The country produced vitamin and mineral supplements (VMS) worth KRW635.1 bn (US$421.4m), up 16.3% year-on-year.
Red ginseng, traditionally the most produced health functional food in South Korea, was ranked number two with a production value of KRW393.8 bn (US$261.7m), down 14.2%.
South Koreans’ purchase of VMS had also surpassed that of red ginseng for the first time last year, said the MFDS in its national food production report released last Friday (May 29).
A breakdown of the data shows that magnesium and vitamin D recorded the biggest growth spurt, with production value up 58.3% and 53.4% to hit KRW47.5bn (US$31.6m) and KRW27bn (US$18m) respectively.
Probiotics, omega-3 EPA and DHA, and Angelica Root mixed extract, marketed HemoHIM, took up the 3rd to 5th spot.
Except for omega-3 EPA and DHA, the production value of probiotics and HemoHIM declined by 5.6% and 18.4% to KRW370.9 bn (US$246.8m) and KRW82.7 bn (US$55m), respectively.
In contrast, the production value of omega-3 EPA and DHA jumped 45.7% from KRW177.2 bn (US$117.9m) to KRW258.1bn (US$171.8m).
The ministry said that the rise in VMS, omega-3 EPA and DHA production value was due to greater demand from both domestic and international markets.
In total, South Korea’s health functional foods production amounted to KRW2.823 tr (US$1.9bn) last year, up 2.2% year-on-year and accounted for 2.4% of the country’s total food production.
Exports
Exports of health functional foods amounted to US$318.17m, a 14.2% increase from the previous year’s US$278.64m. This also marks a double-digit growth rate for three consecutive years.
The increase in exports appears to be driven by the growing global recognition of K-health functional foods alongside the popularity of K-food and K-beauty trends.
The top three exported items were vitamins and minerals, with an export value of US$81.8m, which is followed by EPA and DHA-containing oils at US$56.2m, and probiotics at US$50.6m.
Together, these three items accounted for approximately 60% of total health functional food exports.
Increasing protein demand
In addition, there has been an increase in demand for diverse sources of protein from conventional meat products to include milk proteins and whey protein.
In particular, the production value of protein supplements and fortified beverages was up 19% to KRW491.8 bn (US$326.1m).
The production value of whey protein products, on the other hand, has increased by 22.4% to KRW8.2bn (US$5.4m).
This is fueled by consumer interest in health and protein intake, said the MFDS.
“In particular, the market for diverse protein sources and product lines with enhanced convenience is showing growth, as evidenced by increased production of ready-to-eat heated egg products such as soft-boiled and smoked eggs, and the expansion of whey production, a key ingredient in protein supplements and beverages,” said the ministry.
Trends in weight control, infant formula production
Notably, there was a 25.9% jump in the production value of nutritional formulas for weight control to KRW66bn (US$44.1m).
A greater demand for Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) and special nutritional foods was also observed, with production value up by 11.3% and 15.3% to KRW193.6bn (US$127.8m) and KRW239.3bn (US$157.9m) respectively.
FSMPs refer to products designed for oral or tube feeding to provide special nutrition, such as when digestive or absorption capabilities are limited or during illness or surgery.
Special nutritional foods, on the other hand, are products for specific groups, such as infants, obese individuals, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and the elderly.
Despite a declining birth rate, the production value for infant and toddler formula milk climbed 12.4% to KRW80.7bn (US$53.3m), while that of complementary food was up 11.5% to KRW92bn (US$60.7m).