World instant noodle soup consumption sets new record – Hungary stable in TOP50

Global trends: China at the forefront, new emerging markets

China remains the largest consumer, although 45.1 billion servings were consumed in 2022, and after a decline of 42.2 billion in 2023, demand increased to 43.8 billion servings in 2024 – this is still below the peak value of 2021. The world’s second largest consumer is Indonesia, where continuous, albeit moderate, growth is seen. India took third place in 2023, overtaking Vietnam, although last year’s outstanding 14.5% growth was followed by a decline in 2024.

In the TOP15, Japan, Vietnam and the United States also show a similar trend to China: a decline in 2023, but an increase again in 2024, although they have not yet reached previous levels. Meanwhile, other countries – such as Egypt, South Africa, Turkey, Germany or the United Kingdom – have contributed more dynamically to the increase in global demand.

Hungary: more than 4 servings per capita

In our country, consumption increased from 39 million to 40 million servings, which is more than 4 servings per person on an annual basis. For comparison: Czechs consumed 70 million, Serbians 58 million, and Finns 20 million servings of instant soup last year. Although Hungary was ahead of Italy in 2021, the Italian market has now expanded to 50 million servings, thus overtaking us.

Hungary is also becoming stronger as a producer

Hungary may become an increasingly important player not only in consumption, but also in production. In February 2025, the Japanese Nissin Foods announced that it would double its capacity in Kecskemét: the 40 billion forint investment will allow it to produce more than 500 million servings of instant noodle soup annually. 90% of production is exported, while the remaining 10% – about 25 million servings – remains on the domestic market. Nissin also produces Smack soup, which is iconic among Hungarian university students.