon and rising temperatures worldwide. With unprecedented heatwaves expected, K-ice cream exports are projected to exceed $100 million for the first time in history.
According to the Korea Customs Service, exports of Korean ice cream reached $43.61 million between January and April 2025. If this momentum continues, total exports could hit $130 million this year, surpassing last year’s $98.41 million. The export growth has been steady over recent years, increasing from $60.67 million in 2020 to $93.10 million in 2023.
Binggrae leads the charge in export volume, with nearly half of last year’s 380 million ice cream units shipped worldwide being its iconic Melona bars. While melon remains a favorite flavor domestically, Binggrae is localizing Melona abroad with new flavors such as strawberry, mango, and coconut. The company is also pushing plant-based Melona variants in Europe, adapting to the EU’s dairy export restrictions. Additionally, Binggrae’s fish-shaped Samanco ice cream has found particular success in Vietnam. This expansion helped Binggrae achieve export sales of 26.4 billion won in Q1 2025, making up about 19% of total company sales. The industry anticipates Binggrae’s annual ice cream exports will surpass 100 billion won this year.
Lotte Wellfood, another key player, is expanding its presence in the US, China, the Philippines, and Taiwan with popular brands like Tiko, Jokbak, and Chaltteok Ice. Lotte’s exports grew by roughly 30% over two years, reaching 26.4 billion won last year. The company is also investing heavily in the Indian market, where its subsidiary’s ice cream sales rose over 30% amid record-breaking heat in early 2025.
Both Binggrae and Lotte Wellfood are moving beyond simple exports by establishing local subsidiaries and production facilities to solidify Korean ice cream’s global footprint. This expansion comes as global ice cream demand is expected to grow from $80 billion in 2024 to approximately $130 billion by 2032. Meanwhile, the domestic Korean ice cream market has been shrinking by over 6% annually since 2018 due to declining child populations and increased health consciousness.
Industry experts note that the combination of global heatwaves and the popularity of K-content is fueling Korean ice cream’s overseas growth, positioning it as a promising ice cream franchise opportunity on the world stage.
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