Data as of: Korea’s imports Jan–Sep 2026 and Jan–Sep 2025 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, retrieved October 15, 2026); 2026 tariff schedule; rules checked October 2026.
Vietnam is the third-largest origin of Korea’s seafood imports, with US$631.8 million (14.3% of value) in Jan–Sep 2026, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data. For a Vietnam seafood export to Korea, frozen peeled shrimp and webfoot octopus lead, and six of the top eight codes pay 0% under the Korea–Vietnam FTA in 2026.
Key takeaways
- Vietnam supplied US$631.8 million, or 14.3%, of Korea’s seafood imports in Jan–Sep 2026, behind China (23.2%) and Russia (16.9%), according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data.
- Korea’s imports from Vietnam rose 4.8% by value but fell 4.7% by weight in Jan–Sep 2026 against Jan–Sep 2025, as the average customs value rose from US$4.98 to US$5.48 per kg (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
- In Jan–Sep 2026, Vietnam held 82.4% of Korea’s frozen webfoot octopus imports and 82.2% of breaded shrimp, but only 42.4% of frozen peeled shrimp, where China held 40.7% (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
- Under Korea’s FTA decree, Vietnamese frozen shrimp and other prepared shrimp pay 0% only within a shared 15,000-tonne yearly quota in 2026 and 20% above it, while breaded shrimp pays 0% with no quota (as of October 2026).
How much seafood does Korea import from Vietnam?
Korea bought US$631.8 million of seafood from Vietnam in Jan–Sep 2026, up 4.8% from US$602.8 million a year earlier. Vietnam’s share rose from 13.8% to 14.3% while Korea’s total grew 0.7%. In this article, Korea’s seafood imports means HS chapter 03 plus prepared fish and crustaceans (HS 1603–1605); seaweed and salt are excluded.
| Origin | Jan–Sep 2026 | Share | Jan–Sep 2025 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | US$1,024.2 million | 23.2% | US$1,038.3 million | 23.7% |
| Russia | US$747.5 million | 16.9% | US$686.9 million | 15.7% |
| Vietnam | US$631.8 million | 14.3% | US$602.8 million | 13.8% |
| All origins | US$4,415.6 million | 100% | US$4,383.0 million | 100% |
Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, retrieved October 15, 2026. Scope: HS 03 and 1603–1605.
Volume fell from 120,995 to 115,332 tonnes. The product mix is one reading of the higher average price: surimi, Vietnam’s lowest-priced large line at US$1.85 per kg, fell, while webfoot octopus and other prepared shrimp grew. For all origins, see Korea’s fish imports by country.
What does Korea buy from Vietnam?
The top 10 HSK codes made up 83.6% of Vietnam’s sales to Korea in Jan–Sep 2026, and Vietnam was the largest origin in 39 codes carrying 85.9% of its sales. Shrimp in all forms brought in US$253.3 million, 40.1% of the total.
| HSK | Product | Value from Vietnam | Weight | US$/kg | Vietnam’s share of this HSK (2025) | Main rival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0306.17.1090 | Frozen peeled shrimp | US$133.12 million | 15,760 t | 8.45 | 42.4% (47.5%) | China 40.7% |
| 0307.52.3000 | Frozen webfoot octopus (jukkumi) | US$119.50 million | 17,124 t | 6.98 | 82.4% (79.3%) | Thailand 13.2% |
| 1605.21.1000 | Breaded shrimp, not in airtight containers | US$62.45 million | 10,648 t | 5.87 | 82.2% (78.5%) | Thailand 17.2% |
| 0304.99.1000 | Frozen surimi, other | US$53.30 million | 28,851 t | 1.85 | 45.4% (50.7%) | China 40.9% |
| 1605.21.9000 | Other prepared shrimp, not in airtight containers | US$44.10 million | 4,052 t | 10.88 | 69.4% (72.1%) | Thailand 27.3% |
| 1604.19.9010 | Prepared filefish (jwichi-po) | US$32.41 million | 3,925 t | 8.26 | 92.3% (81.1%) | China 7.7% |
| 0307.43.1090 | Frozen cuttlefish, other | US$28.43 million | 3,558 t | 7.99 | 70.9% (67.9%) | Thailand 14.3% |
| 0307.52.2000 | Frozen long-arm octopus (nakji) | US$25.60 million | 3,553 t | 7.21 | 25.0% (24.8%) | China 72.0% |
| 0307.92.9000 | Other frozen molluscs | US$17.41 million | 2,566 t | 6.78 | 23.8% (13.3%) | UK 23.0% |
| 0307.49.3010 | Cuttlefish and squid (listed species), dried, salted or smoked | US$11.88 million | 329 t | 36.06 | 98.3% (99.8%) | China 1.7% |
Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, Jan–Sep 2026 (Jan–Sep 2025 in brackets), retrieved October 15, 2026. Share is Vietnam’s value as a percentage of all origins in that HSK code.
Webfoot octopus grew most, from US$99.98 million in Jan–Sep 2024 to US$119.50 million in Jan–Sep 2026, while peeled shrimp and surimi fell back in 2026. The octopus codes are explained in Korea’s octopus imports by HS code.
Who does Vietnam compete with in each product?
China is the main rival in peeled shrimp, surimi and long-arm octopus, and Thailand in webfoot octopus, cuttlefish and prepared shrimp.
Against Thailand, Vietnam is cheaper. In breaded shrimp, Korea’s customs value was US$5.87 per kg for Vietnamese product and US$8.52 for Thai product in Jan–Sep 2026; in webfoot octopus it was US$6.98 against US$7.96. Thailand’s share fell in both codes.
Against China, it is the reverse. Chinese peeled shrimp entered at US$7.18 per kg against Vietnam’s US$8.45, and Chinese surimi at US$1.29 against US$1.85. Vietnam lost share in both: peeled shrimp from 47.5% to 42.4%, and surimi from 50.7% to 45.4%. Long-arm octopus follows the same pattern (US$7.21 against US$6.75). Compare your offer with the Korea seafood import price benchmark; Korea’s surimi imports and shrimp imports by origin go deeper.
SEACHING’s page for Vietnamese breaded shrimp (“Covered with bread crumbs or batter”) shows Korea’s monthly customs unit price for that origin and the model forecast to February 2027 as a dashed line.
Monthly series by origin: frozen peeled shrimp (free sign-up), frozen webfoot octopus (free sign-up) and frozen surimi (free sign-up).
Which FTA gives Vietnamese seafood the lower duty?
For six of Vietnam’s top eight codes, the Korea–Vietnam FTA rate is 0% in 2026, and the ASEAN–Korea rate is the same or higher. Shrimp is the exception: both agreements give frozen shrimp and other prepared shrimp 0% only within yearly quotas.
| HSK / product | Basic rate | Korea–Vietnam FTA | ASEAN–Korea FTA | RCEP (ASEAN) | Korea–China FTA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0306.17.1090 frozen peeled shrimp | 20% | 0% within 15,000 t quota, 20% above | 0% within 5,000 t quota | no line | 8% |
| 0307.52.3000 frozen webfoot octopus | 20% | 0% | 0% | 13.3% | 8% |
| 1605.21.1000 breaded shrimp | 20% | 0% | 0% | 13.3% | 8% |
| 0304.99.1000 frozen surimi, other | 10% | 0% | 0% | 6.7% | 4% |
| 1605.21.9000 other prepared shrimp | 20% | 0% within 15,000 t quota, 20% above | 0% within 2,000 t, 16% above | no line | 8% |
| 1604.19.9010 prepared filefish | 20% | 0% | 0% | 13.3% | 8% |
| 0307.43.1090 frozen cuttlefish, other | 20% | 0% | 5% | 20% | 8% |
| 0307.52.2000 frozen long-arm octopus | 20% | 0% | 0% | 13.3% | 20% |
Source: Korea Customs Service, tariff schedule by HSK code, 2026 rates (January 1 to December 31, 2026); shrimp quotas from the Enforcement Decree of the FTA Customs Act, Annexes 4 and 16. Checked October 2026. Use of the ASEAN quotas by Vietnamese shipments is not confirmed.
Vietnam’s 15,000-tonne shrimp quota is one pool for frozen shrimp, live, fresh or chilled shrimp, and other prepared shrimp (1605.21.9000). Korea imported 28,627 tonnes of Vietnamese product in those codes in 2025 and 20,603 tonnes in Jan–Sep 2026, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data. Customs data cannot show which duty rate applied to each shipment; confirm quota rules with a customs broker. Outside the quota, Vietnamese frozen peeled shrimp pays 20%, against 8% for Chinese peeled shrimp under the Korea–China FTA.
The importer claims the FTA rate before Korean customs accepts the declaration and must hold proof of origin. Confirm the 2026 rate for your code with a licensed Korean customs broker or on Korea Customs Service UNIPASS. See the Korea seafood import duty guide.
Does your product qualify as Vietnamese under the FTA?
Raw products must be wholly obtained in Vietnam; prepared products have more room. In Annex 3-A of the signed Korea–Vietnam FTA, frozen shrimp, octopus, cuttlefish and surimi (HS 0304.99) carry the rule “WO” (wholly obtained). Article 3.2 defines this to include fish caught or farmed in Vietnam’s internal waters or territorial sea, and sea catches taken by vessels registered in Vietnam and flying its flag. Under the same annex, prepared shrimp and prepared fish in HS 1604 and 1605 qualify with a change of chapter (CC) or 40% regional value content (RVC 40).
Read literally, frozen shrimp peeled in Vietnam from imported raw shrimp does not meet the WO rule, while breaded shrimp made from it moves from chapter 03 to chapter 16 and can meet the CC rule. The rules in the signed text use 2012 HS codes, so confirm the current version with your broker.
The certificate of origin follows the form in Annex 3-C of the agreement, titled “FORM KV”. Under Article 3.14, Vietnam’s issuing authority issues it on or before the shipment date or within three working days after. It is valid for one year from issue (Article 3.16), and an import worth US$600 FOB or less needs no certificate (Article 3.17).
What does a Vietnamese plant need before the first shipment?
Common steps are in the step-by-step guide to exporting seafood to Korea; this table shows what differs for Vietnam.
| Step | Who | Documents or tools | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Find your 10-digit HSK code and its main rival origin | Exporter | Korea’s import data by HSK and origin | Before you quote |
| 2. Check the origin rule (WO for raw, change of chapter or 40% value for prepared) | Exporter | FTA Annex 3-A | Before you quote |
| 3. Choose the Korea–Vietnam or ASEAN–Korea rate; for shrimp, ask about quota | Exporter with the importer’s customs broker | FORM KV, or the ASEAN–Korea certificate of origin | Before the import declaration is accepted |
| 4. Get your plant registered with MFDS through the Vietnamese authorities | Plant, via Vietnam’s competent authority | Application through the Vietnamese government | Before the import declaration; valid 2 years |
| 5. Get a health certificate for each shipment | Vietnam’s competent authority | Government health certificate | Each shipment |
| 6. For raw, uncut frozen shrimp and live animals, check NFQS quarantine | Exporter with importer | Documents NFQS asks for | Before shipment |
Vietnam is one of the 11 countries with a seafood safety arrangement with Korea, according to a Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) guide dated October 2024. Under the Special Act on Imported Food Safety Control and its enforcement rule, each shipment needs the exporting government’s health certificate and registration lasts two years (as of October 2026). See the MFDS foreign facility registration guide.
The National Fishery Products Quality Management Service (NFQS) quarantines live aquatic animals and frozen or chilled shrimp that has not been heat-treated or cut, as of October 2026. Ask NFQS through your importer whether peeled shrimp counts as cut.
Confirm these rules, summarized as of October 2026, with your importer, a licensed Korean customs broker or the agency concerned before you ship.
Pre-shipment checklist
- You know your full HSK code, Vietnam’s position in it and the main rival origin.
- Your product meets the origin rule: wholly obtained for raw products, or change of chapter or 40% value for prepared ones.
- Your buyer has said which agreement they will claim, and for frozen shrimp, whether the quota rate is still open.
- Your plant is registered with MFDS through the Vietnamese authorities, and a health certificate is arranged for this shipment.
- Your buyer has approved the Korean label and origin text (see Korea’s labeling and origin rules).
How much of Vietnam’s seafood exports go to Korea?
Korea took US$798.3 million, or 8.44%, of Vietnam’s US$9,454.3 million of seafood exports in 2023, according to exporter-reported UN Comtrade data (FOB, so not comparable with Korea’s CIF values above).
Vietnam exported US$1,454.7 million of frozen catfish (pangasius) fillets in 2023, by the same Comtrade data, but Korea imported only US$4.51 million of frozen catfish fillets (HS 0304.62) in Jan–Sep 2026, all from Vietnam, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data.
Before a first order, read why seafood shipments fail Korean import inspection. Other origin guides cover China, Thailand and Indonesia and shrimp from India, Indonesia and Thailand.
See where Vietnam ranks for your product in Korea
SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, shows Korea’s seafood imports by 10-digit HSK code, origin and month, built on Korea Customs Service data.
See how Vietnam ranks among Korea’s suppliers of your product, month by month. Open Vietnam’s Korea trade page on SEACHING (free sign-up)
FAQ
Is Vietnamese shrimp duty-free in Korea?
It depends on the form. Breaded shrimp (HSK 1605.21.1000) pays 0% under the Korea–Vietnam FTA in 2026 without a quota. Frozen shrimp and other prepared shrimp pay 0% only within a 15,000-tonne yearly quota and 20% above it, as of October 2026.
Should my buyer use the Korea–Vietnam FTA or the ASEAN–Korea FTA?
Compare the two rates for your HSK code. In 2026, frozen cuttlefish pays 0% under the Korea–Vietnam FTA and 5% under the ASEAN–Korea FTA. Other prepared shrimp above the Vietnam quota is the reverse: 20% under the Korea–Vietnam FTA and 16% under the ASEAN–Korea FTA’s standard rate (as of October 2026). Ask a customs broker whether a Vietnamese shipment can use the ASEAN shrimp quotas.
Do Vietnamese seafood plants register with MFDS themselves?
No. Because Vietnam has a seafood safety arrangement with Korea, registration goes through the Vietnamese government, not online, according to an MFDS guide dated October 2024.
Sources and method
- SEACHING, Korea’s seafood imports by HSK code and origin, Jan–Sep 2024, 2025 and 2026, built on Korea Customs Service data, retrieved October 15, 2026
- Korea Customs Service, tariff schedule by HSK code, 2026 rates, file registered February 11, 2026
- National Law Information Center, Enforcement Decree of the FTA Customs Act, Annex 16, amended December 30, 2024, checked October 14, 2026
- National Law Information Center, Enforcement Decree of the FTA Customs Act, Annex 4, amended December 30, 2024, checked October 14, 2026
- Korea–Viet Nam FTA text, Chapter 3 (Articles 3.2, 3.14, 3.16, 3.17) and Annexes 3-A and 3-C (Vietnam National Trade Repository), signed text, checked October 15, 2026
- Korea Customs Service FTA portal, agreements in force, checked October 1, 2026
- MFDS foreign food facility registration guide, October 2024, checked October 14, 2026
- NFQS import quarantine guide, checked October 14, 2026
- UN Comtrade, Vietnam’s seafood exports to the world and to Korea, 2023, exporter-reported FOB, checked October 14, 2026
- UN Comtrade, Vietnam’s exports by HS 6-digit code, 2023, exporter-reported FOB, checked October 14, 2026
- Method: Korea’s seafood imports means HS chapter 03 plus HS 1603–1605, excluding seaweed, salt and non-edible items. Origin totals sum each origin’s HSK codes with at least US$100,000 in the 12 months to September 2026; market totals use all codes. Values are CIF customs values; US$/kg is value divided by weight. Shares within an HSK code use all origins in that code. Jan–Sep 2024 values by code come from the same origin series. UN Comtrade totals are reported by Vietnam on an FOB basis and cover HS 03, 1604, 1605, 1504, 2301.20 and 0511.91.
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