Mexico and South Korea are deepening agro-food trade and broader economic cooperation, with bilateral exchange reaching US$228 million in 2025 and Mexico maintaining a trade surplus driven by seafood, meat, and agricultural exports. The relationship is gaining strategic relevance amid nearshoring dynamics, food safety cooperation under HACCP standards, and ongoing institutional dialogue on a potential trade agreement linked to USMCA review processes. Key stakeholders include SADER, Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and Mexico’s Secretariat of Economy, alongside export-oriented agribusinesses and food import distributors in both markets. 

Trade between Mexico and the Republic of Korea is deepening across both the agro-food sector and broader economic ties, driven by growing bilateral exchange, investment flows, and an expanding cultural connection. In 2025, agro-food trade surpassed US$200 million, while overall bilateral commerce continued to grow alongside renewed political dialogue on a potential trade agreement and stronger cooperation in strategic industries and food safety standards.

Agro-food trade between Mexico and the Republic of Korea reached US$228 million in 2025, consolidating a dynamic, growing, and mutually beneficial relationship, according to Mexico’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER).

Mexican agro-food exports totaled more than 59,000t. Among the highest-value products were sea urchins with 20,500t; pork with 9,300t; animal-derived products with 8,900t; sardines and sardinellas with 6,900t; fish with 6,100t; beef with 2,300t; squid and cuttlefish with 1,800t; vegetable fats and oils with 1,600t; unroasted coffee with 1,400t; and tequila with 600,000L. In this way, Mexico’s agro-food exports amounted to US$169 million. 

Meanwhile, imports from the Republic of Korea totaled 12,000t, mainly consisting of soups, stews and broths, water and mineral water, pasta, alcoholic beverages, cereal-based and prepared foods, animal feed, dried seaweed, bakery products, and fried snacks. Imports represented US$59 million, resulting in a trade surplus for Mexico of US$110 million.

In terms of food safety, in April, the governments of Mexico and the Republic of Korea, through SADER and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of Korea (MFDS), carried out a Capacity-Building Program on Food Safety, with the participation of officials, technicians, and industry representatives from both countries.

The agencies agreed that the exchange of technical information, experiences, and knowledge on food safety regulations is essential, as it strengthens and streamlines trade in safe and healthy products for consumers in both countries. They also noted that the 2023 Capacity-Building Project for Food Safety Management in Food Imports and Exports has provided a deeper understanding of Korea’s food safety management system, opening new export opportunities for additional Mexican products.

The sessions included theoretical classes on food safety, visits to Mexican companies in the sector, and practical action-plan exercises applying the principles of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), a globally recognized system for food safety prevention. These activities aimed to facilitate the exchange of technical information, experiences, and regulatory knowledge, considered essential to strengthening and streamlining trade in safe food products between both nations.

Beyond agro-food trade, Mexico and the Republic of Korea have recently intensified dialogue to strengthen their economic and commercial relationship. In May 2025, authorities from both countries held high-level meetings within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum, where they discussed the integration of production chains, technology transfer, and industrial cooperation, in a context shaped by nearshoring opportunities.

As a result of these discussions, both governments agreed to establish a Strategic Dialogue and create a working group aimed at modernizing and strengthening the bilateral trade relationship. They also exchanged views on the upcoming USMCA review and agreed on the importance of maintaining consultations to protect and promote Korean investments established in Mexico.

Although there is currently no formal negotiation for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), several political actors have expressed interest in advancing toward that goal. In January 2026, during a visit by South Korean legislators to the Mexican Senate, both sides reaffirmed their willingness to follow up on a potential trade agreement, seen as a tool to expand economic cooperation, boost bilateral trade, and create new opportunities for strategic sectors, including agro-food industries.

Growing impact of Korean food in Mexico

The rising popularity of South Korean culture in Mexico has extended beyond entertainment to influence consumption habits. The Korean Wave, driven by the global rise of K-pop, television dramas, and digital content, has increased Mexican consumers’ interest in experiencing other aspects of everyday life in Korea, particularly its cuisine. This trend has encouraged the incorporation of Korean products, ingredients, and dishes into the Mexican market.

One of the most visible cases is Korean-style ramen, whose demand has grown steadily among younger consumers. Its popularity has been fueled by social media, streaming platforms, and the search for international flavors, allowing brands and distributors to expand their presence in the country.

In this segment, Maruchan remains a well-established competitor in Mexico, although with a mass-market commercial strategy that differs from the cultural and specialty-oriented positioning of many Korean products. At the same time, traditional foods such as kimchi, a fermented cabbage preparation considered one of Korea’s most iconic culinary symbols, have gained recognition in Mexico, driven by growing interest in Asian cuisine.

The rising interest in Korean gastronomy has also driven the expansion of supermarkets and specialized stores offering ramen, snacks, beverages, sauces, traditional ingredients, and other imported products. These stores have evolved from serving primarily the Korean community in Mexico to becoming meeting points for consumers attracted by Korean culture.

In this way, gastronomy has become one of the main channels of cultural exchange between Mexico and the Republic of Korea, complementing an increasingly close bilateral relationship in trade, cultural, and investment areas.