New niche: Mohd Zamruni says the growing recognition for high-quality products with halal certification has made more South Korean companies interested to venture into the halal market.
SEOUL: Malaysia-South Korea economic ties will be strengthened when a free trade agreement (FTA) is finalised by the first quarter of next year, paving the way for Malaysian-made halal food products to enter the East Asian nation.
Malaysian ambassador to South Korea Datuk Mohd Zamruni Khalid said there is untapped potential of halal-certified Malaysian products in Korea’s robust convenience food market valued at US$7.27bil (RM29.64bil) and projected to grow at 11.43% annually until 2030.
Malaysia’s exports of processed foods to South Korea have risen by 6.1% to reach US$154.8mil (RM631.12mil) last year, he noted.
“Halal-certified, high-quality and convenience-oriented Malaysian brands are well positioned to capture a larger market share in Korea’s premium food segment,” he said during the recent Asean Trade Fair 2025 in Ilsan, Goyang.
Mohd Zamruni spoke of opportunities available for premium processed foods and snacks featuring Malaysian flavours as well as halal-certified convenience foods.
“We expect growth potential in frozen tropical fruits (such as durians) and niche ingredients as South Korean consumers widen their taste horizons.”
According to Mohd Zamruni, there is growing demand in South Korea for halal, organic and sustainably sourced products.
As such, he said, Malaysian brands can capitalise on this trend by providing transparent supply-chain documentation.
Mohd Zamruni underscored the importance of aligning Malaysia’s globally-recognised halal certification by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) with Korean Muslim-friendly frameworks, saying this could foster trust among new consumers.
“The Korean Muslim Federation works closely with Jakim on certification,” he added.
Mohd Zamruni said the growing recognition for high-quality products with halal certification has made more South Korean companies interested to venture into halal products.
Malaysian brands can penetrate the South Korean premium and convenience segments by designing products that fit into the daily lives of Koreans, he said.
“Even without the FTA, trade between South Korea and Malaysia has surpassed over US$20bil over the past four years.”
Mohd Zamruni said the Asean Trade Fair 2025 at the Korea International Exhibition Centre in Ilsan is an important platform for Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs), food producers and halal industry players to make their debut in the Korean market.
The trade fair included business meeting sessions where importers and distributors from South Korea could meet Malaysian SMEs, food producers and halal-certified brands, he said.
“This is especially valuable because Korean distribution channels and convenience trends are growing rapidly and many Malaysian SMEs are positioned for these segments.”
Meanwhile, Asean-Korea Centre secretary-general Kim Jae-shin spoke on the trade fair’s role in linking South-East Asian companies with Korean consumers.
Despite global economic uncertainties, he said the trade fair was a timely opportunity for Asean member states to explore new business ventures in Korea.
Kim also said the F&B sector in Asean is projected to reach US$900bil by 2028, demonstrating an impressive annual growth rate of about 7%.
The Malaysia-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement, signed during the 47th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur in October, aims to cover investments, customs facilitation, green economy and other sectors, strengthening economic ties and opening new avenues for trade and investment.
South Korea is Malaysia’s eighth-largest trading partner with total trade worth US$23.94bil last year.
