Nongshim has officially commenced construction of its new export-only manufacturing facility, the ‘Noksan Export Factory,’ in Busan’s Noksan National Industrial Complex. The groundbreaking ceremony marked the beginning of this strategic project poised to serve as a major hub for the company’s global expansion.
The new Noksan Export Factory will be built on vacant land within the existing Noksan plant area, which currently hosts Nongshim’s noodle production facilities. Covering approximately 11,280 square meters of site area and with a total floor space of about 48,100 square meters, the factory is targeted for completion in the second half of 2026.
Initially, the facility will operate three ramen production lines, capable of producing 500 million packs of ramen annually. When operational, this will bring Nongshim’s total export ramen capacity to 1.2 billion units, combining production from the Busan and Gumi plants. This represents nearly doubling the current export capacity. The company plans to expand production lines to up to eight, depending on global demand trends.
A Nongshim official stated, “This facility is a strategic investment to meet the increasing global demand for Korean ramen. With the rising popularity of Shin Ramyun Tombba and other Korean noodle products worldwide, the Noksan Export Factory will significantly enhance our production capacity and quality competitiveness.”
Equipped with cutting-edge, AI-driven smart factory technologies, the Noksan Export Factory will feature a proprietary deep learning-based quality inspection system and a big data-driven predictive maintenance system. These innovations aim to elevate product quality and maximize production efficiency.
Moreover, the factory will adhere to international standards suitable for a global export hub, obtaining certifications such as ISO 9001, FSSC 22000, and certifications for sustainable sourcing including RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) and Halal. Efforts will also be made to incorporate energy-saving facilities and sustainable energy practices, making it an eco-friendly production site.
In addition, Nongshim has established a European branch, Nongshim Europe B.V., in Amsterdam last March, reinforcing its European market strategy. Leveraging the stable production base of the Noksan Export Factory, the company intends to expand sales across Europe and develop products tailored to local tastes. The new facility is also expected to play a vital role in Nongshim’s growth in emerging markets such as South America and South Asia, where ramen demand is rapidly rising.
