Data as of: Korea Customs Service data through September 2026 (SEACHING, queried October 15, 2026). Tariffs and quarantine rules checked October 15, 2026.
Canada supplied 98.9% of Korea’s lobster imports in Jan–Sep 2026, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data. Korea imported US$53.8 million of lobster, down 4.3% from Jan–Sep 2025. Volume fell 17.0% to 1,913 tonnes, while the average customs price rose 15.2% to US$28.14 per kg.
The number that matters: 98.9%
Canada’s share of Korea’s lobster import value in Jan–Sep 2026. Korea buys less lobster by weight, at a higher price per kilo.
Key takeaways
- Canada supplied 98.9% of Korea’s lobster imports by value in Jan–Sep 2026, up from 95.5% in Jan–Sep 2025 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
- Korea imported US$32.1 million of frozen lobster (up 6.9%) and US$20.9 million of live lobster (down 12.8%) in Jan–Sep 2026 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
- August and September brought 72.4% of Korea’s Jan–Sep 2026 frozen lobster import value (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
- Korea’s imports of US lobster fell from US$4.76 million in 2024 to US$0.05 million in Jan–Sep 2026, although US lobster enters Korea duty-free as of October 2026 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data; 2026 Korea tariff schedule).
Where does Korea import lobster from?
Canada shipped US$53.2 million of Korea’s US$53.8 million in lobster imports, Jan–Sep 2026.
| Origin | Jan–Sep 2025 (US$ million) | Share | Jan–Sep 2026 (US$ million) | Share | Main product, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 53.71 | 95.5% | 53.23 | 98.9% | Frozen and live lobster |
| Australia | 0.56 | 1.0% | 0.32 | 0.6% | Live rock lobster |
| Ireland | 0.07 | 0.1% | 0.13 | 0.2% | Frozen lobster |
| United States | 0.78 | 1.4% | 0.05 | 0.1% | Live lobster |
| Mauritania | 1.05 | 1.9% | 0 | 0% | (frozen, 2025 only) |
| All origins | 56.24 | 53.82 |
Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports, Jan–Sep 2025 and Jan–Sep 2026, queried October 15, 2026.
Lobster was 1.22% of Korea’s seafood imports in Jan–Sep 2026. Korea’s seafood imports here means HS chapter 03 plus prepared fish and crustaceans (HS 1603–1605); seaweed and salt are excluded.
Live or frozen: how do Korea’s two lobster markets differ?
Frozen lobster was 59.6% of Korea’s lobster import value in Jan–Sep 2026, and live lobster 38.9%.
| Form | HSK | Jan–Sep 2026 (US$ million) | Change vs Jan–Sep 2025 | Tonnes, 2026 | US$/kg, 2026 | US$/kg, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frozen lobster (Homarus) | 0306.12 | 32.09 | +6.9% | 1,038 | 30.92 | 24.97 |
| Live, fresh or chilled lobster (Homarus) | 0306.32 | 20.92 | −12.8% | 751 | 27.85 | 26.53 |
| Prepared lobster | 1605.30 | 0.41 | −74.7% | 117 | 3.49 | 8.88 |
| Rock lobster, live and frozen | 0306.31, 0306.11 | 0.33 | −43.4% | 5 | 62.06 | 41.04 |
Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports, Jan–Sep 2025 and Jan–Sep 2026, queried October 15, 2026.
Frozen value rose 6.9% on 13.7% less volume, so the frozen price rose 23.8%. Live volume fell 16.9% with a 5.0% price rise. The customs code does not separate cooked from raw frozen lobster, so frozen price changes may partly reflect product mix.
December was the largest live month in 2024 and 2025. May and June bring cheaper lobster: in 2025 they took 26.0% of live volume at US$20.89 per kg, against a full-year US$26.25.
When does frozen lobster arrive in Korea?
Frozen lobster arrives in a late-summer wave. July to October took 62.9% of Korea’s frozen lobster import value in 2024 and 77.3% in 2025. In 2026, August and September alone brought 72.4% of the Jan–Sep value.
Arrivals between waves have shrunk: 329 tonnes of frozen lobster in April–July 2024, 180 tonnes in 2025 and 104 tonnes in 2026. The frozen price averaged US$34.64 per kg in Jan–Jul 2026, then US$29.70 when the new wave landed. In 2025 the order was reversed: US$22.20 in Jan–Jul, US$26.16 in Aug–Sep.
From LINKSUP’s trading desk
When frozen cooked lobster stocks ran out in Korea, new customers came to us with urgent orders. We had been watching the import trend in SEACHING data and had already imported more than we first planned. Because the stock was in place, we could supply those orders right away.
LINKSUP imports seafood into Korea from its base in Busan and built SEACHING from that work. If you want to discuss a specific product, you can reach the team through seaching.co.kr.
Are Korea’s lobster imports falling?
Yes. Korea’s lobster imports fell 19.8% in value from US$100.1 million in 2024 to US$80.3 million in 2025.
| Period | Frozen (US$ million) | Live (US$ million) | All lobster (US$ million) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 56.84 | 41.15 | 100.12 | 3,409 |
| 2025 | 45.21 | 32.35 | 80.34 | 3,298 |
| Jan–Sep 2025 | 30.02 | 23.97 | 56.24 | 2,304 |
| Jan–Sep 2026 | 32.09 | 20.92 | 53.82 | 1,913 |
Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports, queried October 15, 2026. Jan–Sep 2024 sums origins with at least US$100,000 of imports in the 12 months to September 2026.
Jan–Sep figures miss part of the July–October frozen season; October 2026 data will show whether this year’s wave matched 2025.
What happened to US lobster in Korea?
US lobster has nearly vanished from Korea’s imports. Korea imported US$4.76 million of US lobster in 2024 (4.76% of its lobster imports), US$0.78 million in 2025 and US$0.05 million in Jan–Sep 2026.
The tariff is the same: as of October 2026, US and Canadian lobster both enter Korea at 0% under free trade agreements (FTAs).
| HSK | Product | Basic rate | Canada | United States | Australia | China |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0306.32.0000 | Live, fresh or chilled lobster | 20% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 4% |
| 0306.12.9000 | Frozen lobster | 20% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 8% |
| 0306.31.0000 | Rock lobster, live, fresh or chilled | 20% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 4% |
| 1605.30.9000 | Prepared lobster | 20% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 8% |
Source: Korea Customs Service, tariff rates by item 2026, rates for January 1–December 31, 2026, checked October 15, 2026.
The Korean importer claims the FTA rate before clearance and must hold the origin documents, so send them with the shipping papers. Confirm the final rate on UNIPASS or with a Korean customs broker.
What does this mean for lobster exporters?
- Plan frozen shipments around the wave. Most frozen lobster reaches Korea from July to October.
- Quote live lobster for December, the largest live month in 2024 and 2025. The Korea seafood demand calendar shows other holiday peaks.
- Allow for lead time. Order to shipment for frozen seafood typically takes about three months, varying by product (LINKSUP estimate). See the guide to lead times and container loads.
- Ask about quarantine before shipping live lobster. As of October 2026, live crustaceans for food are designated quarantine items of the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service (NFQS). Its frozen list names uncooked rock and slipper lobster (dak-saeu, buchae-saeu) but not Homarus lobster, so confirm frozen raw lobster with NFQS.
Related: what the US and Canada sell to Korea, the king crab and snow crab report, the Q3 2026 seafood imports report and the step-by-step export guide.
Track Korea’s lobster imports month by month
SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, shows Korea’s imports by 10-digit HS code, origin and month.
Its “By Country” table for frozen lobster lists each origin’s value, price per kg and volume for October 2025–September 2026.
SEACHING’s price forecast models import unit prices by origin and product using Korea Customs Service prices, exchange-rate indices and sea-surface temperature data. See the live lobster price forecast by origin (free sign-up)
FAQ
Is Canadian and US lobster duty-free in Korea?
Yes. As of October 2026, live (HSK 0306.32) and frozen lobster (HSK 0306.12.9000) from Canada and the United States pay 0% under their FTAs with Korea, against a 20% basic rate (Korea Customs Service 2026 tariff schedule).
Does Korea import much cooked or canned lobster?
No. Prepared lobster (HSK 1605.30) was US$0.41 million in Jan–Sep 2026, under 1% of Korea’s lobster imports (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
Sources and method
- SEACHING, frozen lobster (HSK 0306.12.9000), Korea Customs Service import data, monthly October 2023–September 2026, queried October 15, 2026. Live lobster (0306.32.0000), rock lobster (0306.11, 0306.31), Norway lobster (0306.15, 0306.34), other lobster codes (0306.91, 0306.92, 0306.94) and prepared lobster (1605.30) were queried the same way on the same day
- Korea Customs Service, tariff rates by item 2026 (data.go.kr), file dated February 11, 2026, checked October 15, 2026
- NFQS, import and export quarantine guide, checked October 15, 2026
- National Law Information Center: FTA Customs Act, Article 8, in force October 1, 2025
- Method: lobster combines HSK 0306.11, 0306.12, 0306.15, 0306.31, 0306.32, 0306.34, 0306.91, 0306.92, 0306.94 and 1605.30, the same group as the ranking of Korea’s top imported species. Unit price is customs value divided by net weight, on a CIF basis, not a market price. Shares use all origins as the denominator. Months with no trade count as zero. For Jan–Sep 2024, figures sum origins with at least US$100,000 of imports in the 12 months to September 2026; from October 2024 they cover all origins. The 2024 live and frozen totals match USDA FAS GAIN report KS2025-0046. Korea’s seafood imports means HS chapter 03 plus HS 1603–1605, excluding seaweed and salt.
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