Data as of: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data through September 2026, queried October 15, 2026. 2026 figures can still be revised.
South Korea’s seafood imports totaled US$1,467.6 million in the third quarter of 2026 (July–September), down 2.4% from Q3 2025, while weight fell 15.2% to 300,529 tonnes, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data. China supplied 23.0% of the value, and shrimp was the largest species group at US$205.5 million.
The number that matters: −31.5%
The fall in Korea’s squid and cuttlefish imports in Q3 2026, to US$158.3 million. That US$72.7 million loss is twice the total decline. Without squid, Korea’s seafood imports rose 2.9%.
Key takeaways
- Korea’s seafood imports were US$4,415.6 million in Jan–Sep 2026, up 0.7% on Jan–Sep 2025, while weight fell 4.6% (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
- China (23.0%), Russia (17.4%), Vietnam (15.3%) and Norway (10.5%) supplied 66.3% of Korea’s seafood import value in Q3 2026, in the same order as in Q3 2025, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data.
- In Q3 2026, Korea’s squid and cuttlefish imports fell 31.5% to US$158.3 million, while salmon rose 12.7% to US$122.5 million (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
- Korea’s average seafood import price rose 15.1% to US$4.88/kg in Q3 2026, but prices at HS-code level rose 3.1%; the rest is product mix (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
How much seafood did South Korea import in Q3 2026?
Korea imported US$1,467.6 million of seafood in Q3 2026, 2.4% less than a year earlier. Weight fell faster, so the average value per kilo rose 15.1%.
Here, Korea’s seafood imports means HS chapter 03 plus prepared fish and crustaceans (HS 1603–1605); seaweed, salt and fishmeal are excluded.
| Korea’s seafood imports | Q3 2025 | Q3 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value (US$ million) | 1,503.4 | 1,467.6 | −2.4% |
| Weight (tonnes) | 354,366 | 300,529 | −15.2% |
| Average unit price (US$/kg) | 4.24 | 4.88 | +15.1% |
| Jan–Sep value (US$ million) | 4,383.0 | 4,415.6 | +0.7% |
| Jan–Sep weight (tonnes) | 1,005,656 | 959,847 | −4.6% |
Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports, HS 03 and 1603–1605, Q3 and Jan–Sep of 2025 and 2026, queried October 15, 2026.
July was the weak month, August was up, and September was slightly down. Weight fell in all three months.
| Month | 2025 (US$ million) | 2026 (US$ million) | Value change | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July | 503.4 | 452.1 | −10.2% | −26.4% |
| August | 442.4 | 472.0 | +6.7% | −4.4% |
| September | 557.6 | 543.5 | −2.5% | −12.8% |
Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports, HS 03 and 1603–1605, July–September 2025 and 2026.
Which countries supplied Korea’s seafood imports in Q3 2026?
China was Korea’s largest seafood supplier in Q3 2026 with 23.0% of import value, followed by Russia, Vietnam and Norway. Together the top four supplied 66.3%, and the top 10 supplied 83.1%.
| Rank | Origin | Q3 2025 (US$ million) | Q3 2026 (US$ million) | Share, Q3 2026 | Change | Rank, Q3 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 334.5 | 337.9 | 23.0% | +1.0% | 1 |
| 2 | Russia | 251.9 | 256.1 | 17.4% | +1.6% | 2 |
| 3 | Vietnam | 225.8 | 224.2 | 15.3% | −0.7% | 3 |
| 4 | Norway | 140.8 | 154.2 | 10.5% | +9.5% | 4 |
| 5 | Peru | 82.5 | 58.3 | 4.0% | −29.3% | 5 |
| 6 | Japan | 44.0 | 45.8 | 3.1% | +4.0% | 7 |
| 7 | United States | 49.3 | 45.6 | 3.1% | −7.5% | 6 |
| 8 | Canada | 39.1 | 39.2 | 2.7% | +0.4% | 8 |
| 9 | Thailand | 34.9 | 29.7 | 2.0% | −14.8% | 9 |
| 10 | Chile | 24.5 | 28.4 | 1.9% | +16.0% | 12 |
| All other origins | 276.2 | 248.2 | 16.9% | −10.1% |
Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports by origin, HS 03 and 1603–1605, Q3 2025 and Q3 2026. Shares are of total Q3 2026 import value.
Russia’s value rose 1.6% while its weight fell 35.7%, led by 21,294 fewer tonnes of whole frozen Alaska pollock. Peru fell 29.3% but still ranked fifth. Outside the top 10, Türkiye more than doubled to US$20.8 million, of which US$17.5 million was frozen bluefin tuna fillets.
The ranking of Korea’s seafood suppliers by country has the full list. See also the Vietnam export guide and the Norway export guide.
Which species groups did Korea import most in Q3 2026?
Shrimp stayed Korea’s largest seafood import group in Q3 2026 at US$205.5 million, nearly flat on Q3 2025. Squid and cuttlefish stayed second despite a 31.5% fall. The species groups cover 67.0% of Q3 import value.
| Species group | Value (US$ million) | Weight (tonnes) | US$/kg | Value change | Leading origin (share) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shrimp | 205.5 | 29,760 | 6.91 | −0.3% | Vietnam (42.3%) |
| Squid and cuttlefish | 158.3 | 45,285 | 3.50 | −31.5% | China (33.5%) |
| Salmon | 122.5 | 10,144 | 12.07 | +12.7% | Norway (90.3%) |
| Long-arm octopus (nakji) | 67.0 | 5,580 | 12.02 | −4.8% | China (88.4%) |
| Alaska pollock fillets, surimi and roe | 57.2 | 15,988 | 3.58 | −3.5% | Russia (74.0%) |
| Webfoot octopus (jukkumi) | 55.9 | 7,637 | 7.32 | +1.3% | Vietnam (85.7%) |
| Tuna | 47.7 | 5,622 | 8.48 | +44.5% | Türkiye (38.2%) |
| Mackerel | 46.6 | 8,043 | 5.79 | +19.2% | Norway (86.0%) |
| Snow crab, live and fresh | 45.0 | 2,097 | 21.47 | +15.0% | Russia (99.8%) |
| Other crab, frozen | 38.4 | 3,903 | 9.83 | +23.0% | Russia (80.6%) |
Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports, Q3 2026; change is against Q3 2025. Species groups are LINKSUP’s grouping of HSK codes, listed under Sources and method.
Frozen peeled shrimp (HSK 0306.17.1090) was the largest single code at US$110.2 million, 42.4% from Vietnam. Frozen squid (0307.43.2090, “other squid, frozen”) was second at US$85.3 million, down 39.1%, and fresh Atlantic salmon (0302.14.0000) was third at US$68.6 million, up 14.5%.
Korea paid 33.0% more for frozen mackerel (0303.54.0000) but took 27.9% less by weight, as the price rose from US$2.78/kg to US$5.14/kg. Norway supplied 90.9%. See the mackerel price analysis, the salmon guide, the shrimp guide and the ranking of what Korea imports most.
What stood out this quarter?
Squid explains the whole decline. Korea’s squid and cuttlefish imports fell by US$72.7 million; total seafood imports fell by US$35.8 million. Without squid, Korea’s Q3 seafood imports rose 2.9% to US$1,309.3 million.
Frozen squid (0307.43.2090) dropped 21.2% in weight and 22.8% in unit price, to US$2.61/kg. Customs data does not show why. For context, Korea’s own squid catch rose 128.5% to 31,006 tonnes in 2025, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF). If you sell squid, check your buyers’ 2026 order sizes before quoting for 2027. The squid import guide covers origins and codes.
The Trends tab of SEACHING’s page for this code plots Korea’s monthly import value and unit price for the latest year, so you can see whether the two moved together.
Of the 53,838 tonnes Korea’s imports lost in Q3, whole frozen Alaska pollock accounted for 39% (down 58.5% to 14,832 tonnes) and squid and cuttlefish for 20%.
How should you read these numbers?
Read the average unit price as a mix figure, not a market price. At each HS code’s Q3 2025 price, Korea’s Q3 2026 imports would have been worth US$1,423.5 million; the actual figure was 3.1% higher. The rest of the 15.1% rise comes from fewer kilos of cheap products, such as whole frozen pollock at US$1.58/kg.
Notes on method:
- Unit price is customs value divided by weight. Korea values imports at CIF, so compare it with your CIF price.
- Scope is narrower than some official totals. The guide to Korea’s seafood market size explains why published totals differ.
How can you check Q3 imports of your own product?
SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, has a page for each 10-digit HSK code. Compare July–September 2026 with the same months of 2025: frozen peeled shrimp import data on SEACHING (free sign-up), frozen squid imports by month (free sign-up), fresh Atlantic salmon imports by origin (free sign-up) and whole frozen Alaska pollock imports (free sign-up).
You may quote the figures in this report with attribution: “Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, July–September 2026.” For other species, origins or months, query the data on SEACHING (free sign-up).
FAQ
Which country supplies the most seafood to South Korea?
China supplied 23.0% of Korea’s seafood import value in Q3 2026, or US$337.9 million, ahead of Russia (17.4%) and Vietnam (15.3%), according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data (HS 03 and 1603–1605).
Why do different sources give different totals for Korea’s seafood imports?
Sources use different product scopes and price bases. Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries totals include salt and other non-fish lines, while this report covers HS 03 and 1603–1605 only. Korea’s customs values are CIF, so they include freight and insurance to the Korean port.
Sources and method
- SEACHING, Korea Customs Service import data by 10-digit HSK code and origin, monthly, July 2025 to September 2026 and January–September of 2025 and 2026, queried October 15, 2026
- Korea Customs Service trade statistics, source of the customs data, accessed October 15, 2026
- Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries press release on 2025 fisheries production, February 26, 2026
- Scope: HS chapter 03 plus HS 1603, 1604 and 1605 (516 HSK codes). Seaweed (1212), salt (2501) and non-food codes (0511, 1521, 2301) excluded.
- Origin totals add up each origin’s code-level imports; origins with under US$100,000 of a code in the 12 months to September 2026 are counted in “All other origins”.
- Species groups (HSK): shrimp 0306.16/17/35/36/95 and 1605.21/29; squid and cuttlefish 0307.42/43/49 and 1605.54; salmon 0302.13/14, 0303.11–13, 0304.41/81, 0305.41; long-arm octopus 0307.51.1000 and 0307.52.2000; Alaska pollock fillets, surimi and roe 0304.75, 0304.94, 0303.91.2010; webfoot octopus 0307.51.2000 and 0307.52.3000; tuna 0302.3x, 0303.4x, 0304.87; mackerel 0302.44, 0303.54, 0304.89.5000; snow crab 0306.33.2000; other frozen crab 0306.14.9090. Nineteen groups in total cover 67.0% of Q3 2026 value.
- Unit price is customs value (CIF, US$) divided by weight (kg).
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