Nongshim extends global instant noodles popularity to Russia

Visitors look at Shin Ramyun instant noodles at a Nongshim pop-up event in New York City in this October 2025 photo. Courtesy of Nongshim.

Nongshim is stepping up its global expansion by launching a new subsidiary in Moscow in June to target Russia and neighboring markets.

The company said Wednesday it will establish Nongshim Rus in the Russian capital, marking its eighth overseas subsidiary following the launch of its European unit in the Netherlands in March 2025.

The move comes as exports of Korean instant noodles continue to gain traction in Russia. The country’s imports of Korean instant noodles reached $52 million last year, up 58 percent from a year earlier, driven in part by the global popularity of K-pop and Korean content on streaming platforms.

The overall instant noodles market in Russia has also been growing since the COVID-19 pandemic, when demand for convenient, at-home meals surged worldwide. Citing Euromonitor data, Nongshim said the Russian market is expected to grow at an annual rate of more than 10 percent between 2021 and 2030, with the market size projected to reach 1.5 trillion won ($1.01 billion).

Nongshim plans to position its flagship Shin Ramyun and other key products as premium offerings. While most instant noodles in Russia are priced between 70 rubles ($0.89) and 100 rubles, the company aims to differentiate its products by pricing them at 200 rubles or higher.

To reach Russia’s population of 146 million, Nongshim will expand distribution through the country’s largest private retailers, X5 and Magnit, where its products are already sold. Major e-commerce platforms, including Ozon and Wildberries, will also strengthen promotion by launching dedicated brand channels. Marketing efforts will further include social media campaigns on local platforms and pop-up events at festivals.

Products supplied to Russia will be produced primarily at Nongshim’s new export-only manufacturing plant in Busan, scheduled for completion later this year.

Nongshim said Russia will serve as a strategic hub for expansion into Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) markets.

"Russia is a strategic hub connecting Europe and Asia and an attractive market with rapidly growing instant noodles consumption. Through our Russian subsidiary, we aim to expand our presence across the CIS and achieve annual sales of $30 million by 2030," a Nongshim official said.