SEACHING｜Bridging Korea and the global seafood market.

Author: Gunho Song

  • Korea’s Surimi Imports: Origins and Prices for Fish Cake Makers

    Korea’s Surimi Imports: Origins and Prices for Fish Cake Makers

    Data as of: Korea Customs Service data through September 2026 (SEACHING, queried October 15, 2026). Tariffs checked October 15, 2026.

    Korea imported US$184.0 million of frozen surimi in Jan–Sep 2026, up 3.4% from Jan–Sep 2025, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data. Vietnam (29.2%), China (26.1%), the United States (20.8%) and Russia (15.2%) led by value. Pollock surimi averaged US$2.89 per kg and other surimi US$1.60.

    The number that matters: US$2.89 vs US$1.60 per kg
    Korea’s average customs price, pollock surimi against other surimi, Jan–Sep 2026. In pollock surimi, US suppliers shipped more tonnes than Russia again, after Russia led in Jan–Sep 2025.

    Key takeaways

    • Korea imported US$184.0 million and 96,383 tonnes of frozen surimi in Jan–Sep 2026, 4.2% of its seafood imports (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • US suppliers shipped 11,888 tonnes of pollock surimi to Korea in Jan–Sep 2026 against Russia’s 11,007, reversing Russia’s lead in Jan–Sep 2025 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • China’s share of Korea’s other surimi imports (HSK 0304.99.1000) rose from 34.9% in Jan–Sep 2025 to 40.9% in Jan–Sep 2026; Vietnam’s fell from 50.7% to 45.4% (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).

    Where does Korea import surimi from?

    Vietnam was the largest supplier of surimi to Korea in Jan–Sep 2026 by value, and China the largest by weight. Two HSK codes carry almost all the trade: pollock surimi (0304.94.1000) and other surimi (0304.99.1000).

    OriginJan–Sep 2026 (US$ million)ShareTonnesUS$/kgShare, Jan–Sep 2025
    Vietnam53.6429.2%28,9911.8533.0%
    China48.0226.1%37,1961.2922.8%
    United States38.2220.8%11,8883.2117.6%
    Russia27.9815.2%11,0072.5417.3%
    India12.026.5%5,4882.195.1%
    Pakistan1.640.9%8162.011.3%
    Thailand1.090.6%4082.670.8%
    Indonesia0.750.4%3262.311.6%
    All origins183.9896,3831.91

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports, HSK 0304.94.1000, 0304.99.1000, 0304.93.1000 and 0304.95.1000, Jan–Sep 2025 and Jan–Sep 2026, queried October 15, 2026.

    Surimi was 4.2% of Korea’s US$4,415.6 million 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.

    Value rose 3.4% and weight fell 2.8%, lifting the average price 6.3% to US$1.91 per kg.

    Why is pollock surimi a different market from other surimi?

    Pollock surimi cost 1.8 times as much per kg as other surimi in Jan–Sep 2026, and only two countries, the US and Russia, supplied it.

    Pollock surimi (0304.94.1000)Other surimi (0304.99.1000)
    Value, Jan–Sep 2026US$66.20 million (+6.7%)US$117.43 million (+1.4%)
    Tonnes22,896 (−3.2%)73,346 (−2.8%)
    Average price (Jan–Sep 2025)US$2.89/kg (US$2.62)US$1.60/kg (US$1.54)
    Origins and value shareUS 57.7%, Russia 42.3%Vietnam 45.4%, China 40.9%, India 10.2%, Pakistan 1.4%, Thailand 0.9%, Indonesia 0.6%

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports, Jan–Sep 2026 compared with Jan–Sep 2025, queried October 15, 2026.

    Other surimi prices ranged from US$1.29 per kg (China) to US$2.67 (Thailand) in Jan–Sep 2026. Korea’s customs statistics do not split 0304.99.1000 by species or grade, so a price gap can reflect either.

    Bar chart, Pollock surimi costs Korea far more per kg than other-fish surimi: Korea's surimi import price by origin, Jan–Sep 2026, US$/kg. Pollock: US 3.21, Russia 2.54. Other fish: Thailand 2.67, Indonesia 2.31, India 2.19, Pakistan 2.01, Vietnam 1.85, China 1.29

    China gained most between Jan–Sep 2025 and Jan–Sep 2026: its surimi tonnes rose 15.6% while Vietnam’s fell 17.9%. Indonesia fell from US$2.90 million to US$0.75 million.

    Is Russian pollock surimi overtaking US surimi in Korea?

    Not in 2026. US suppliers shipped 11,888 tonnes of pollock surimi to Korea in Jan–Sep 2026 and Russia 11,007, after Russia led in Jan–Sep 2025 (12,364 against 11,291).

    Bar chart, US pollock surimi took back the lead in 2026: Korea's pollock surimi imports in tonnes, Jan–Sep 2024, 2025 and 2026. US 12,356, 11,291, 11,888; Russia 7,811, 12,364, 11,007

    By weight, the US held 60.3% of Korea’s pollock surimi imports in full-year 2024 (17,605 of 29,181 tonnes); in 2025 the two were level at 50.1% and 49.9%.

    The price gap widened in 2026. US surimi averaged US$3.21 per kg in Jan–Sep 2026, up from US$2.77, while Russian surimi moved from US$2.49 to US$2.54. Russian product also pays a 10% duty that US product does not. The Korea pollock imports guide covers whole pollock, fillets and roe.

    What duty does Korea charge on surimi from each origin?

    Korea’s basic duty on frozen surimi is 10%, and as of October 2026 US, Vietnamese and ASEAN surimi pays 0% under free trade agreements (FTAs). The 2026 schedule has no agreement rate for Russia or Pakistan, so both pay the basic 10%.

    OriginPollock surimi 0304.94.1000Other surimi 0304.99.1000Agreement
    Basic rate10%10%
    United States0%0%Korea–US FTA
    Vietnam0%0%Korea–Vietnam FTA
    Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar0%0%Korea–ASEAN FTA
    Indonesia0%0%Korea–ASEAN FTA, Korea–Indonesia CEPA
    China0%4%Korea–China FTA
    India0%5%Korea–India CEPA
    Russia, Pakistan10%10%No agreement rate

    Source: Korea Customs Service, tariff rates by item 2026, rates for January 1–December 31, 2026, checked October 15, 2026.

    The 2026 schedule has no adjustment-tariff or quota line for either surimi code. The Korean importer claims the FTA rate before clearance, so send origin documents with the shipping papers. Confirm the rate for your shipment on UNIPASS or with a Korean customs broker, especially for India. See the guide to Korea’s seafood import duties.

    Does Korea import finished fish cake too?

    Yes, but far less than surimi: Korea imported US$14.15 million of fish cake and crab sticks (HSK 1604.20.40) in Jan–Sep 2026, down 10.3% from Jan–Sep 2025. Korea’s surimi imports were 13.0 times larger by value in the same period.

    Thailand led Korea’s fish cake imports with 39.9% of value in Jan–Sep 2026, ahead of China (19.4%) and Japan (12.2%). The basic duty on fish cake is 20%; Thai product pays 5% and Vietnamese 0% (2026 schedule, checked October 15, 2026).

    Is there room for a new surimi origin in Korea?

    India’s surimi sales to Korea grew 31.4% in value to US$12.02 million in Jan–Sep 2026, at US$2.19 per kg, above Vietnam (US$1.85) and China (US$1.29). Pakistan, Thailand and Indonesia together held under 2% of Korea’s surimi imports by value.

    • Count the duty in the landed price. Vietnamese, Thai and Indonesian surimi enters duty-free, while Chinese pays 4%, Indian 5% and Pakistani 10% (2026 schedule).
    • Plan around January. Over October 2023–September 2026, January volume of other surimi averaged 177% of an average month, June 65%. The Korea seafood demand calendar shows other peaks.

    Country guides: exporting Vietnamese seafood to Korea, exporting from Thailand and Indonesia, exporting Chinese seafood to Korea and US and Canadian seafood in Korea.

    Check your surimi’s competition in Korea

    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 HS 0304991000 (“Frozen fish surimi”) ranks the origins of other surimi by value, with price per kg and volume for the latest twelve months.

    SEACHING By Country table for Frozen fish surimi (HS 0304991000): Korea's imports from 9 origins, led by Vietnam, China and India, with value, unit price, volume and trend for October 2025 to 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 forecast for pollock surimi (free sign-up)

    FAQ

    Why is Chinese surimi so much cheaper per kg than US surimi in Korea’s customs data?

    In Jan–Sep 2026, Chinese surimi (US$1.29 per kg) was other surimi and US surimi (US$3.21) was pollock surimi, a separate code; customs data does not record the species or grade of Chinese product (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).

    Sources and method

  • Exporting Norwegian Seafood to Korea: Salmon and Mackerel by the Numbers

    Exporting Norwegian Seafood to Korea: Salmon and Mackerel by the Numbers

    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.

    Norway is the fourth-largest origin of Korea’s seafood imports, with US$458.4 million, or 10.4% of the value, in Jan–Sep 2026, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data. Norway’s seafood export trade with Korea rests on four codes: fresh whole salmon, fresh salmon fillets, frozen mackerel and frozen mackerel fillets made up 95.9% of that value.

    Key takeaways

    • Korea imported US$458.4 million of seafood from Norway in Jan–Sep 2026, up 5.0% in value but down 25.8% in weight from Jan–Sep 2025, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data.
    • Salmon made up 72.4% of Korea’s imports from Norway by value in Jan–Sep 2026 and mackerel 25.2% (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Norway supplied 96.5% of Korea’s fresh whole Atlantic salmon imports and 97.0% of fresh salmon fillet imports by value in Jan–Sep 2026, but only 78.6% of frozen mackerel, down from 82.3% a year earlier (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • For 2025, Korean customs data shows 48,269 tonnes of Norwegian mackerel arriving, against 32,496 tonnes exported to Korea in Norwegian Seafood Council figures reported by Real Foods (a secondary source); salmon figures were close.

    How much seafood does Korea import from Norway?

    Korea bought US$458.4 million of seafood from Norway in Jan–Sep 2026, against US$436.5 million a year earlier. Norway’s share rose from 10.0% to 10.4%, 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.

    OriginJan–Sep 2026ShareJan–Sep 2025Share
    ChinaUS$1,024.2 million23.2%US$1,038.3 million23.7%
    RussiaUS$747.5 million16.9%US$686.9 million15.7%
    VietnamUS$631.8 million14.3%US$602.8 million13.8%
    NorwayUS$458.4 million10.4%US$436.5 million10.0%
    All originsUS$4,415.6 million100%US$4,383.0 million100%

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, retrieved October 15, 2026. Scope: HS 03 and 1603–1605.

    Volume from Norway fell from 64,000 to 47,496 tonnes, and the average customs value rose from US$6.82 to US$9.65 per kg. Most of the weight drop is mackerel: Norwegian fish under the three mackerel codes fell 45.4%, from 37,015 to 20,206 tonnes. For full years, Korea imported US$552.1 million from Norway in 2024 and US$600.9 million in 2025, fourth both years. Other origins are ranked in Korea’s fish imports by country.

    What does Korea buy from Norway?

    Mostly salmon and mackerel, which together made up 97.6% of Norway’s sales to Korea in Jan–Sep 2026. Fresh salmon, whole and filleted, alone made up 70.7%.

    HSKProductValue from NorwayWeightUS$/kgNorway’s share of this code (Jan–Sep 2025)Main rival
    0302.14.0000Atlantic salmon, fresh or chilled, wholeUS$199.69 million17,559 t11.3796.5% (97.9%)Canada 2.2%
    0304.41.0000Salmon fillets, fresh or chilledUS$124.50 million6,965 t17.8897.0% (98.3%)Chile 3.0%
    0303.54.0000Mackerel, frozen, wholeUS$84.46 million16,598 t5.0978.6% (82.3%)UK 12.3%
    0304.89.5000Mackerel fillets, frozenUS$31.07 million3,609 t8.6175.5% (94.8%)China 20.7%
    0303.13.0000Atlantic salmon, frozen, wholeUS$5.23 million611 t8.5656.8% (67.1%)Chile 43.2%
    0304.81.0000Salmon fillets, frozenUS$2.21 million121 t18.2515.6% (13.7%)Chile 65.4%

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, Jan–Sep 2026 (Jan–Sep 2025 in brackets), retrieved October 15, 2026. Share is Norway’s value as a percentage of all origins in that HSK code.

    Stacked bar chart titled Salmon is most of what Norway sells to Korea: Korea's seafood imports from Norway by product group, US$ million, Jan–Sep 2024, 2025 and 2026; totals 401.8, 436.5 and 458.4; salmon 309.6, 297.8 and 332.0; mackerel 74.9, 123.6 and 115.5; other products a small remainder

    The mix swings with mackerel, which moved from 18.6% of Norway’s sales to Korea in Jan–Sep 2024 to 28.3% in Jan–Sep 2025 and 25.2% in Jan–Sep 2026.

    Few Korean importers buy the fresh product. For October 2025 to September 2026, SEACHING estimates 34 Korean importers of Norwegian fresh whole salmon, with the top 10 importers of that code holding 82.1% of its import records. For fresh fillets, the estimate is 21 importers, all buying Norwegian fish, with the top 10 at 94.3% of records. SEACHING estimates 42 importers of Norwegian frozen mackerel over the same months. Record shares count shipments, not value.

    Why do Norway’s export figures differ from Korea’s import figures?

    Norway counts fish when it leaves Norway; Korea counts it when it clears Korean customs. For salmon the 2025 figures almost match; for mackerel they do not.

    2025, tonnesNorway’s exports to Korea (NSC figures as reported by Real Foods, secondary source)Korea’s imports from Norway (Korea Customs Service)
    Salmon32,603 (+11%)32,649 (+12.0%)
    Mackerel32,496 (−25%)48,269 (+21.0%)
    All seafood68,61184,846

    Sources: Norwegian Seafood Council figures as reported by Real Foods, February 2, 2026; SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, calendar 2025 (salmon: eight HS subheadings; mackerel: HS 0302.44, 0303.54 and 0304.89.5000). Changes are against 2024.

    Timing may explain part of the mackerel gap. Frozen mackerel travels by sea, so fish shipped late in one year can clear Korean customs in the next. Korea recorded 11,462 tonnes of Norwegian mackerel arriving in January and February 2025, which may have left Norway in late 2024, but only 2,194 tonnes in January and February 2026. Product scope may also differ.

    The NSC also estimates that Norway held 89% of Korea’s 45,800-tonne salmon market and 48% of a 74,000-tonne mackerel market in 2025, by volume, not customs totals. The guide to Korea’s salmon imports compares the 89% with customs shares by code.

    Is Chilean salmon catching up with Norway in Korea?

    Not in fresh salmon. Chile’s share of Korea’s salmon imports by value rose from 16.3% in Jan–Sep 2025 to 17.6% in Jan–Sep 2026, and Norway’s fell from 81.3% to 79.0%, but the two sell different products.

    Chile’s growth is in frozen Pacific salmon (HS 0303.12), where Korea’s imports rose 72.3% in value in Jan–Sep 2026 and Chile held 90.9%. Norway sold none under that code. The direct contest is frozen whole Atlantic salmon: Chilean fish entered at US$6.59 per kg against US$8.56 for Norwegian, and Norway’s share of that code fell from 67.1% to 56.8%. That code is small: US$9.2 million in total. The code-by-code split between Norway and Chile is charted in the guide to seafood exports from Chile, Peru and Ecuador to Korea.

    Read from the 96.5% share, a Norwegian fresh salmon exporter competes in Korea mainly with other Norwegian suppliers. On its country page, the NSC reports that 78% of Korean salmon consumers recognize Norwegian origin and that 90% of Norwegian salmon at retail is labeled with its origin. Monthly prices are in the salmon import price forecast.

    SEACHING’s page for HS 0304410000 from Norway, titled with the code’s full tariff description, charts Korea’s monthly import price for Norwegian fresh salmon fillets from March to September 2026, with the model forecast to February 2027 dashed.

    SEACHING page for HS 0304410000 (fresh or chilled salmon fillets) from Norway, with summary cards and a Unit Price Trend and Forecast chart: Korea's monthly import unit price from March to September 2026 and the model forecast as a dashed line to February 2027

    What happened to Norwegian mackerel in Korea in 2026?

    Korea got less Norwegian mackerel at a higher price. Frozen whole Norwegian mackerel cleared at US$5.09 per kg in Jan–Sep 2026, up 82.1%, while volume fell 46.4%. Norway, the UK, the Faroe Islands and Iceland set their joint 2026 mackerel catch limit at 299,010 tonnes, 48% below 2025 (Stortinget committee report, May 2026).

    The UK’s share of Korea’s frozen mackerel imports rose from 4.7% in Jan–Sep 2025 to 12.3% in Jan–Sep 2026 by value, and China took 20.7% of the fillet code, at US$6.49 per kg against Norway’s US$8.61. Korea opened a 0% quota tariff for frozen mackerel from February 12, 2026, and in July 2026 sent a government delegation to Norway that planned to secure about 2,000 more tonnes. The causes and the won effect are covered in why mackerel prices rose in Korea.

    What duty does Norwegian seafood pay in Korea?

    Most Norwegian seafood enters Korea at 0% under the Korea–EFTA Free Trade Agreement. Frozen whole mackerel is the exception.

    HSK / productBasic rateKorea–EFTA FTAOther route in 2026
    0302.14 fresh whole Atlantic salmon20%0%none needed
    0304.41 fresh salmon fillets20%0%none needed
    0303.13 frozen whole Atlantic salmon10%0%none needed
    0304.81 frozen salmon fillets10%0%none needed
    0303.54 frozen whole mackerel10%0% within 500 tonnes a year for all EFTA origins combined0% quota tariff, any origin, fish over 300 g and up to 600 g, up to 25,000 tonnes, February 12 to December 31, 2026
    0304.89.5000 frozen mackerel fillets10%0%none needed

    Source: Korea Customs Service, tariff schedule by HSK code, 2026 rates; Enforcement Decree of the FTA Customs Act, Annex 3; quota tariff regulation, Annex 8. Checked October 2026.

    The 500-tonne EFTA limit is small next to the 16,598 tonnes of frozen whole mackerel Korea took from Norway in Jan–Sep 2026. Customs data does not show which rate each shipment used. Check whether Korea extends the quota tariff beyond December 31, 2026.

    Chinese mackerel fillets pay 4% under the Korea–China FTA. The UK and EU rates in the 2026 file run only to June 30, 2026. Confirm the rate for the date of import on Korea Customs Service UNIPASS or with a licensed Korean customs broker. All seafood rates are in the Korea seafood import duty guide.

    What does a Norwegian exporter need before the first shipment?

    Common steps are in the step-by-step guide to exporting seafood to Korea. This table shows the Norway-specific steps, as of October 2026.

    StepWhoDocuments or toolsTiming
    1. Confirm the 10-digit HSK code and the duty route; for whole mackerel, ask about the 500-tonne EFTA limit and the quota tariffExporter with the importer’s customs broker2026 tariff schedule, UNIPASSBefore you quote
    2. Be on the list of producers the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) has notified to KoreaProducer, through MattilsynetGovernment notification to MFDS (no online registration)Before the first shipment
    3. Get a health certificate for each shipmentMattilsynetGovernment health certificateEach shipment
    4. Make out the EFTA origin declarationExporterOrigin declaration on the invoiceWith the shipping documents
    5. Send label data for the Korean labelExporter to importerKorean label text or labeled packagingBefore the import declaration
    6. For frozen mackerel, file traceability reports after clearanceKorean importerImported seafood distribution history reportsAfter clearance

    Steps 2 and 3 come from the 2020 Korea–Norway seafood safety arrangement. An October 2024 guide from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) lists Norway among 11 countries whose facilities register through their government; registration lasts two years. See the MFDS foreign facility registration guide.

    Under the Korea–EFTA FTA, proof of origin is an origin declaration that the exporter writes on the invoice, in the wording set out in the agreement. The Korean importer claims the FTA rate before customs accepts the import declaration and must hold that proof. Since June 29, 2026, frozen mackerel has been on Korea’s list of imported seafood that importers must trace through distribution.

    Confirm these rules with your importer, a licensed Korean customs broker or the agency concerned before you ship.

    Pre-shipment checklist

    • Your plant is on Norway’s notified producer list, and a health certificate is arranged for this shipment.
    • The invoice carries the EFTA origin declaration.
    • For frozen whole mackerel, your buyer has said whether they use the EFTA limit, the quota tariff or the 10% basic rate.
    • Your buyer has approved the Korean label and origin text (see Korea’s labeling and origin rules).
    • If your buyer asks for ASC or MSC certification, you know your status (see ASC and MSC certified seafood in Korea).

    Track your Norwegian product’s price in Korea month by month

    SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, has the same monthly customs data for fresh salmon fillet imports by origin (free sign-up), frozen mackerel import prices (free sign-up) and Norway’s seafood trade with Korea (free sign-up).

    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 forecast for fresh Atlantic salmon (free sign-up)

    FAQ

    Is Norwegian salmon duty-free in Korea?

    Yes, under the Korea–EFTA FTA. Fresh and frozen whole Atlantic salmon and fresh and frozen salmon fillets from Norway pay 0% in 2026, against basic rates of 20% for fresh and 10% for frozen (as of October 2026). The importer must claim the rate and hold the origin declaration.

    Does Korea import Norwegian king crab?

    Not at present. Korea imported US$40.76 million of frozen king crab (HSK 0306.14.2000) in Jan–Sep 2026, 99.97% of it from Russia and none from Norway, whose last shipment in the data was in June 2024 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data). The Korea–EFTA rate on that code is 0% in the 2026 tariff schedule.

    Sources and method

  • Russian King Crab and Snow Crab in Korea: Import Volumes and Prices

    Russian King Crab and Snow Crab in Korea: Import Volumes and Prices

    Data as of: Korea Customs Service data through September 2026 (SEACHING, queried October 15, 2026). Tariffs and quarantine rules checked October 15, 2026.

    Korea’s king crab and snow crab import price is a customs price, not retail. Russian live snow crab averaged US$21.19 per kg in Jan–Sep 2026, and Russia supplied 97.1% of Korea’s US$129.6 million of live snow crab imports, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data. Korea’s tariff schedule has no separate code for live king crab.

    The number that matters: 97.1%
    Russia’s share of Korea’s live snow crab imports by value, Jan–Sep 2026. Average customs price: US$21.19 per kg.

    Key takeaways

    • Russia supplied 97.1% of Korea’s live snow crab imports by value in Jan–Sep 2026, at an average customs price of US$21.19 per kg (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Korea’s frozen king crab imports rose 214.2% to US$40.8 million in Jan–Sep 2026, while the average price fell 5.7% to US$22.58 per kg (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • As of October 2026, crab from Norway, Canada and the United States enters Korea at 0% under free trade agreements, while Russian live and frozen king crab pay 20% (Korea Customs Service 2026 tariff schedule).

    How much king crab and snow crab does Korea import?

    Korea imported US$374.3 million of crab under its four main crab codes in Jan–Sep 2026, up 12.2%, and 88.5% of it came from Russia.

    HSKProductJan–Sep 2026 (US$ million)Change vs Jan–Sep 2025TonnesUS$/kgRussia’s share
    0306.33.2000Snow crab, live, fresh or chilled129.65+5.4%6,22620.8297.1%
    0306.33.9000Other crab, live, fresh or chilled98.41+9.2%4,63921.2181.9%
    0306.14.9090Other crab, frozen105.43−2.0%12,2598.6079.8%
    0306.14.2000King crab, frozen40.76+214.2%1,80522.58100.0%

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports, Jan–Sep 2025 and Jan–Sep 2026, queried October 15, 2026.

    These four codes make up 93.8% of Korea’s US$399.0 million crab imports in Jan–Sep 2026 (9.0% of Korea’s seafood imports). Russia supplied 83.0% of that wider crab group, which includes swimming crab and prepared crab. Korea’s seafood imports here means HS chapter 03 plus prepared fish and crustaceans (HS 1603–1605); seaweed and salt are excluded.

    Frozen king crab jumped to 1,805 tonnes in Jan–Sep 2026, against 542 tonnes a year earlier and 900 tonnes in all of 2025. March 2026 alone brought 496 tonnes.

    Which HS codes cover king crab and snow crab in Korea?

    Korea’s tariff schedule (HSK) has codes for live snow crab (0306.33.2000) and frozen king crab (0306.14.2000), but none for live king crab. Live crab without its own code goes under “other crab, live, fresh or chilled” (0306.33.9000).

    In Jan–Sep 2026, Russian crab in this code averaged US$43.20 per kg over 1,865 tonnes, about double Russian snow crab. The unit price suggests that much of it is live king crab; customs data does not name the species. Chinese crab in the same code averaged US$2.53 per kg, so the code average (US$21.21) describes neither.

    The Norwegian Seafood Council estimates Korea’s 2025 king crab consumption at 2,100 tonnes, 98% of it Russian (an industry estimate, not customs data).

    What are Korea’s crab import prices per kg, month by month?

    Snow crab is cheapest around its summer volume peak. Korea’s live snow crab imports peaked each July (980, 1,028 and 1,009 tonnes in 2024, 2025 and 2026). Monthly prices were about US$14 per kg in May–July 2025, against US$30.92 in January 2025.

    Line chart of Korea's monthly import price per kg for live snow crab, frozen king crab and Russian "other crab, live", January 2024 to September 2026; snow crab falls to about US$14 in early summer and rises above US$26 in winter, while Russian "other crab, live" stays between about US$30 and US$53

    In Jan–Sep 2026, the monthly price ranged from US$14.29 in June to US$27.14 in September.

    Russian “other crab, live” arrives later: its volume peaked from October to December in both 2024 and 2025. It cost US$39.10 to US$52.82 per kg a month in Jan–Sep 2026. Frozen king crab moved between US$19.05 and US$29.22.

    Line chart of Korea's monthly import volume in tonnes for live snow crab, Russian "other crab, live" and frozen king crab, January 2024 to September 2026; snow crab peaks each July at 980, 1,028 and 1,009 tonnes, Russian "other crab, live" rises from October to December, and frozen king crab reaches about 500 tonnes in March 2026

    How does the customs price compare with retail crab prices?

    The customs price is declared CIF value divided by net weight. After customs, the importer still pays duty, inland transport, live holding and losses before any margin. Compare your offer with the customs price, not with retail prices; the guide to benchmarking against Korean customs prices shows how.

    Is there room for crab from origins other than Russia?

    Some. Japan’s live snow crab sales to Korea rose from US$0.85 million in Jan–Sep 2025 to US$3.43 million in Jan–Sep 2026, at US$12.56 per kg, and its “other crab, live” reached US$11.61 million.

    In Jan–Sep 2026, Norway sold Korea US$1.57 million of crab in the four codes, Canada US$1.24 million and the US US$0.45 million. Korea imported no Norwegian frozen king crab in 2025 or Jan–Sep 2026.

    Tariffs favor these origins as of October 2026:

    HSKProductRussiaJapanNorway (EFTA)CanadaUnited States
    0306.33.2000Snow crab, live, fresh or chilled20%20%0%0%0%
    0306.33.9000Other crab, live, fresh or chilled20%20%0%0%0%
    0306.14.2000King crab, frozen20%20%0%0%0%
    0306.14.9090Other crab, frozen14%14%0%0%0%

    Source: Korea Customs Service, tariff rates by item 2026, rates for January 1–December 31, 2026, checked October 15, 2026. Russia has no FTA with Korea; the file lists no RCEP rate for Japan on these lines, so the basic rate (20%) or WTO bound rate (14%) applies.

    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. The guide to Korea’s seafood import duty covers the rules.

    As of October 2026, live crustaceans for food are designated quarantine items of the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service (NFQS). Check with NFQS or your importer before the first live shipment.

    Related: US and Canadian seafood in Korea, Korea’s lobster imports, the Korea seafood demand calendar and the Q3 2026 imports report.

    Check your crab price against Korean customs prices

    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 live snow crab lists value, price per kg and volume by origin for the latest twelve months.

    SEACHING By Country table for Korea's live snow crab imports (HS 0306332000), October 2025 to September 2026: value, unit price, volume and trend for Russia, Japan and Norway

    Upload an invoice-style offer with line amounts to see where your crab price sits against Korean customs import prices for the same product, by percentile and by origin. Try SEACHING Quote Check (free sign-up)

    FAQ

    When is snow crab season for Korean imports?

    Korea’s live snow crab imports peaked in July in 2024, 2025 and 2026, at about 1,000 tonnes. Customs prices were lowest in May–July 2025 (about US$14 per kg) and June 2026 (US$14.29), and highest in winter (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).

    Does Korea charge import duty on Russian king crab?

    Yes. As of October 2026, Russian live crab and frozen king crab pay Korea’s basic 20% rate, as Russia has no free trade agreement with Korea (Korea Customs Service 2026 tariff schedule).

    Sources and method

  • South Korea Seafood Consumption per Capita: Sorting Out the Conflicting Numbers

    South Korea Seafood Consumption per Capita: Sorting Out the Conflicting Numbers

    Data as of: KREI Food Balance Sheet 2024 edition (2024 values provisional) and Korea’s e-Narajipyo indicator 1317, updated October 13, 2026.

    South Korea’s seafood consumption was 59.9 kg per person in 2024 (provisional), according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), which builds the figure from the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI) Food Balance Sheet. That total includes seaweed. Counting fish and shellfish only, KREI puts Korea’s 2024 supply at 35.1 kg per person.

    Key takeaways

    • Korea’s per-capita seafood consumption was 59.9 kg in 2024 (provisional), down from a peak of 70.2 kg in 2019, according to MOF’s e-Narajipyo indicator based on the KREI Food Balance Sheet.
    • Korea’s fish and shellfish supply was 35.1 kg per person in 2024 (provisional), net of inedible parts, according to KREI’s Food Balance Sheet 2024 edition.
    • On MOF’s e-Narajipyo series, which starts in 1999, Korea’s per-capita meat consumption passed seafood for the first time in 2022, at 67.3 kg against 63.5 kg.

    How much seafood does the average South Korean eat?

    59.9 kg a year on MOF’s headline measure (2024), or 35.1 kg counting fish (19.2 kg) and shellfish (15.9 kg) only. Both come from KREI’s Food Balance Sheet.

    Definition. Korea’s per-capita seafood figures measure food supply: production plus imports and stocks, minus exports, feed, seed and losses, divided by the population. KREI then removes inedible parts such as bones and shells to get net supply per person. KREI states that supply is not the same as intake.

    Why do sources give different per-capita numbers?

    Four things explain most of the spread: what each source counts, inedible parts, the year shown and forecasts.

    FigureYearPublisherFish and shellfish basisSeaweed
    59.9 kg2024, provisionalMOF, e-Narajipyo (from KREI)Net of inedible partsIncluded, full weight
    35.1 kg2024, provisionalKREI, Food Balance Sheet 2024Net of inedible partsExcluded
    38.4 kg2024, provisionalKREI (35.1 + 3.3)Net of inedible partsIncluded, net
    60.9 kg2023, preliminaryUSDA, citing KREI 2023 editionSame basis as MOF; MOF’s series now shows 60.7 kgIncluded, full weight
    66.8 kg2025, estimateKMI outlook, quoted in a January 2026 column“Net edible supply”; method not givenNot stated
    61 kgNot statedNorwegian Seafood CouncilNo definition or source givenNot stated
    58.4 kg2013–2015 averageMOF in 2017, citing FAOFAO apparent consumptionExcluded (FAO basis)
    20.7 kg2022, worldFAO, SOFIA 2024Aquatic animal foods, live weight equivalentExcluded

    Sources: e-Narajipyo indicator 1317 (updated October 13, 2026); KREI Food Balance Sheet 2023 and 2024 editions; USDA GAIN KS2025-0046; Korea Fisheries Economy, January 23, 2026; Norwegian Seafood Council; Metro Seoul, February 12, 2017; FAO SOFIA 2024.

    Dot chart, one country, seven different numbers: per-capita seafood figures for South Korea by source, from 35.1 kg (KREI, fish and shellfish only, 2024) to 66.8 kg (KMI estimate, 2025), colored by what each figure counts, against a line at the FAO world average of 20.7 kg (2022)

    What is inside MOF’s total. MOF’s 59.9 kg equals KREI’s 35.1 kg of fish and shellfish plus about 24.8 kg of seaweed per person at full weight. The same sum reproduces MOF’s 2023 and 2021 values. MOF does not publish the formula, so this is a reconstruction.

    A break in KREI’s series. KREI’s own per-person figure for that group fell from 25.6 kg in 2022 to 3.3 kg in 2023 and 2024, after KREI began applying an 87–90% refuse rate based on moisture loss in drying. The report does not explain the change, so do not compare these years with earlier ones.

    Inedible parts. KREI removed 42.9% of Korea’s fish and shellfish food supply as inedible in 2024, turning 61.5 kg per person into 35.1 kg.

    Old and untraced numbers. The 68.4 kg seen online is MOF’s value for 2018 and 2021; 58.4 kg is FAO data for 2013–2015, cited by MOF in 2017. The Norwegian Seafood Council’s 61 kg has no year or source.

    Common misconception: “Koreans eat three times the world average”

    Setting MOF’s total against FAO’s world average of 20.7 kg for 2022 mixes two bases. FAO counts aquatic animals only, in live weight equivalent.

    On a closer basis the claim roughly holds. Korea’s fish and shellfish supply before removing inedible parts was 66.1 kg per person in 2022, about 3.2 times FAO’s figure. The methods are not identical, so read the multiple as approximate. Setting KREI’s net 37.7 kg for 2022 against FAO’s whole-weight figure errs the other way, giving 1.8 times.

    Is Korean seafood consumption rising or falling?

    Falling since 2019. MOF’s series peaked at 70.2 kg per person in 2019 and reached 59.9 kg in 2024, down 14.7%. Fish and shellfish alone fell 16.4% over the same years, from 42.0 kg to 35.1 kg (KREI).

    Line chart, Korea's seafood consumption per person peaked in 2019: MOF's per-capita seafood total rose from 51.2 kg in 2010 to 70.2 kg in 2019 and fell to 59.9 kg in 2024 (provisional); meat passed it in 2022 at 67.3 kg against 63.5 kg; KREI's fish and shellfish supply fell to 35.1 kg in 2024

    USDA reports that seafood consumption in Korea fell in every age group except people aged 60 and over between 2020 and 2023.

    Is South Korea self-sufficient in seafood?

    No. Korea’s fish and shellfish production equaled 56.2% of its domestic consumption in 2024 (provisional), according to KREI; the low point was 48.9% in 2019. MOF’s fishery products rate, 76.7% in 2024, most likely covers a broader product group. The analysis of Korea’s seafood self-sufficiency covers the 30-year trend.

    What does this mean for exporters selling to Korea?

    In 2024 Korea imported 2.24 million tonnes of fish and shellfish, 1.19 times its own production of 1.88 million tonnes (KREI, live weight basis). Per-person supply has fallen since 2019, so read any growth for a single species against a shrinking national total.

    The species matter more than the national average. USDA names mackerel, squid, Alaska pollock, shrimp, flatfish, hairtail, crab, monkfish, eel, anchovy, oyster and octopus as Korea’s main species, with domestic supply of the top species falling short.

    SEACHING Trends tab for Korea's frozen mackerel imports (HS 0303540000), showing monthly import value and unit price from October 2025 to September 2026 and a Monthly Data table of value, unit price and volume

    The Trends tab for frozen mackerel (HS 0303540000) charts Korea’s monthly import value and unit price, with a monthly table below. See also what seafood Korea imports most, the Korea seafood market size breakdown and the quarterly Korea seafood imports report.

    Which figure should you cite?

    Name the basis with the figure:

    • Total seafood: “South Korea’s seafood consumption was 59.9 kg per person in 2024 (provisional), according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries’ e-Narajipyo indicator, based on the KREI Food Balance Sheet.”
    • Fish and shellfish only: “South Korea’s fish and shellfish supply was 35.1 kg per person in 2024 (provisional, net of inedible parts), according to the Korea Rural Economic Institute’s Food Balance Sheet 2024.”

    For country comparisons, use FAO data on both sides.

    Look up Korea’s imports for your species

    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, from Korea Customs Service data.

    To see how much of your species Korea imports, month by month and by origin, query the data on SEACHING (free sign-up).

    FAQ

    Do Koreans eat a lot of seafood?

    Yes. Korea’s fish and shellfish supply before removing inedible parts was 66.1 kg per person in 2022, roughly three times FAO’s world average of 20.7 kg (calculated from KREI and FAO data).

    Where does the 60.9 kg figure come from?

    USDA’s 60.9 kg for 2023 is 36.0 kg of fish and shellfish plus 24.9 kg of seaweed, from KREI’s preliminary 2023 data. MOF’s series now shows 60.7 kg for 2023.

    Is South Korea self-sufficient in food?

    No. KREI’s Food Balance Sheet 2024 puts Korea’s self-sufficiency at 56.2% for fish and shellfish and 18.8% for cereals in 2024 (provisional). For the origins of Korea’s seafood imports, see Korea’s fish imports by country.

    Sources and method

  • Labeling and Country-of-Origin Rules for Imported Seafood in Korea

    Labeling and Country-of-Origin Rules for Imported Seafood in Korea

    Data as of: Korean laws and MFDS notices checked on law.go.kr on October 14, 2026.

    Korea food labeling requirements for imported seafood come from three rule sets, as of October 2026: a Korean-language label under the Act on Labeling and Advertising of Foods, an origin mark under the Foreign Trade Act, and post-customs traceability reports for 27 items. The Korean importer is the legal labeler. The exporter prints the origin and supplies label data.

    Key takeaways

    • Under Korea’s Act on Labeling and Advertising of Foods, the registered Korean importer is the party legally responsible for the Korean label on imported seafood (Enforcement Rule, Article 4, as of October 2026).
    • Korea’s Foreign Trade Management Regulation lists every HS heading from 0301 to 0309, plus 1604 and 1605, as goods that must carry a country-of-origin mark on import (Annex 8, checked October 2026).
    • A Korean sticker on imported seafood is legal if it cannot fall off and does not cover the original product name or dates (MFDS Labeling Standards for Food, as of October 2026).
    • Korea’s net weight rule for glazed seafood requires the weight without the ice glaze (MFDS Labeling Standards for Food, as of October 2026).
    • False origin labeling of seafood in Korea carries up to 7 years in prison or a fine of up to KRW 100 million (Origin Labeling Act, Article 14, as of October 2026).

    Who does what, and when?

    Most of the work happens before cartons are printed. The importer owns the label in law but needs your product data to write it.

    StepWhoWhatWhen
    1. Agree the Korean label textImporter writes it; exporter supplies product name, species, net weight, dates, storage, plant nameDraft Korean labelBefore production
    2. Print the origin markExporter“Product of [country]” or equivalent on each carton and retail packWhen packaging is printed
    3. Apply the Korean labelExporter at the plant, or importer in a Korean bonded warehouse with customs approvalPrinted Korean text or a firmly attached stickerBefore the MFDS import declaration
    4. Import declaration and inspectionImporter files; MFDS checks the label; customs checks the origin markLabeled packaging or label text, color photosOn arrival
    5. Origin labeling in distribution and traceability reportsImporter and every distributorOrigin shown at sale; transfer reports for 27 listed itemsAfter customs clearance

    Source: Enforcement Rule of the Special Act on Imported Food Safety Control, Article 27; Customs Act, Article 230; Notice on Bonded Cargo Management, Articles 20–22; MOF press release, June 2026. Checked October 14, 2026.

    Flow diagram of the five labeling steps for seafood exported to Korea: label text agreed before production, origin printed by the exporter, Korean label applied at the plant or in a Korean bonded warehouse, MFDS and customs checks on arrival, then origin labeling and traceability reports by the importer

    What must a Korean label on imported seafood include?

    The answer depends on whether MFDS treats your product as natural-state seafood or as processed seafood. Whole, gutted, frozen or chilled fish and shellfish fall under the shorter “natural-state” list. Surimi products, salted and fermented seafood, dried seafood and other processed products need the full list.

    Item on the Korean labelNatural-state seafood (e.g., frozen whole mackerel)Processed seafood (e.g., surimi, dried squid)Data the exporter supplies
    Product or content nameYesYesSpecies and product name
    Food typeNoYesProcess description
    Business nameImporter’s nameImporter’s name and address, plus the manufacturerPlant name
    DateProduction (catch) date or packing dateUse-by dateProduction or catch date, shelf life
    Net contentYesYes, with caloriesNet weight without glaze
    IngredientsNoYes, with nutrition factsFull recipe and percentages
    Storage method and cautionsWhere relevantYes, including allergensStorage temperature

    Source: MFDS Labeling Standards for Food, Chapter III.1 (natural-state foods and processed seafood), as published in Notice No. 2026-37, checked October 14, 2026.

    Natural-state seafood does not have to show a use-by date. If your carton already shows one, the Korean label must follow the Korean date format and must not change it. Korea moved processed foods from a sell-by date to a use-by date (sobi gihan) for products shipped from January 1, 2023.

    Four detailed rules cause most of the rework.

    • Names. Seafood names must follow the names in Korea’s Food Code (Sikpum Gongjeon) or a widely used market name. Croakers are the exception: they must use the Food Code name. The Korean product name is a transliteration or translation of your product name. See how Korean buyers name and specify seafood.
    • Net weight. Glazed or ice-packed seafood must state the weight without the ice.
    • Dates. If your date format differs from Korea’s year-month-day order, the label must show an example of the order. If your country does not require a shelf life, the importer sets one from your evidence.
    • Type size. Korean text must be at least 10 point and indelible. For imported food, foreign-language text may be larger than the Korean text.

    Two exceptions help exporters of raw material. Natural-state seafood imported loose, without containers or packaging, can skip the Korean label. A Korean processor importing fish for its own factory needs only a short list, and that list can be in English.

    Who applies the Korean label, and can it be a sticker?

    The importer is responsible, and a sticker is allowed in most seafood cases. Korea’s Enforcement Rule names the import-sales business as the labeling party. The foreign plant is not on that list.

    The MFDS Labeling Standards for Food allow a Korean sticker, label or tag on imported food that is also sold in the exporting country. The sticker must not fall off and must not cover the original product name or dates. Stickers are also allowed on natural-state seafood and on raw material supplied to food factories. If you print Korean directly on the packaging, it must be printed or stamped, not stuck on. For a processed retail product made only for Korea, ask your importer whether a sticker is acceptable.

    The label has to exist by the time the importer files with MFDS. The declaration requires the labeled packaging or a document with the Korean label text, plus color photos showing both the Korean and the original labels. MFDS inspectors also check labeling during on-site inspection (how Korean import inspection works).

    That leaves two places to apply stickers. Your plant can apply them before loading, using the importer’s approved artwork. The importer can apply them in a Korean bonded warehouse as “repair work” approved by customs, which Korea’s Notice on Bonded Cargo Management allows for labeling and origin marking.

    How should country of origin appear on seafood cartons?

    Print the origin on every carton and retail pack, in English or Korean, at the production stage. Two laws apply at two different points.

    Customs stageDistribution stage
    LawForeign Trade Act, Article 33; Foreign Trade Management RegulationAct on the Origin Labeling of Agricultural and Fishery Products
    Who enforcesKorea Customs Service at clearanceNFQS, local governments, KCS
    Who must markThe importer, on the goods or packagingThe importer, distributors and retailers selling or storing for sale
    What it requiresHS 0301–0309, 1604 and 1605 carry an origin markOrigin stays visible through sale; imported seafood uses the Foreign Trade Act origin
    PenaltyClearance refused; penalty surcharge of up to KRW 300 millionUp to 7 years or KRW 100 million for false labeling; fine of up to KRW 10 million for no label

    Source: Foreign Trade Act, Articles 33 and 33-2; Foreign Trade Management Regulation, Articles 75–76 and Annex 8; Origin Labeling Act, Articles 5, 14 and 18; Customs Act, Article 230. Checked October 14, 2026.

    The two laws connect. Imported seafood must show the origin as defined by the Foreign Trade Act, and a correct Foreign Trade Act mark counts as an origin mark under the Origin Labeling Act. One mark, done right, covers both.

    Accepted forms include “Product of [country]”, “Made in [country]” and “Country of Origin: [country]”. The mark must be legible, easy to find and hard to remove. The regulation prefers marks printed during manufacture; stickers and tags are for packaging where printing is impractical.

    Origin for fish follows the catch. Fish caught in a country’s waters takes that country’s origin; fish caught on the high seas takes the flag of the vessel. Freezing, cleaning, sorting and simple cutting in another country do not change the origin.

    If a brand name or language on your pack points to another country, put the origin on the front panel. When the importer repacks into retail units, the repacker must mark the origin again on the new pack.

    Fish imported directly by a Korean factory for substantial processing can be exempt from the origin mark. Do not assume it applies; customs can check how the goods were used. If you are unsure how to mark a product, the importer can ask Korea Customs Service to confirm the method before import, and KCS answers within 30 days.

    Which seafood falls under Korea’s traceability reporting?

    Traceability reporting is the importer’s job, but it starts from your documents. Since June 29, 2026, Korea’s imported seafood distribution-history system covers 27 items. The five added items are frozen mackerel, frozen hairtail, frozen pollock, frozen squid and chilled squid.

    Each importer and distributor must report the transfer within 5 days. Missing or false reports carry fines of up to KRW 5 million, under the Act on the Management and Support of Fishery Product Distribution, according to NFQS.

    You file nothing. Your product name, origin and lot data on the invoice and carton become the importer’s report data, so keep them identical across documents. Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has also announced a catch certification scheme for imported seafood; no start date was confirmed as of October 2026.

    What labeling mistakes cause problems at the Korean border?

    Most labeling problems are mismatches, not missing items. Customs refuses clearance when the origin mark is missing, wrong or not in the required form. Minor errors can be corrected before clearance, usually in the bonded warehouse at the importer’s cost.

    MistakeWhat happensPrevention
    No origin on inner retail packsCustoms asks for correction before clearancePrint origin on every pack sold to consumers
    Species name on label differs from the health certificate and invoiceQuestions at document review or on-site inspectionOne product name list shared with the importer
    Net weight includes the glazeLabel breaches the net content ruleDeclare glaze separately, state net weight without ice
    Sticker covers the original name or dateLabel breaches the sticker ruleLeave a blank panel on the carton for the sticker
    Date format unclear (e.g., 03/04/26)Inspector cannot read the dateUse year-month-day or print an example

    Source: Customs Act, Article 230; MFDS Labeling Standards for Food, Chapter II.1 and Annex 1. Checked October 14, 2026.

    Health certificate and plant registration issues are covered in MFDS foreign food facility registration, and the full export sequence is in how to export seafood to Korea. Origin also decides your tariff; see Korea’s seafood import duty by species and FTA.

    Pre-shipment labeling checklist

    • The importer has sent you approved Korean label text or artwork.
    • The Korean product name and species name match the health certificate, invoice and packing list.
    • “Product of [country]” is printed on every carton and every retail pack.
    • Net weight on the carton excludes the ice glaze.
    • Production or catch date and any shelf life use an unambiguous format.
    • Each carton has a blank panel for a Korean sticker that will not cover your own name or date.
    • You and the importer have agreed who applies the sticker: your plant or a Korean bonded warehouse.
    • Lot numbers on cartons match the invoice, for the importer’s traceability reports.

    These rules were checked on October 14, 2026. Labeling notices change often, so confirm the final label with your Korean importer, a licensed Korean customs broker or MFDS before you print packaging. A first-time buyer will check how well you handle these details (what Korean importers look for).

    Check which origins already supply your product to Korea

    A correct label gets your cartons through inspection; it does not tell you whether Korea buys your product. SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, shows Korea’s imports by 10-digit HS code, including the newly listed traceability items: frozen mackerel imports into Korea, frozen pollock imports and frozen squid imports (free sign-up).

    Labels get your cartons through inspection; data gets you the order. Check which origins already supply your product to Korea and at what price range. Start with SEACHING’s product data (free sign-up)

    FAQ

    Can I ship seafood to Korea with an English-only label?

    Yes, if a Korean label is applied before the importer files the MFDS import declaration. The importer can apply a Korean sticker in a Korean bonded warehouse with customs approval. The origin mark itself can be in English, such as “Product of Norway”, as of October 2026.

    Does frozen fish sold to a Korean food factory need a consumer label?

    Not the full one. Seafood imported by a Korean processor for its own production needs only a short list, which can be in English. Seafood supplied by an importer to a factory as raw material needs a reduced Korean label, under the Enforcement Rule of the Act on Labeling and Advertising of Foods, Annex 1.

    What happens if the origin on my carton does not match the documents?

    Korea Customs Service will not clear goods whose origin mark is wrong or missing, under Customs Act Article 230. Minor errors can be fixed in the bonded warehouse before clearance. A deliberately false origin is a criminal offense under the Origin Labeling Act.

    Is a catch certificate required for seafood imports to Korea?

    Not yet, as of October 2026. Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has announced a catch certification scheme for imported seafood, but no start date or species list was confirmed. Check with your importer before each season.

    Sources and method

  • Korea Pollock Imports: Russian Frozen Pollock and Alaska Roe

    Korea Pollock Imports: Russian Frozen Pollock and Alaska Roe

    Data as of: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data through September 2026, queried October 15, 2026. Tariff rates from the Korea Customs Service 2026 tariff schedule and fishing rules from Korea’s National Law Information Center, checked October 15, 2026.

    Korea’s pollock imports reached US$266.7 million in Jan–Sep 2026, up 2.5% on a year earlier, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data. Alaska pollock is the species, and Russia supplies most of it: 93.9% of Korea’s frozen whole pollock and 92.0% of its pollock roe. The US led pollock surimi with 57.7%.

    Key takeaways

    • Korea imported US$266.7 million and 124,790 tonnes of Alaska pollock products in Jan–Sep 2026: value up 2.5% and volume down 14.2% on Jan–Sep 2025 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Russia supplied 80.0% of Korea’s pollock imports by value in Jan–Sep 2026 and the US 18.4%, up from 15.9% a year earlier (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Korea’s frozen whole pollock imports fell 22.5% by volume to 73,204 tonnes in Jan–Sep 2026, while the average customs value rose from US$1.08/kg to US$1.28/kg (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • US pollock surimi took 57.7% of Korea’s pollock surimi imports in Jan–Sep 2026, up from 50.4% in Jan–Sep 2025, at US$3.21/kg against US$2.54/kg for Russian surimi (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • In 2026, frozen whole pollock pays a 22% adjustment tariff in Korea from Russia and 0% from the US and Canada; pollock surimi, fillets and roe pay 10% from Russia (Korea Customs Service 2026 tariff schedule).

    Pollock in Korea at a glance

    ItemJan–Sep 2026
    SizeUS$266.7 million, 124,790 tonnes; 6.0% of Korea’s seafood imports by value
    Top originsRussia 80.0%, US 18.4%, Japan 1.4% (all pollock codes)
    Price band (customs value)US$1.28/kg frozen whole, US$2.89/kg surimi, US$3.16/kg fillets, US$4.36/kg roe
    Main HS codes0303.67.0000 frozen pollock; 0304.94.1000 frozen pollock surimi; 0303.91.2010 frozen pollock roe; 0304.75.0000 frozen pollock fillets
    Tariff (2026)Frozen whole: 10% base, 22% adjustment tariff, 0% US and Canada. Surimi, roe, fillets: 10% base, 0% US and Canada, 5% Japan for surimi and roe

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports, Jan–Sep 2026; Korea Customs Service 2026 tariff schedule.

    Korea’s seafood imports here means HS chapter 03 plus prepared fish and crustaceans (HS 1603–1605); seaweed and salt are excluded. On that basis, pollock was Korea’s sixth-largest imported species group in Jan–Sep 2026, as the ranking of what seafood Korea imports most shows.

    How much pollock does Korea import, and in what form?

    Korea buys pollock in four main forms, and each has its own HS code, origin mix and price. Frozen whole pollock is the largest by value at 35.2% of the total, followed by surimi at 24.8%, roe at 21.5% and fillets at 17.6%. Fresh pollock is less than 1%.

    HSK codeFormUS$ millionTonnesUS$/kgValue vs Jan–Sep 2025Top origin
    0303.67.0000Frozen whole pollock93.973,2041.28−7.6%Russia 93.9%
    0304.94.1000Frozen pollock surimi66.222,8962.89+6.7%US 57.7%
    0303.91.2010Frozen pollock roe (myeongnan)57.213,1314.36−3.3%Russia 92.0%
    0304.75.0000Frozen pollock fillets46.914,8383.16+35.1%Russia 95.0%
    0302.55.0000Fresh or chilled pollock2.36433.56+9.2%Japan 99.9%

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports, Jan–Sep 2026 and Jan–Sep 2025, queried October 15, 2026.

    The price gap between forms is wide. Frozen roe cleared customs at 3.4 times the price per kg of frozen whole fish. A seller who offers several forms is in four different markets, not one. The guide to how Korean buyers specify species, state and form explains how buyers describe each product when they ask for an offer.

    The longer view shows how the mix has shifted. Frozen whole pollock has shrunk each year. Surimi grew in 2025 and again in Jan–Sep 2026, and fillets jumped in 2026 after a weaker 2025.

    Form20242025Jan–Sep 2026
    Frozen whole, US$ million (tonnes)139.0 (138,932)131.6 (119,479)93.9 (73,204)
    Surimi, US$ million (tonnes)69.1 (29,181)88.1 (33,165)66.2 (22,896)
    Roe, US$ million (tonnes)87.2 (17,191)74.4 (16,423)57.2 (13,131)
    Fillets, US$ million (tonnes)50.5 (21,391)44.9 (17,264)46.9 (14,838)

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports. 2024 sums origins with at least US$100,000 of imports in the 12 months to September 2026.

    Why does Russia supply almost all of Korea’s frozen whole pollock?

    Russia shipped 69,859 tonnes of frozen whole pollock to Korea in Jan–Sep 2026, worth US$88.1 million and 93.9% of the value. The US supplied 4.4% and Japan 1.5%. Russian fish is also much cheaper than US fish: it averaged US$1.26/kg at customs, against US$2.00/kg for US pollock. Japan’s small volume averaged US$1.22/kg.

    Korea cannot supply this fish itself: as of October 2026, Korean law bans catching pollock in Korean waters all year (see the FAQ). Frozen pollock, sold in Korea as dongtae, comes from imports.

    Russia’s lead holds even though it has no free trade agreement with Korea. Russian pollock stays cheaper after duty: US$1.26/kg plus the 22% duty described below comes to about US$1.54/kg, against US$2.00/kg for duty-free US pollock, before freight inside Korea and other costs. Three changes in 2026 matter for sellers:

    • Less volume. Korea’s frozen whole pollock imports fell 22.5% by volume in Jan–Sep 2026. Russian volume fell 24.0%.
    • A weak third quarter. In Jul–Sep 2026, Korea imported 14,832 tonnes, down 58.5% from 35,757 tonnes in Jul–Sep 2025. June and July 2026 were the lowest months: 1,088 and 770 tonnes, against 2,743 and 7,936 tonnes a year earlier.
    • More from Japan. Japan shipped 1,184 tonnes in Jan–Sep 2026, up from 47 tonnes a year earlier.

    Two other facts sit alongside the third-quarter drop. Korea’s government released 15,700 tonnes of stockpiled pollock between August 24 and September 27, 2026, ahead of the Chuseok holiday. And in the three years to September 2026, Korea’s frozen pollock arrivals were seasonal: the March volume index averaged 176 and the June index 17, where 100 is an average month. The data do not show which of these caused the 2026 drop. The seasonal demand calendar for Korea’s seafood imports covers the timing of holiday orders.

    Other Russian lines are covered in the report on Russian king crab and snow crab and the guide to Korea’s cod imports. The Q3 2026 report on Korea’s seafood imports puts the pollock drop next to other species.

    What is Korea’s 22% adjustment tariff on frozen pollock?

    Adjustment tariff (jojeong gwanse). A tariff Korea sets above the base rate to protect domestic industry, under Article 69 of the Customs Act. A presidential decree sets the products, rates and dates each year. For import declarations from January 1 to December 31, 2026, frozen pollock pays 22%.

    The adjustment tariff replaces the 10% base rate. An FTA rate applies only when it is lower than the Customs Act rate. So the rate depends on origin and form:

    Form (HSK)RussiaUS and CanadaJapanBase rate
    Frozen whole (0303.67.0000)22%0%22% (no RCEP rate listed)10%, adjustment 22%
    Fillets (0304.75.0000)10%0%10% (no RCEP rate listed)10%
    Surimi (0304.94.1000)10%0%5% (RCEP)10%
    Roe (0303.91.2010)10%0%5% (RCEP)10%
    Fresh or chilled (0302.55.0000)20%0%20% (no RCEP rate listed)20%

    Source: Korea Customs Service, tariff schedule by HSK code, 2026 rates (January 1 to December 31, 2026), checked October 15, 2026. Russia has no FTA rate line, so it pays the base, WTO or adjustment rate.

    For US sellers, 2026 brought one change. Until 2025, US frozen pollock entered duty-free only within a quota of 12,263 tonnes. From 2026, it enters at 0% with no quota under the Korea–US FTA (KORUS). US volume did not jump in response: US frozen whole pollock fell 11.8% to 2,081 tonnes in Jan–Sep 2026. Most US pollock reaches Korea as surimi, not as whole fish.

    The importer must claim an FTA rate before customs accepts the declaration and must hold proof of origin. These rates are from the 2026 schedule as of October 2026. Adjustment tariffs are reset each year, so check the 2027 list when it is published. Confirm the rate for your code with a licensed Korean customs broker or on Korea Customs Service UNIPASS. The guide to Korea’s seafood import duty explains each rate type.

    Who supplies Korea’s pollock surimi, fillets and roe?

    Each processed form has a different leader. The US leads surimi, while Russia leads fillets and roe.

    FormOriginShare 2026 (2025)US$/kg 2026 (2025)Tonnes 2026
    SurimiUnited States57.7% (50.4%)3.21 (2.77)11,888
    SurimiRussia42.3% (49.6%)2.54 (2.49)11,007
    FilletsRussia95.0% (93.6%)3.14 (2.55)14,187
    FilletsUnited States4.5% (5.0%)3.68 (3.08)576
    RoeRussia92.0% (92.9%)4.43 (4.67)11,886
    RoeUnited States8.0% (7.1%)3.69 (4.09)1,245

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports, Jan–Sep 2026 (Jan–Sep 2025 in brackets), share of value.

    Stacked bar chart titled Russia leads every pollock form in Korea except surimi: Korea's pollock imports by form and origin, share of value, Jan–Sep 2026. Russia 93.9% of frozen whole pollock (US$93.9M), 92.0% of roe (US$57.2M) and 95.0% of fillets (US$46.9M); the US 57.7% of surimi (US$66.2M) and Russia 42.3%

    Surimi is a two-country market. US surimi held 65.5% of Korea’s pollock surimi imports in 2024 and 53.5% in 2025, then rose to 57.7% in Jan–Sep 2026. US surimi cleared customs at US$0.67/kg above Russian surimi in Jan–Sep 2026. Russian surimi pays 10% duty and US surimi 0%, which narrows that gap after duty. Korea’s fish cake industry also buys surimi made from other fish, led by Vietnam and China. The guide to Korea’s surimi imports covers that wider market.

    Fillets grew fastest. Korea’s frozen pollock fillet imports rose 35.1% by value and 9.8% by volume in Jan–Sep 2026. Russia supplied 95.0%, and its average price rose from US$2.55/kg to US$3.14/kg.

    Roe is Russian, and the US is cheaper. Russia supplied 92.0% of Korea’s frozen pollock roe in Jan–Sep 2026 at US$4.43/kg. US roe averaged US$3.69/kg and grew 22.0% in volume, to 1,245 tonnes. Customs data do not record roe grade or size, so the averages show the direction of the market, not the price for a given grade. Korea’s roe volume fell from 17,191 tonnes in 2024 to 16,423 tonnes in 2025, then rose to 13,131 tonnes in Jan–Sep 2026 from 12,803 tonnes a year earlier.

    The title of this article mentions Alaska roe because “Alaska pollock” is the species name for both Russian and US fish; Korea’s customs data separate them only by declared origin. Most of that roe comes from Russia, not Alaska. The guide for US and Canadian exporters looks at where US pollock products actually sell in Korea.

    How have pollock import prices moved in 2026?

    Prices rose for every form except roe. In Jan–Sep 2026, the average customs value was up 19.2% for frozen whole pollock, 10.2% for surimi and 23.1% for fillets, and down 5.7% for roe, compared with Jan–Sep 2025.

    Line chart titled Whole frozen pollock is by far Korea's cheapest pollock form: Korea's monthly pollock import price by form, customs value per kg, all origins, October 2024 to September 2026. Frozen whole pollock stayed lowest, peaking at US$2.08/kg in June 2026 and ending at US$1.49; in September 2026 surimi was US$3.19, fillets US$3.59 and roe US$4.36

    Frozen whole pollock shows the sharpest move. Its monthly customs value stayed between US$1.01 and US$1.24/kg in most months from October 2024 to April 2026; the exception was June 2025 at US$1.55/kg. It rose to US$1.36/kg in May 2026, jumped to US$2.08/kg in June 2026, a month of very low volume, and eased to US$1.49/kg in September 2026. Korean media reported the same trend: Herald Business reported a June 2026 price for imported frozen pollock of ₩3,674 per kg, up 51.6% on a year earlier.

    Fillets and surimi rose more steadily. Fillets reached US$3.59/kg in September 2026, the highest month in the two-year series, and surimi peaked at US$3.39/kg in August 2026. Customs values are CIF values, not wholesale prices. Compare them with your CIF offer, as the guide to benchmarking against Korean customs import prices explains.

    What else applies to pollock shipments to Korea?

    Three rules reach pollock sellers in 2026. Most of the paperwork sits with the Korean importer.

    • Imported seafood distribution history. From June 29, 2026, Korea added frozen pollock to the products covered by imported seafood distribution history reporting. The Korean importer and each distributor report every transfer within 5 days. The exporter files nothing.
    • Restaurant origin labeling. Pollock is one of 20 seafood species that Korean restaurants must label by country of origin.
    • Plant registration and certificates. Russia is one of 11 countries that register processing plants with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) through their own government, not online. Seafood from these countries also needs the exporting government’s health certificate.

    Rules are as of October 2026. Confirm the final requirements with your Korean importer, a licensed customs broker or the agency concerned before you ship. The step-by-step guide to exporting seafood to Korea covers each stage.

    How to check this yourself in SEACHING

    SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, shows Korea’s seafood imports by 10-digit HS code, origin and month. Open the frozen pollock code and choose Russia to see the page below.

    SEACHING page titled Alaska Pollock (Theragra chalcogramma), Russia (HS 0303670000/RU), with summary cards and a Unit Price Trend and Forecast chart: Korea's monthly import unit price from Russia, March to September 2026, and a dashed AI forecast line to February 2027

    The chart shows the monthly unit price of Korea’s frozen pollock imports from Russia, and the dashed line is the model forecast for the next five months. The prices are for Russia only and the summary cards cover a different period, so they differ from the all-origin figures above. Each form has its own code page:

    Related guides:

    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 forecast for frozen pollock (free sign-up)

    FAQ

    Why does Korea not catch its own pollock?

    Korea bans catching pollock in its own waters all year, from January 1 to December 31, under Annex 1 of the Enforcement Decree of the Fisheries Resources Management Act, as of October 2026. Korean media reported that the ban was introduced in 2019. Korea’s frozen pollock therefore comes from imports, 93.9% of it from Russia by value in Jan–Sep 2026.

    What HS code does Korea use for pollock roe?

    Korea classifies frozen pollock roe (myeongnan) under HSK 0303.91.2010. Korea imported US$57.2 million and 13,131 tonnes under this code in Jan–Sep 2026 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data). Salted pollock roe has a separate code, 0305.20.4010, with almost no imports in Jan–Sep 2026.

    Do US pollock products still face a quota in Korea in 2026?

    No. The KORUS quota for US frozen pollock, 12,263 tonnes in 2025, ended, and US frozen pollock enters Korea at 0% with no quota limit from 2026. US surimi, fillets and roe also pay 0% in the 2026 tariff schedule.

    Sources and method

  • Korea Squid Imports: How Imports Replaced a Shrinking Catch

    Korea Squid Imports: How Imports Replaced a Shrinking Catch

    Data as of October 15, 2026: Korea Customs Service import data through September 2026, via SEACHING. Tariffs and import rules checked October 15, 2026. Updated quarterly.

    Korea’s squid imports reached US$449.7 million in Jan–Sep 2026, or 131,330 tonnes, according to SEACHING’s analysis of Korea Customs Service data. Volume rose 1.8% from a year earlier, but value fell 21.8% as prices dropped. China supplied 35.0% of the value, Peru 25.7% and Vietnam 14.2%.

    Korea’s squid imports at a glanceJan–Sep 2026
    SizeUS$449.7 million, 131,330 tonnes, 10.2% of Korea’s seafood imports
    Top origins (share of value)China 35.0% · Peru 25.7% · Vietnam 14.2% · Chile 7.3% · Ecuador 3.4%
    Customs price per kgAll squid US$3.42 · frozen “other” squid US$2.49 · other prepared squid US$4.26 · seasoned squid US$5.69 · frozen cuttlefish US$7.81
    Main HS codes0307.43.2090 · 1605.54.2099 · 1605.54.2091 · 0307.43.1090 · 0307.43.2010
    Duty, 2026 (frozen “other” squid)Adjustment tariff 22% without an FTA rate · Peru, Chile, US, Vietnam 0% · ASEAN 5% · China 8%
    Korea’s own catchCoastal squid 31,006 t in 2025, after a record low of 13,568 t in 2024
    SourceSEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data; Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries; Korea Customs Service 2026 tariff schedule

    Prices are customs values (CIF) per kg, not wholesale prices.

    Key takeaways

    • Korea imported US$449.7 million of squid and cuttlefish in Jan–Sep 2026, down 21.8% from Jan–Sep 2025, while volume rose 1.8% to 131,330 tonnes (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Peru’s frozen squid cleared Korean customs at US$2.15 per kg in Jan–Sep 2026, down from US$3.34 a year earlier, while its volume rose 74.2% (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Squid caught by Korean vessels on the high seas counts as Korean goods under Article 2 of Korea’s Customs Act, so 52,122 tonnes of Korean distant-water squid in 2025 do not appear in import statistics (as of October 2026).
    • Under Korea’s 2026 tariff schedule, frozen “other” squid (HSK 0307.43.2090) pays a 22% adjustment tariff unless an FTA rate applies: 0% for Peru and Chile, 8% for China (checked October 15, 2026).

    How much squid does Korea import, and from where?

    China and Peru supply three-fifths of Korea’s squid imports, and four origins supply 82.2%. In Jan–Sep 2026, Korea imported US$157.3 million of squid from China and US$115.6 million from Peru. SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, compiles these figures from Korea Customs Service (KCS) data.

    In this guide, squid means squid and cuttlefish under HS 0307.42 (live, fresh or chilled), 0307.43 (frozen), 0307.49 (dried, salted or smoked) and 1605.54 (prepared or preserved). Korea’s seafood imports here means HS chapter 03 plus prepared fish and crustaceans (HS 1603–1605); seaweed and salt are excluded.

    OriginValue, Jan–Sep 2026Share of valueVolumeUS$/kgValue vs Jan–Sep 2025Volume vs Jan–Sep 2025
    ChinaUS$157.3M35.0%44,825 t3.51−15.8%−1.6%
    PeruUS$115.6M25.7%40,255 t2.87−19.6%+46.3%
    VietnamUS$63.9M14.2%6,061 t10.54+11.6%+3.7%
    ChileUS$33.0M7.3%17,232 t1.91−48.2%+6.2%
    EcuadorUS$15.5M3.4%10,042 t1.54−0.4%+35.9%
    ArgentinaUS$13.9M3.1%3,062 t4.54−27.2%−32.4%
    SpainUS$10.3M2.3%2,393 t4.32+28.8%+29.9%
    TaiwanUS$8.6M1.9%1,508 t5.72−66.2%−72.6%
    IndonesiaUS$6.2M1.4%906 t6.88−10.8%−25.2%
    ThailandUS$6.1M1.4%651 t9.34−12.2%−13.8%
    All originsUS$449.7M100%131,330 t3.42−21.8%+1.8%

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, Jan–Sep 2026 vs Jan–Sep 2025, imports, squid HS codes listed above.

    Squid was Korea’s largest seafood import group in Jan–Sep 2025 and fell to second place, behind shrimp, in Jan–Sep 2026 (see the ranking of Korea’s top seafood imports). In July–September 2026 alone it fell 31.5%, as the Q3 2026 import report shows.

    How have the origins changed over three years?

    Peru’s share swung the most. It held 15.2% of Korea’s squid import value in 2024, 26.4% in 2025 and 25.7% in Jan–Sep 2026. China’s share went the other way, from 46.2% in 2024 to 35.0%.

    Share of Korea’s squid import value20242025Jan–Sep 2025Jan–Sep 2026
    China46.2%32.4%32.5%35.0%
    Peru15.2%26.4%25.0%25.7%
    Vietnam12.9%10.8%10.0%14.2%
    Chile6.3%9.1%11.1%7.3%
    Ecuador0.0%3.6%2.7%3.4%
    Argentina4.7%3.5%3.3%3.1%
    Taiwan4.3%3.7%4.4%1.9%

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data. The 2024 column covers origins with at least US$100,000 of squid sales to Korea in the 12 months to September 2026.

    Peru’s frozen squid shipments to Korea dropped to 24 tonnes in January 2025 before recovering later that year. USDA, using Korean data, reported that Korea’s imports of Peruvian molluscs, mainly jumbo squid, fell from 39,005 tonnes in 2023 to 14,906 tonnes in 2024. Customs data does not show why.

    Why does Korea import so much more squid than it catches?

    Korea’s own squid catch is small next to its imports. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) reported a coastal squid catch of 13,568 tonnes in 2024, a record low, and 31,006 tonnes in 2025. The 2025 catch was still 18.9% below the five-year average of 38,278 tonnes.

    MOF linked the 2025 recovery to lower water temperatures, which formed fishing grounds in the East Sea in spring and the West Sea in summer. The release gives no cause for the long-term decline.

    Imports did not fall back when the catch recovered. Korea imported 172,451 tonnes of squid by customs weight in 2025, 16.8% more than in 2024. That was 5.6 times the 2025 coastal catch and 3.3 times the 52,122 tonnes caught by Korea’s distant-water fleet. The units differ, so treat the ratios as rough: imports are customs net weight and include dried and prepared products, while catch figures are live weight.

    Grouped bar chart of Korea's squid supply in 2024 and 2025: imports by customs weight 147,661 tonnes and 172,451 tonnes, distant-water catch 63,156 and 52,122 tonnes, coastal catch 13,568 and 31,006 tonnes, with the coastal five-year average of 38,278 tonnes as a reference line; imports and catch are measured differently

    Does squid caught by Korean distant-water vessels count as an import?

    No. Under Article 2 of Korea’s Customs Act, fish and other marine products caught on the high seas by Korean vessels are Korean goods, not foreign goods. The same article treats marine products caught on the high seas by foreign vessels as foreign goods, so bringing them into Korea is an import (Customs Act, in force October 2, 2026).

    Korea’s distant-water fleet caught 52,122 tonnes of squid in 2025, down 17.4% from 63,156 tonnes in 2024. MOF linked the drop to weaker squid grounds around the Falkland Islands. As Korean goods, none of it appears in the import tables above or pays import duty.

    Which squid does each origin sell to Korea?

    Each origin sells a different product. Frozen squid under HS 0307.43.2 made up 55.1% of Korea’s squid import value in Jan–Sep 2026, prepared squid under 1605.54 made up 30.9% and frozen cuttlefish 9.0%.

    HSK codeProductValue, Jan–Sep 2026Share of squidVolumeUS$/kgValue vs Jan–Sep 2025Main origin (share of value)
    0307.43.2090Other squid, frozenUS$235.3M52.3%94,336 t2.49−26.2%China 35.1%
    1605.54.2099Other squid, prepared or preservedUS$77.6M17.3%18,207 t4.26−33.5%Peru 72.7%
    1605.54.2091Seasoned squidUS$61.0M13.6%10,730 t5.69−5.1%China 80.1%
    0307.43.1090Other cuttlefish, frozenUS$40.1M8.9%5,129 t7.81+17.6%Vietnam 70.9%
    0307.43.2010Squid of four named genera, frozenUS$12.4M2.8%1,842 t6.73−41.9%Vietnam 42.7%
    0307.49.3010Cuttlefish and squid of named species, driedUS$12.1M2.7%337 t35.85−5.4%Vietnam 98.3%
    0307.49.3090Other squid and cuttlefish, driedUS$10.8M2.4%678 t15.89+59.1%China 96.2%

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, Jan–Sep 2026 vs Jan–Sep 2025, imports, all origins. Product names follow the Korean tariff schedule (HSK).

    The 10-digit line decides your duty and your price comparison. Frozen “other” squid (0307.43.2090) was Korea’s second-largest single seafood import code in Jan–Sep 2026, at 5.3% of all seafood imports. In 2025 it was the largest, at US$413.3 million.

    • Peru sells frozen and prepared squid in about equal parts. Frozen “other” squid made up 50% of Peru’s squid sales to Korea in Jan–Sep 2026 and prepared squid 49%. Peru supplied 72.7% of Korea’s imports of other prepared squid (1605.54.2099). The line 0307.43.2010 names four genera (Ommastrephes, Loligo, Nototodarus and Sepioteuthis). Jumbo flying squid (Dosidicus gigas) is not among them, and Korea’s frozen squid imports from Peru were declared under “other” (0307.43.2090). More in the guide to exporting seafood from Chile, Peru and Ecuador.
    • China sells frozen squid and seasoned squid. Frozen “other” squid made up 52% of China’s squid sales to Korea and seasoned squid 31%. China supplied 80.1% of Korea’s seasoned squid imports. See the guide to exporting Chinese seafood to Korea.
    • Vietnam sells cuttlefish and dried products. Frozen cuttlefish made up 44% of Vietnam’s squid sales to Korea, dried cuttlefish and squid 19% and seasoned squid 17%. The guide to Thai and Indonesian seafood exports to Korea compares the Southeast Asian suppliers.
    • Chile, Ecuador, Argentina, Spain and Taiwan sold almost only frozen “other” squid to Korea in Jan–Sep 2026.

    What prices does Korea pay per kg for squid?

    Korea’s squid import prices fell sharply in 2026. The all-squid average was US$3.42 per kg in Jan–Sep 2026, down 23.2% from US$4.46 a year earlier.

    OriginFrozen “other” squid, 0307.43.2090Other prepared squid, 1605.54.2099Seasoned squid, 1605.54.2091Frozen cuttlefish, 0307.43.1090
    Peru2.15 (3.34)4.30 (7.67)11.45 (4.00)n/a
    China2.76 (3.44)3.34 (3.60)5.01 (6.13)n/a
    Chile1.91 (3.92)n/an/an/a
    Ecuador1.54 (2.11)n/an/an/a
    Argentina4.54 (4.22)n/an/an/a
    Spain4.32 (4.36)n/an/an/a
    Vietnam3.98 (2.92)10.10 (9.87)12.73 (12.56)7.99 (7.12)
    Thailandn/an/an/a9.24 (8.82)
    All origins2.49 (3.53)4.26 (6.56)5.69 (6.60)7.81 (7.24)

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, Jan–Sep 2026 (Jan–Sep 2025 in brackets), imports, US$ per kg (customs value, CIF). n/a = less than US$1 million of sales in Jan–Sep 2026.

    In frozen “other” squid, Ecuador, Chile and Peru cleared at the lowest prices in Jan–Sep 2026. Argentina and Spain cleared above China.

    Dot chart of Korea's squid import prices by origin and product, US$ per kg, Jan–Sep 2026 with Jan–Sep 2025 as hollow dots: frozen squid from Ecuador 1.54 (2.11), Chile 1.91 (3.92), Peru 2.15 (3.34), China 2.76 (3.44), Spain 4.32 (4.36) and Argentina 4.54 (4.22); Peru's other prepared squid 4.30 (7.67); China's seasoned squid 5.01 (6.13); Vietnam's frozen cuttlefish 7.99 (7.12)

    Under Article 30 of Korea’s Customs Act, the customs value includes freight and insurance to the Korean port, so these are CIF values, not wholesale prices (in force October 2, 2026). The guide to benchmarking your price against Korean customs import prices shows how to compare an FOB offer.

    Frozen “other” squid peaked at US$3.75 per kg in May 2025, fell to US$2.11 in March 2026 and stood at US$2.50 in September 2026. Peru’s price for the same code fell from US$3.84 in April 2025 to US$1.85 in April 2026, and was US$2.07 in September 2026.

    Line chart of Korea's monthly import price for frozen other squid (HSK 0307.43.2090), October 2024 to September 2026: all origins peaked at US$3.75 per kg in May 2025 and fell to US$2.11 in March 2026; and stood at US$2.50 in September 2026; Peru, shown only for months above 100 tonnes, moved from US$3.84 in April 2025 to US$1.85 in April 2026

    SEACHING’s page for frozen “other” squid from Peru charts the same monthly customs price per kg, with 6-month, 1-year and 3-year views and a dashed AI forecast line, so you can check the latest months against your offer.

    SEACHING page for Other squid, frozen, from Peru (HS 0307432090 / PE), with summary cards and a Unit Price Trend & Forecast chart showing monthly prices from March to September 2026 and a dashed AI forecast line to February 2027

    What import duty does Korea charge on squid?

    Frozen “other” squid pays a 22% adjustment tariff in 2026 unless the origin has a lower FTA rate. Korea’s basic rate for that code is 20%, but the 2026 adjustment tariff on frozen squid, excluding some small species and surimi, is 22% and takes priority over the basic rate. An FTA rate applies only when it is lower.

    Origin (agreement)Frozen “other” squid, 0307.43.2090Frozen squid, named genera, 0307.43.2010Frozen cuttlefish, 0307.43.1090Other prepared squid, 1605.54.2099Seasoned squid, 1605.54.2091
    No FTA rate (e.g., Argentina, Ecuador, Taiwan)22%22%20%20%20%
    Peru, Chile, United States0%0%0%0%0%
    China (Korea–China FTA)8%22%8%20% (other China lines 8% and 0%)20% (other China lines 8% and 0%)
    Vietnam (Korea–Vietnam FTA)0%21.6%0%0%16% (another line 0%)
    ASEAN members (Korea–ASEAN FTA)5%21.6%5%5%16% (another line 5%)
    Spain and other EU (Korea–EU FTA)0% (Jan–Jun 2026 rows)22%0% (Jan–Jun 2026 rows)0% (Jan–Jun 2026 rows)0% (Jan–Jun 2026 rows)

    Source: Korea Customs Service, 2026 tariff schedule (Public Data Portal), rates for January 1–December 31, 2026; EU rows in the file cover January 1–June 30, 2026. The 22% for origins without an FTA rate, such as Ecuador, is the adjustment tariff listed in the 2026 schedule; confirm it with a customs broker. Checked October 15, 2026.

    Four points matter:

    • The adjustment tariff is set each year. The 22% rate covers declarations made in calendar 2026.
    • Ecuador has no FTA in force. Korea and Ecuador signed a trade agreement (SECA) in September 2025, but it was not in force as of October 15, 2026. The guide to the Korea–Ecuador SECA explains the schedule.
    • China, Vietnam and ASEAN have extra rate lines. For prepared and seasoned squid the file lists extra Korea–China lines, including a 0% line coded FCN6, and extra Vietnam and ASEAN lines for seasoned squid, without stating their conditions. Ask a broker before you price on them.
    • Prepared squid also pays VAT. Unprocessed squid in HS 0307 is exempt from import VAT, but prepared squid in HS 1605 pays 10% (VAT Act, as of October 2026).

    The importer claims the FTA rate and needs proof of origin. Check the rate on KCS UNIPASS for the date of import and confirm it with a licensed Korean customs broker. The Korea seafood import duty guide explains how the rate types fit together.

    What else should squid exporters know before shipping?

    Since June 29, 2026, frozen and chilled squid have been on Korea’s list of imported seafood that needs traceability reports. The list grew from 22 to 27 items. The importer and each distributor report every transfer within five days. The reports are the Korean side’s job, but they draw on the product name and origin on your documents.

    Squid is also one of 20 seafood species that Korean restaurants must label by country of origin, according to the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service (NFQS).

    Before the first shipment, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) requires the foreign manufacturing facility to be registered, for two years at a time. The step-by-step guide to exporting seafood to Korea covers registration, documents and inspection. The importer, not the exporter, files the import declaration.

    SEACHING estimates that 422 Korean companies imported frozen “other” squid in the 12 months to September 2026, and that the top 10 held 20.0% of import records, an estimate based on record counts, not value. The guide to seafood importers in Korea explains who they are.

    More on squid and Korea

    Check Korea’s imports of your squid product

    The same monthly data by origin exists for other prepared squid imports into Korea (free sign-up), seasoned squid import data (free sign-up) and frozen cuttlefish import data (free sign-up).

    Before you contact a Korean buyer, look up how much frozen or prepared squid Korea already imports, from which origins and at what customs value per kg. SEACHING shows Korea’s seafood imports by 10-digit HS code and month, built on Korea Customs Service data. Look up your squid product on SEACHING (free sign-up)

    FAQ

    Why is squid so expensive in Korea?

    Korea’s own coastal squid catch fell to a record low of 13,568 tonnes in 2024 and was 31,006 tonnes in 2025, below the five-year average of 38,278 tonnes, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Import prices, however, fell in 2026: Korea paid an average of US$3.42 per kg at customs for squid in Jan–Sep 2026, against US$4.46 a year earlier (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data). Customs values are not retail prices, and this data does not show what Korean shoppers pay.

    What is the import duty on frozen squid in Korea in 2026?

    Frozen “other” squid (HSK 0307.43.2090) carries a 22% adjustment tariff in 2026. FTA rates are lower for many origins: 0% for Peru, Chile, the United States and Vietnam, 5% for ASEAN members and 8% for China (2026 tariff schedule, checked October 15, 2026).

    Which squid does Korea buy from Peru?

    In Jan–Sep 2026, Peru sold Korea US$58.1 million of frozen “other” squid (HSK 0307.43.2090) and US$56.4 million of other prepared squid (1605.54.2099), according to SEACHING’s analysis of Korea Customs Service data.

    Sources and method

    Method: squid = HS subheadings 0307.42, 0307.43, 0307.49 and 1605.54, all 10-digit HSK lines under them. Price = customs value (US$, CIF) ÷ net weight; multi-month prices divide total value by total weight. Months with no imports from an origin count as zero. Origin figures cover origins with at least US$100,000 of sales to Korea in the 12 months to September 2026, 99.93% of the value in Jan–Sep 2026. Catch figures are MOF provisional figures in live weight; import figures are customs net weight. Company counts and record shares are SEACHING estimates. Figures for 2026 may be revised when Korea Customs Service publishes final data. Customs rules and tariffs change; confirm with a licensed Korean customs broker and the agencies named above.

  • South Korea Seafood Market Size: What the Trade Statistics Show

    South Korea Seafood Market Size: What the Trade Statistics Show

    Data as of: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data through September 2026, queried October 15, 2026; Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries production data for 2025 (preliminary); KREI Food Balance Sheet for 2023.

    South Korea’s seafood market has no single official size. The clearest measure for exporters is imports: Korea imported US$5.97 billion of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and prepared seafood in 2025, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data. Domestic production was 3.93 million tonnes, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF, preliminary).

    Key takeaways

    • Korea imported US$5,974.9 million of seafood (HS 03 and 1603–1605) in 2025, 1.37 million tonnes, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data.
    • Korea’s official indicator portal, e-Narajipyo, puts Korea’s 2025 seafood imports at US$6.44 billion, up 7.5% from 2024, because it counts a wider product list, including salt.
    • Korea produced 3,934,971 tonnes of seafood in 2025, worth KRW 10.24 trillion, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (preliminary).
    • In 2023, Korea’s fish and shellfish imports of 2.28 million tonnes equaled 67.2% of its domestic consumption of 3.39 million tonnes, according to the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI) Food Balance Sheet.

    How big is the South Korean seafood market?

    It depends on what you measure. For a supplier, the most useful number is Korea’s import value, the part of the market foreign sellers compete for.

    Definition: “seafood market size” in Korea
    Korea’s official statistics measure production (tonnes and Korean won), imports (customs value in US dollars) and apparent consumption (tonnes). None of them is a retail sales figure.

    MeasureLatest figurePeriodPublisher
    Imports, HS 03 and 1603–1605US$5,974.9 million; 1,365,595 tonnes2025SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data
    Imports, MOF product listUS$6.44 billion2025e-Narajipyo (Korea Customs Service data)
    Imports, HS 03 and 1603–1605US$4,415.6 million (+0.7% vs Jan–Sep 2025)Jan–Sep 2026SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data
    Domestic production3,934,971 tonnes; KRW 10.24 trillion2025, preliminaryMinistry of Oceans and Fisheries
    Fish and shellfish consumption3,391.9 thousand tonnes2023, preliminaryKREI Food Balance Sheet

    Sources: as listed in the table; see Sources and method.

    Scope note: in this article, Korea’s seafood imports means HS chapter 03 plus prepared fish and crustaceans (HS 1603–1605); seaweed and salt are excluded. The production totals, by contrast, include seaweed aquaculture.

    Why do market size estimates disagree?

    Because they count different products at different points in the supply chain. An import value stops at the border and is a customs value (CIF). A retail figure would also carry importer, wholesale and store margins. A production figure is in tonnes or won.

    Market size figures in paid research reports are not official statistics. If a figure does not state its products, price level and data series, it cannot be checked against official data.

    Even official import figures differ by product list:

    SeriesValueYearWhat it counts
    e-Narajipyo (MOF list, KCS data)US$5.98 billion2024687 HSK lines (2021 list), including salt
    USDA, from KITA dataUS$5.52 billion2024Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and prepared seafood
    SEACHING, HS 03 and 1603–1605US$5,508.0 million2024Origins with at least US$100,000 in a 12-month window
    e-Narajipyo (MOF list, KCS data)US$6.44 billion2025Same as above
    SEACHING, HS 03 and 1603–1605US$5,974.9 million2025All origins

    Sources: e-Narajipyo; USDA FAS GAIN KS2025-0046; SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, queried October 15, 2026.

    Bar chart, Korea's seafood imports: one market, three numbers: e-Narajipyo US$6.44 billion (2025), SEACHING HS 03 + 1603–1605 US$5.97 billion (2025), USDA FAS US$5.52 billion (2024, in grey)

    For 2024, the USDA figure is within 0.2% of SEACHING’s HS 03 and 1603–1605 total, which suggests the two cover nearly the same products. In 2025 the e-Narajipyo series is about US$465 million higher because its product list is wider.

    What do official statistics measure?

    They measure production, imports and consumption, each in its own unit, so the figures cannot be added into one market value. Korea’s 2025 production of 3,934,971 tonnes rose 8.7% from 2024, and its value rose 1.4% to KRW 10.24 trillion, according to the MOF. Aquaculture supplied 2,530,277 tonnes, or 64.3% of the total; coastal and offshore fishing supplied 977,648 tonnes and distant-water fishing 382,660 tonnes.

    For fish and shellfish alone, the KREI Food Balance Sheet gives a like-for-like picture. In 2023, Korea produced 1,932.7 thousand tonnes, imported 2,278.6 thousand tonnes and consumed 3,391.9 thousand tonnes. Production covered 57.0% of consumption.

    Bar chart, Korea imports more fish and shellfish than it produces: 2023 (preliminary) production 1.93 million tonnes, imports 2.28 million tonnes, domestic consumption 3.39 million tonnes, KREI Food Balance Sheet

    For per-person figures, see the guide to Korea’s seafood consumption per capita; for the 57% rate, the analysis of Korea’s seafood self-sufficiency.

    How do you read market size from trade statistics?

    Start from the import total, then break it down by HS code and origin. In 2025, live, fresh, frozen, dried and salted fish, crustaceans and molluscs (HS chapter 03) made up 86.4% of Korea’s imports in this scope, and prepared products (HS 1603–1605) 13.6%.

    The market is spread across many lines. The 10 largest 10-digit codes took 36.4% of Korea’s 2025 import value. Frozen squid (free sign-up), HS 0307.43.2090, led with US$413.3 million, followed by frozen peeled shrimp (free sign-up), HS 0306.17.1090, at US$401.0 million and fresh or chilled Atlantic salmon (free sign-up), HS 0302.14, at US$244.5 million.

    In Jan–Sep 2026, Korea’s frozen peeled shrimp imports reached US$313.9 million, ahead of frozen squid at US$235.3 million. China supplied 23.7% of Korea’s 2025 seafood imports by value.

    SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, shows this one product at a time. On an HS code page’s Trends tab, you can see how import value and unit price moved month by month, with the same figures in a table below the chart.

    SEACHING Trends tab for Korea's fresh or chilled Atlantic salmon imports (HS 0302140000): monthly import value and unit price, October 2025 to September 2026, with a Monthly Data table

    For species rankings, see what seafood Korea imports most; for the latest quarter, the Korea seafood imports report for Q3 2026.

    Is Korea a net seafood importer?

    Yes. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that Korea has been a net importer of seafood since 2001, as domestic supply of the main species falls short of demand.

    Common misconception: “the market is smaller than its imports”

    A “market size” figure below US$5.97 billion does not mean Korean demand is smaller than its imports. It means the figure measures something else, such as one channel or product group.

    Nor does every imported kilo stay in Korea: USDA calls Korea one of the largest intermediary seafood hubs in Asia. Import value shows what crossed the border, not what consumers ate.

    Which number should you cite?

    Pick the measure that matches your question and quote its source and period.

    Your questionNumber to citeSource
    How much seafood does Korea buy from abroad?US$5,974.9 million (2025), HS 03 and 1603–1605SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data
    What does the official headline say?US$6.44 billion (2025)e-Narajipyo, Korea Customs Service data
    How much does Korea produce?3,934,971 tonnes (2025, preliminary)Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries
    How much fish and shellfish does Korea consume?3,391.9 thousand tonnes (2023, preliminary)KREI Food Balance Sheet

    Sources: see Sources and method.

    To compare the data sources themselves, see Korea seafood import data sources compared.

    Quote these figures, then check your own product

    You may quote the official figures in this article with their original sources. For Korea’s imports of a specific species or origin, month by month, query the data on SEACHING (free sign-up) and cite “Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, {period}.”

    FAQ

    How much seafood does South Korea import each year?

    South Korea imported US$5,974.9 million of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and prepared seafood (HS 03 and 1603–1605) in 2025, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data. The e-Narajipyo series, which counts a wider product list including salt, gives US$6.44 billion.

    Why is Korea’s seafood import figure different in USDA reports?

    USDA counts fewer products than the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries series. For 2024, USDA reported US$5.52 billion, close to the HS 03 and 1603–1605 scope; e-Narajipyo reported US$5.98 billion.

    Are Korea’s seafood imports growing in 2026?

    Only slightly by value. Korea imported US$4,415.6 million of seafood (HS 03 and 1603–1605) in Jan–Sep 2026, up 0.7% from Jan–Sep 2025, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data. Import weight fell 4.6% over the same period.

    Sources and method

  • Where to Find South Korea Seafood Import Data: 7 Sources Compared

    Where to Find South Korea Seafood Import Data: 7 Sources Compared

    Data as of: source terms checked October 14, 2026; Korean import figures Jan–Sep 2026, except figures from the MOF files (through July 2026).

    The best free source of Korea seafood import data is the Korea Customs Service (KCS). It publishes Korea’s imports by 10-digit HS code, country and month, with final figures around the 15th of the following month. UN Comtrade suits cross-country work but stops at 6 digits. Shipment databases show few Korean importers because Korean customs law protects declaration details.

    Key takeaways

    • Korea Customs Service publishes Korea’s imports free of charge by 10-digit HS code, country and month, updating the previous month’s data around the 15th of each month (KCS, checked October 14, 2026).
    • UN Comtrade reports Korea’s trade only to 6 digits: HS 030743 combines frozen squid and cuttlefish, which Korea splits into four 10-digit lines (UN Comtrade, checked October 14, 2026; SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • In UN Comtrade’s free preview API, Korea’s newest monthly import data was December 2025 when checked on October 14, 2026.
    • Korea’s 2024 seafood imports were US$5.98 billion in the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) series and US$5.52 billion in the USDA series, because the two count different products.
    • Company-level figures for Korean importers are estimates on every platform that offers them, including SEACHING, because Korea does not publish importer names in its trade statistics.

    Which source should you use for Korea’s seafood import data?

    Pick the source by your question. Official Korean statistics answer how much, from where and at what customs value. Other sources add reach or commentary but lose detail.

    Your questionStart withWhy
    A figure to quote in a report or articleKorea Customs Service trade statisticsPrimary source, 10-digit detail, monthly
    How Korea compares with Japan, China or the US as a marketUN Comtrade or ITC Trade MapSame 6-digit codes for every reporting country
    Which origins compete with you in one productKCS, MOF files on data.go.kr, or SEACHINGCountry split at 10 digits
    A yearly overview written for exportersUSDA FAS GAIN “Korea Seafood Market Update”Free annual report with commentary
    Which Korean companies import a productSEACHING (estimated)Built from Korean declaration data, not bills of lading

    How do the seven sources compare?

    The table compares each source on the same five points, from each provider’s public pages on the check date.

    SourceCoverageUpdate cycleDetailPriceMain limitsChecked
    1. Korea Customs Service trade statistics (tradedata.go.kr, data.go.kr API)All of Korea’s imports and exportsMonthly; previous month updated around the 15thHS 2, 4, 6 and 10 digits × country × month; imports at CIF valueFreeNo company names; Korean-first interface (English menu exists); API queries limited to 1 year at a timeOct 14, 2026
    2. MOF seafood trade files (data.go.kr)Korea’s seafood trade as MOF defines itMonthly file; July 2026 data posted September 15, 2026HSK 10 digits × country × month, plus year-to-dateFree, no use restrictionIncludes sea salt, fishmeal and other non-fish lines; CSV only, no commentaryOct 14, 2026
    3. UN ComtradeTrade reported by each countryAnnual and monthly; Korea monthly data through Dec 2025 in the preview APIHS 6 digitsFree account (500 API calls a day); Premium from US$2,000 a yearNo 10-digit split; months of delay; no companiesOct 14, 2026
    4. ITC Trade MapTrade reported by each countryAnnual; monthly statistics in the paid MAT Pro tier6 digits; national tariff lines in MAT ProFree core features; MAT Pro free to registered users during the 2026 beta, paid after launchKorean 10-digit detail only through MAT Pro; no companiesOct 14, 2026
    5. TridgeSelected product × country pagesMonthly market updatesTridge’s own product names; no HS code shownSummary free; full view behind Tridge’s market toolsCompany names hidden; transaction source not namedOct 14, 2026
    6. Bill-of-lading databases (Volza, ImportGenius, Panjiva)Countries that release shipment recordsNot stated on public pagesShipment and company levelImportGenius US$229 a month on monthly billing (US data); Volza free sign-up and 7-day trial; Panjiva not listedKorea not in ImportGenius country list; Volza’s Korea page describes shipments traced back to their origin countries; no public Panjiva Korea pageOct 14, 2026
    7. SEACHINGSeafood trade with Korea as one partyKCS data monthly; Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) declarations dailyHSK 10 digits × country × month, plus estimated company figuresFree account with AI tokens; Smart US$20 a month; Custom quoteKorea-side trade only; company figures are estimates; login required; BetaOct 14, 2026

    Sources: each provider’s public pages, checked on the dates shown. See Sources and method.

    Two report-style sources outside the matrix
    The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service publishes a free annual report, “Korea Seafood Market Update”, for US exporters. KATI, run by the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), offers monthly trade queries in Korean. Both give context; neither replaces the customs tables.

    What do Korea’s official statistics show, and where do they stop?

    Korea’s official statistics show every import by product, origin and month at 10-digit detail, for free. They stop at the company level.

    Korea Customs Service publishes trade statistics through tradedata.go.kr, which has an English menu with a “By H.S Code and Country” query. The same data is a free API on data.go.kr, with imports valued at CIF. Each month KCS updates the previous month’s figures around the 15th, after corrections and withdrawals of declarations. Preliminary totals come out earlier, on the 1st of the following month.

    The MOF publishes its own seafood files on data.go.kr, built from KCS data. The country file has the 10-digit HSK code, the country and monthly and year-to-date values. It runs later: the file with July 2026 data was posted on September 15, 2026. Its scope is also wider than fish. In Jan–Jul 2026, sea salt made up 2.39 million of the 3.37 million tonnes in the MOF import file, so weight totals need care.

    Company names are missing by law. Article 116 of the Customs Act bars customs officials from disclosing information that taxpayers submit, with narrow exceptions such as court orders (version in force from October 2, 2026). Article 322 lets KCS publish statistics, but even the National Assembly, government agencies and state research institutes that analyze customs data inside a customs office may only see data that cannot identify individual taxpayers.

    When are UN Comtrade and ITC Trade Map the better choice?

    Use UN Comtrade or ITC Trade Map when you compare Korea with other markets. Every reporting country uses the same 6-digit HS codes there, so Korea, Japan and China line up in one table.

    Frozen squid shows the gap. In UN Comtrade, Korea’s 2025 imports from Peru under HS 030743 were 26,695 tonnes worth US$85.4 million at CIF value. A query at 8 digits returns nothing, because Comtrade stops at 6. That one 6-digit line mixes cuttlefish and squid.

    Korea’s own tariff splits HS 030743 into four 10-digit lines. In Jan–Sep 2026, Korea imported US$288.0 million under these four lines. “Other frozen squid” (HSK 0307.43.2090) took 81.7% and “other frozen cuttlefish” (0307.43.1090) took 13.9%. All of Peru’s shipments sat in the squid line: 27,042 tonnes worth US$58.0 million. A cuttlefish seller who reads only the 6-digit total would overstate their market about sevenfold.

    HSK codeProduct (Korean tariff)Share of Korea’s imports under HS 030743, Jan–Sep 2026
    0307.43.1010Frozen cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis, Rossia macrosoma, Sepiola)0.07%
    0307.43.1090Other frozen cuttlefish13.9%
    0307.43.2010Frozen squid (Ommastrephes, Loligo, Nototodarus, Sepioteuthis)4.3%
    0307.43.2090Other frozen squid81.7%

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports, Jan–Sep 2026; share of US$288.0 million by value.

    Bar chart of Korea's imports under HS 030743 by 10-digit HSK line, Jan–Sep 2026: other frozen squid 81.7% and other frozen cuttlefish 13.9% of US$288.0 million. Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data

    Timing is the second gap. When checked on October 14, 2026, the newest monthly Korea import data in UN Comtrade’s free preview API was December 2025. KCS already had August 2026. A free registered Comtrade account allows 500 API calls a day and 100,000 records per call. Premium starts at US$2,000 a year for one person.

    ITC Trade Map was in beta on October 14, 2026: registered users could use its MAT Pro features, including monthly data and national tariff lines, free until launch. After that, those features move to paid MAT Pro plans.

    What do commercial platforms add, and what do they miss for Korea?

    Commercial platforms add interpretation and, sometimes, company names. For Korea’s imports, both have limits.

    Tridge publishes monthly product pages for Korea. Its July 2026 page for frozen shrimp listed 14 exporting countries and 1,842 transactions, as checked on October 14, 2026. It uses Tridge’s own product names, with no HS code. Exporter and importer names appear only as “Exporter Co.” and “Importer Co.”, and some price ranges are masked.

    Bill-of-lading databases build company records from shipment documents that some countries release, and Korea does not release them for its imports. ImportGenius lists US plans at US$229 a month on monthly billing, and South Korea does not appear in its country selector (checked October 14, 2026). Volza’s South Korea import page advertised 99.34 million shipments and 140,048 buyers on October 14, 2026, and describes its records as shipments traced back to their origin across 96 countries. That description suggests the records are matched from other countries’ shipment data rather than released by Korean customs. Panjiva had no public Korea data page; its Korea URL redirected to S&P Global press releases. The guide to why bill-of-lading databases show so few Korean importers explains where their Korean records come from.

    What does SEACHING cover, and what doesn’t it?

    SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, covers seafood trade in which Korea is one party. It does not cover trade between other countries.

    The product and country figures come from KCS trade statistics, updated once a month, and MFDS import declarations, updated once a day. Because many products sit in “other” lines like 0307.43.2090, SEACHING matches MFDS declaration details, such as product name, type and country of manufacture, to the customs codes and regroups imports by species, product, state and processing form.

    Company figures and trading relationships on SEACHING are statistical estimates, not confirmed contracts. Product and company pages require a login, and the platform is labeled Beta. The Free plan comes with AI tokens; the Smart plan costs US$20 a month (checked October 14, 2026). How much a free account can view is not stated on the pricing page.

    Why do Korea’s seafood import figures differ between sources?

    Figures differ mainly because sources count different products.

    ReasonExample
    Product scopeKorea’s 2024 seafood imports: US$5.98 billion in the MOF/KCS series, US$5.52 billion in the USDA series
    Non-fish linesKATI’s “seafood” totals include sea salt, which inflates weight from China
    Code depthUN Comtrade’s HS 030743 merges squid and cuttlefish; KCS splits them
    ValuationKorea reports imports at CIF; exporting countries report the same trade at FOB
    RevisionsKCS final figures can differ from the preliminary totals released on the 1st

    Sources: e-Narajipyo (MOF/KCS series), USDA FAS GAIN KS2025-0046, KATI, UN Comtrade, KCS.

    When you quote a figure, name the source, period and code range in the same sentence. For Korea’s market as a whole, the quarterly report on South Korea’s seafood imports uses one series throughout.

    Start with one product and compare

    Before you quote a number, run one 10-digit product and one origin through two sources and compare. If you price against Korean data, the guide to benchmarking your price against Korean customs import prices shows how to turn value and weight into a per-kg figure.

    On SEACHING you can open frozen squid imports by 10-digit HS code (free sign-up), frozen cuttlefish imports (free sign-up) or Peru’s seafood trade with Korea (free sign-up).

    For a single HSK line, SEACHING lays out each origin’s value, customs unit price and volume for the period you choose.

    SEACHING country table for Korea's frozen squid imports (HS 0307432090), with value, unit price and volume by origin for October 2025 to September 2026

    You may quote SEACHING figures with attribution: “Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, {period}.” To compare a specific species, origin or month, query the data on SEACHING (free sign-up).

    FAQ

    How can I get Korea import data for free?

    Use Korea Customs Service statistics on tradedata.go.kr, which has an English menu, or its free API on data.go.kr. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries also posts free monthly seafood CSV files on data.go.kr.

    Does Korea publish importer names in its customs data?

    No. Korea’s trade statistics are aggregates by product, country and month. Article 116 of the Customs Act protects information that importers submit to customs, so any company-level figure you see for Korea’s imports is an estimate built from other data.

    How soon after month-end is Korea’s trade data released?

    Preliminary totals come out on the 1st of the following month. KCS updates detailed final figures around the 15th of the following month, as of October 2026. The MOF seafood files appear later; the July 2026 file was posted on September 15, 2026.

    Who are Korea’s main seafood importers?

    Official data cannot answer this, because importer names are not published. The overview of seafood importers in Korea describes the main types of buyers and how goods reach them.

    Sources and method

  • MSC and ASC Certified Seafood in Korea: Does Certification Help You Sell?

    MSC and ASC Certified Seafood in Korea: Does Certification Help You Sell?

    Data as of October 14, 2026. Trade figures cover Jan–Sep 2026.

    MSC certified seafood is not required in Korea, and no public data shows a price premium for it. The label helps in a few channels, such as hotels, large retailers and food service, and only when your Korean buyer also holds chain-of-custody (CoC) certification. ASC Korea’s October 2025 list of CoC sites in Korea had 69 entries.

    Key takeaways

    • As of October 2026, Korea’s documents for a seafood import declaration do not include an MSC or ASC certificate.
    • ASC Korea listed 69 chain-of-custody sites in Korea on October 17, 2025. Of these, 27 handled salmon and 17 handled shrimp.
    • Real Foods reported 140 MSC chain-of-custody certified companies in Korea in May 2025.
    • Under MSC and ASC rules, every company that owns and sells a labeled product needs a valid CoC certificate, so a certified exporter still needs a certified Korean buyer.

    Do you need MSC or ASC certification to sell seafood in Korea?

    Definition: MSC, ASC and chain of custody
    The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certifies wild-capture fisheries. The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certifies farms. To sell a product with either label, each company that owns and sells it, including the Korean importer and processor, needs chain-of-custody (CoC) certification.

    No. As of October 2026, the Korean importer files a declaration with a Korean-language label, product photos, test reports where required and, for countries with a seafood agreement, a government health certificate. MSC and ASC are not on that list. Both programs are voluntary. The real question is which channel your product ends up in.

    ChannelPublic evidence of a certification requestSource and date
    International hotelsYes. One Seoul hotel reports about half its seafood is certified; two hotels hold ASC CoCKorea Herald, Oct 2026; ASC Korea, Oct 2025
    Large retailersSome. Own-brand MSC products and ASC commitments by individual chainsMSC, 2021; ASC, 2023
    Food service distributorsSome. One major distributor holds ASC CoC and made an ASC commitmentASC, 2023; ASC Korea, Oct 2025
    Global quick-service chainsOne case: an MSC pollock fish burger since 2021MSC, 2021
    Wholesale markets and general distributionNo public evidence foundn/a

    Sources: The Korea Herald, October 10, 2026; ASC Korea CoC list, October 17, 2025; ASC news, May 17, 2023; MSC news, June 23, 2021.

    How many Korean companies hold MSC or ASC chain-of-custody certification?

    ASC Korea listed 69 sites with ASC chain-of-custody certification on October 17, 2025, three of them still under assessment. For MSC, the latest public figure is 140 CoC certified companies, reported by the Korean outlet Real Foods in May 2025. The two figures come from different sources and dates.

    The species mix matters more to a seller. In ASC Korea’s list, 27 sites named salmon and 17 named shrimp, two farmed species Korea imports. Another 26 named abalone. The list includes a food service distributor, a salmon processor’s Korean plant, cold stores and two hotels.

    Bar chart of ASC chain-of-custody sites in Korea by species handled, October 17, 2025: salmon 27, abalone 26, shrimp 17, oyster 3, pangasius 2

    Source: count of ASC Korea’s CoC list, October 17, 2025. A site can list several species.

    Which channels in Korea ask for certified seafood?

    Hotels are the clearest buyers. Conrad Seoul told The Korea Herald in October 2026 that about 50% of its seafood is certified, but salmon stays at about 50% because stable certified supply is limited. Its marketing director said: “There is no demand for certified seafood, so there is no supply.”

    Retail and food service cases are older. MSC reported in 2021 that Homeplus sold own-brand MSC products and that McDonald’s Korea switched its Filet-O-Fish to MSC pollock in over 400 stores. In 2023, ASC said CJ Freshway, IKEA, Lotte Mart and Orga had committed to ASC certification. Treat these as signs that a buyer may ask, and confirm each buyer’s current policy.

    No public source shows Korean wholesalers or general distributors asking for MSC or ASC. There, price, specification and documents decide the deal, as covered in what Korean seafood importers check before a first order.

    Why does your Korean buyer’s certification matter as much as yours?

    Your certificate alone does not put a label on a Korean shelf. MSC requires every company in the supply chain to hold a valid CoC certificate, audited every year. ASC shares the MSC chain-of-custody system and applies the same rule.

    This is the bottleneck in Korea. Conrad Seoul had to wait for a certified distributor to open at Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market before it could buy ASC fish there. Without a certified importer, your product arrives as ordinary seafood.

    Before you pitch certification, ask your Korean buyer:

    1. Do you hold a valid MSC or ASC CoC certificate, and what is its number?
    2. Does the next company in the chain also hold one?
    3. Will you sell the product under the label?

    Is certification a differentiator or a baseline for your species?

    It depends on how many competitors already hold it. Korea’s salmon imports came 79.0% from Norway and 17.6% from Chile by value in Jan–Sep 2026 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data). Korea’s imports of pollock fillets, surimi and roe came 73.5% from Russia and 26.4% from the United States. Vietnam supplied 43.1% of Korea’s shrimp imports.

    No public source gives the certified share of each origin’s sales to Korea. If most suppliers of your species and origin are certified, certification is an entry ticket to hotels and retail, not a reason to switch suppliers. If few are, it can set you apart in those channels. See Korea’s salmon imports by origin, HS code and price, exporting Norwegian seafood to Korea and exporting seafood from Chile, Peru and Ecuador to Korea.

    Common misconceptions about MSC and ASC in Korea

    “Certified seafood sells at a higher price in Korea.” No public data shows a Korean price premium, and Korean customs data do not separate certified from uncertified product.

    “If I am certified, Korean shops will show the label.” Only if every company that owns the product after you holds CoC certification.

    “Korea’s planned catch certificate is the same thing.” No. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to require a government-issued catch certificate for imports, a legal document rather than a private label. Its species and start date were not confirmed as of October 2026.

    Check who is certified for your species

    Before you invest in certification, see who already holds it for your species. SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, gathers ASC and MSC Find a Supplier data in one search (SEACHING BlueCert). It held 239,839 company and species records on October 14, 2026, updated October 2, 2026. LINKSUP signed memorandums of understanding with the Korea offices of MSC (November 17, 2025) and ASC (November 27, 2025).

    Screenshot of SEACHING BlueCert search for Atlantic salmon suppliers in Norway, showing 139 ASC and MSC certified records with company, certification status and main activity, October 14, 2026

    Then compare it with what Korea buys: fresh Atlantic salmon imports into Korea (free sign-up), Norway’s seafood trade with Korea (free sign-up) or Vietnam’s seafood trade with Korea (free sign-up). For the wider market, read the quarterly report on South Korea’s seafood imports.

    Some Korean channels ask for ASC or MSC certification, and the label only reaches the shelf if every company in the chain is certified. Find certified suppliers and species by country in SEACHING BlueCert, built on ASC and MSC Find a Supplier data. Search BlueCert

    FAQ

    What is the difference between MSC and ASC?

    MSC certifies wild fisheries, such as pollock. ASC certifies farms, such as salmon or shrimp farms. Both use the MSC chain-of-custody system.

    Is MSC or ASC certification required for Korean school meals or public procurement?

    No public Korean rule requiring it was found for this article, as of October 2026. A tender can set its own conditions, so ask the buyer or procurement body.

    How do I check whether a Korean company’s CoC certificate is valid?

    Ask for the certificate number and search it in the MSC or ASC supplier database. ASC Korea also publishes a list of CoC certificates in Korea; the October 2025 edition had 69 entries. Certificates can be suspended or expire, so check before each contract.

    Sources and method