Samyang Foods to open unit in Zhejiang

South Korea's Samyang Foods is set to significantly expand its investment and operational presence in China, its largest overseas market, with the inauguration of its first international manufacturing facility in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, next month.

Representing a total investment of approximately 1 billion yuan ($150 million), construction on the landmark Jiaxing plant began in September 2025 and is slated to commence official operations on Dec 23.

Equipped with eight advanced production lines, the facility is projected to yield an estimated 1.13 billion packs of instant noodles annually at full capacity, said Kim Joo-young, China region CEO of Samyang Foods' management center.

Primarily focusing on the flagship spicy chicken flavor series, the plant is modeled after the company's Miryang smart factory in South Korea. It will leverage sophisticated automated manufacturing and digital management systems to optimize supply chain efficiency, enforce rigorous quality control and ensure agile market responsiveness.

"Samyang Foods uses the China International Import Expo as a strategic platform to highlight our continued investment and deepened localization in the Chinese market, while fostering comprehensive collaboration with a broader network of partners," he said on the sidelines of the CIIE recently concluded in Shanghai.

For Samyang Foods, the Jiaxing plant represents a pivotal strategic evolution, marking the transition of its localization efforts from market penetration and channel distribution into localized manufacturing and supply chain integration.

"As China continues to mature as a critical international market, the company is concurrently driving sustained business growth and strengthening consumer engagement through cross-brand partnerships, experiential offline activations and interactive digital initiatives, thereby solidifying its foundation for long-term viability."

Amid profound shifts in global trade and investment, China is prioritizing the resilience of its industrial and supply chains, said Li Xingqian, vice-chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

China is simultaneously advancing high-standard opening-up by broadening market access, optimizing the local business environment, and rolling out measures to anchor foreign investment, said Li.

To further fulfill this commitment, the Jiaxing plant will not only manufacture classic items, but also serve as an innovation hub that will produce a wider variety of new products exclusively tailored for the Chinese market.

Building on the recent success of localized offerings, the company plans to continuously scale up its research and development and local manufacturing of unique flavors and diverse noodle product lines that cater specifically to the diverse palates of Chinese households.

Looking ahead, these strategic initiatives will substantially augment local production capacity and operational agility. This infrastructure will empower Samyang Foods to accelerate product innovation specifically tailored to the evolving preferences of Chinese consumers, ensuring sustainable and resilient growth across the region.