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Category: Export to Korea

  • 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

  • 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

  • Exporting US and Canadian Seafood to Korea: What Each Country Actually Sells

    Exporting US and Canadian Seafood to Korea: What Each Country Actually Sells

    Data as of: Korea’s imports Jan–Sep 2026 and Jan–Sep 2025, and calendar 2024–2025 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, retrieved October 15, 2026); 2026 tariff schedule; rules checked October 2026.

    For a US seafood export to Korea, the products that sell are Alaska groundfish, not lobster. US suppliers held 57.7% of Korea’s frozen pollock surimi imports in Jan–Sep 2026, while Canada supplied 98.9% of Korea’s lobster, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data. Korea’s imports from Canada fell 11.2% in 2025.

    Key takeaways

    • Korea imported US$137.3 million of seafood from the US in Jan–Sep 2026, 3.1% of the total and 7.3% more than in Jan–Sep 2025, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data.
    • US suppliers held 57.7% of Korea’s frozen Alaska pollock surimi imports (HSK 0304.94.1000) in Jan–Sep 2026, up from 50.4% a year earlier; Russia held the rest (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Canada supplied 98.9% of Korea’s lobster imports in Jan–Sep 2026; the US supplied 0.1% (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Korea’s imports from Canada fell 11.2% in 2025, from US$113.2 million to US$100.6 million, as Canadian frozen lobster fell 18.6% and live lobster 19.2% (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data; UN Comtrade shows the same change).
    • In Korea’s 2026 tariff schedule (checked October 2026), US and Canadian product pays 0% in the codes in this article; Russian pollock surimi and roe pay 10%.

    What does Korea actually buy from the US and Canada?

    The two countries sell different things. US product, mostly frozen whitefish, roe and fillets, averaged US$3.54 per kg in Jan–Sep 2026; Canadian product, led by lobster, averaged US$11.08. In this article, Korea’s seafood imports means HS chapter 03 plus prepared fish and crustaceans (HS 1603–1605); seaweed and salt are excluded.

    United StatesCanada
    Korea’s imports, Jan–Sep 2026US$137.3 million, 38,763 tUS$79.7 million, 7,194 t
    Share of Korea’s seafood imports3.1% (7th origin)1.8% (10th origin)
    Change vs Jan–Sep 2025+7.3%+17.0%
    Largest productFrozen pollock surimi, US$38.2 millionFrozen lobster, US$32.0 million
    Top 10 HSK codes, share of the origin’s total74.7%95.0%
    Main competing originRussiaAlmost none in lobster

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

    The general procedure for any origin is in the step-by-step guide to exporting seafood to Korea, and the full origin ranking in Korea’s fish imports by country. Other origin guides cover China and Thailand and Indonesia.

    US: Alaska groundfish, not lobster

    Russia is the largest rival in seven of the ten largest US codes. These ten codes made up 74.7% of Korea’s imports from the US in Jan–Sep 2026.

    HSKProductValue from US, Jan–Sep 2026US$/kgUS share of this HSKMain rival
    0304.94.1000Frozen Alaska pollock surimiUS$38.22 million3.2157.7%Russia 42.3%
    0303.39.1000Frozen flatfish, otherUS$11.90 million2.6227.8%Russia 68.2%
    0304.83.1000Frozen flatfish (plaice) filletsUS$8.06 million5.0266.2%Norway 20.0%
    0304.89.9000Other frozen fish filletsUS$8.05 million5.3125.8%China 45.4%
    0303.89.9099Other frozen fishUS$7.65 million3.7419.9%Mexico 17.9%
    0303.63.0000Frozen codUS$6.97 million3.9519.8%Russia 75.2%
    0303.89.9040Frozen Atka mackerelUS$6.61 million2.7219.6%Russia 80.4%
    0303.91.2090Frozen fish roe, other than pollockUS$6.29 million2.8127.0%Russia 62.9%
    0303.91.2010Frozen pollock roeUS$4.59 million3.698.0%Russia 92.0%
    0303.67.0000Frozen whole pollockUS$4.17 million2.004.4%Russia 93.9%

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, Jan–Sep 2026, retrieved October 15, 2026. Share is US value as a percentage of all origins in that HSK code.

    Bar chart titled Surimi is the largest US seafood line in Korea: Korea's top 10 imports from the US by HSK code, Jan–Sep 2026, in US$ million, led by frozen pollock surimi at 38.22 (57.7% of the code), with the US share of each code

    Pollock surimi is the largest code where the US is the top origin. Korea’s imports of it rose from US$62.07 million to US$66.20 million between Jan–Sep 2025 and Jan–Sep 2026, and the US share rose from 50.4% to 57.7%. US surimi entered at US$3.21 per kg, against US$2.54 for Russian product. Surimi from other fish is a separate code group, where Vietnam led with 45.5% in Jan–Sep 2026. The guide to Korea’s surimi imports covers both, and the monthly series is on frozen pollock surimi import data (free sign-up).

    The SEACHING page for frozen fish surimi from the United States (HS 0304941000) shows Korea’s monthly customs unit price for US product and, as a dashed line, SEACHING’s price model forecast to February 2027.

    SEACHING page for Frozen fish surimi, United States (HS 0304941000): summary cards and Korea's monthly import unit price, March to September 2026, with a dashed forecast line to February 2027

    In wider species groups, the US held 30.6% of Korea’s flatfish imports and 19.5% of cod in Jan–Sep 2026, behind Russia in both. In the same period, US suppliers led hagfish, live and frozen, with 70.9% of a US$7.4 million market. Cod is covered in the guide to Korea’s cod imports.

    Pollock roe and crab are weak spots for the US. In Jan–Sep 2026, Russia held 92.0% of Korea’s frozen pollock roe imports (see the guide to Korea’s pollock imports) and 83.0% of its crab imports, against 0.1% for the US (see the Russian king crab and snow crab report).

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

    US and Korean statistics measure different things. A USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) report put US seafood exports to Korea at US$342 million in 2024, against US$182 million entering Korea’s domestic market in Korea Customs Service data. The USDA report explains the gap this way: “the ROK is one of the largest intermediary hubs of seafood in Asia.”

    Use Korean import data to size your market. The same report found that 30 species made up 92% of Korea’s imports from the US in 2024.

    Canada: a lobster-led trade, plus rockfish and cold-water shrimp

    Lobster made up two-thirds of Korea’s imports from Canada in Jan–Sep 2026, with almost no other supplier.

    HSKProductValue from Canada, Jan–Sep 2026US$/kgCanada’s share of this HSK
    0306.12.9000Frozen lobsterUS$31.95 million30.8599.6%
    0306.32.0000Live, fresh or chilled lobsterUS$20.87 million27.8699.8%
    0303.89.9050Frozen rockfish, including redfishUS$7.28 million2.0124.1%
    0306.16.1090Frozen peeled cold-water shrimpUS$4.80 million26.7798.8%
    0302.14.0000Fresh or chilled Atlantic salmonUS$4.65 million9.502.2%
    1605.59.1090Prepared whelkUS$1.89 million16.5510.1%
    0308.21.0000Live, fresh or chilled sea urchinUS$1.26 million114.9113.6%

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, Jan–Sep 2026, retrieved October 15, 2026.

    Canadian frozen rockfish went from US$0.42 million in Jan–Sep 2025 to US$7.28 million in Jan–Sep 2026, and from 190 to 3,617 tonnes. That one code added more tonnes than Canada’s whole rise, from 3,950 to 7,194 tonnes. Portugal was still the largest origin of the code, at 31.0%.

    In fresh Atlantic salmon, Norway held 96.5% of the code (see the Norway seafood export guide).

    Why did Korea’s imports from Canada fall in 2025?

    The 2025 fall was a lobster fall. Korea’s imports from Canada dropped 11.2%, from US$113.2 million in 2024 to US$100.6 million, while tonnage rose 5.5%. Canadian frozen lobster fell 18.6% to US$43.37 million and live lobster 19.2% to US$32.27 million. Everything else from Canada rose from US$19.5 million to US$23.0 million.

    Stacked bar chart titled Lobster makes up most of what Canada sells to Korea: Korea's imports from Canada in US$ million, lobster against all other seafood, 93.7 and 19.5 in 2024, 77.6 and 23.0 in 2025, 53.7 and 14.4 in Jan–Sep 2025, and 53.2 and 26.5 in Jan–Sep 2026

    Canadian frozen lobster lost value on price: tonnage fell 4.3%, and the average customs value dropped from US$30.78 to US$26.19 per kg. Live lobster lost volume, down 13.3% to 1,230 tonnes. UN Comtrade shows the same changes; neither source shows why. Seasons and prices by form are in Korea’s lobster imports: live vs frozen.

    In Jan–Sep 2026, Canadian frozen lobster recovered to US$31.95 million (+13.3%), but live lobster kept falling, to US$20.87 million (−12.7%). Track it on live lobster import data (free sign-up).

    What tariff do US and Canadian seafood pay in Korea?

    US and Canadian seafood pays 0% in Korea in every code in this article. The Korea–US FTA (KORUS) took effect on March 15, 2012 and the Korea–Canada FTA on January 1, 2015. Russia has no FTA with Korea.

    HSK / productBasic rateRussia paysKorea–US FTAKorea–Canada FTA
    0304.94.1000 frozen pollock surimi10%10%0%0%
    0303.91.2010 frozen pollock roe10%10%0%0%
    0303.67.0000 frozen whole pollock10% (22% adjustment tariff)22%0%0%
    0303.39.1000 frozen flatfish, other10%10%0%0%
    0303.63.0000 frozen cod10%10%0%0%
    0303.89.9040 frozen Atka mackerel10%10%0%0%
    0306.12.9000 / 0306.32.0000 lobster20%20%0%0%
    0306.16.1090 frozen peeled cold-water shrimp20%20%0%0%

    Source: Korea Customs Service, tariff schedule by HSK code, 2026 rates (January 1 to December 31, 2026). “Russia pays” is the basic, WTO or adjustment rate, since Russia has no FTA rate line.

    Against Russia, US and Canadian product saves 10 points in pollock surimi, roe, flatfish and cod, and 22 points in frozen whole pollock. The 2026 file has no quota line for US frozen pollock.

    The importer claims the FTA rate before Korean customs accepts the declaration and must hold proof of origin. These rates are from the 2026 schedule as of October 2026. Confirm the rate for your code with a licensed Korean customs broker or on Korea Customs Service UNIPASS. Rate types are explained in the Korea seafood import duty guide.

    What do you need before the first shipment?

    The US and Canada are not among the 11 countries with a seafood safety arrangement with Korea, according to a Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) guide dated October 2024.

    StepWhoDocuments or toolsTiming
    1. Check your HSK code and your country’s share of itExporterKorea’s import data by HSK and originBefore you quote
    2. Confirm the KORUS or Korea–Canada FTA rate and proof of originExporter with the importer’s customs brokerProof of origin for that agreementBefore the import declaration is accepted
    3. Register each plant or vessel with MFDSImporter or the plant itselfMFDS online registrationBefore the import declaration; valid 2 years
    4. Get any export certificate for your productNOAA Fisheries (US) or CFIA (Canada)Depends on product; see belowEach shipment
    5. Check NFQS quarantine for live productExporter with importerQuarantine certificate from the exporting governmentBefore shipment

    Every foreign food facility, including processing vessels, must be registered with MFDS by the importer or the facility operator; registration lasts two years under the Special Act on Imported Food Safety Control (as of October 2026). For Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) tells exporters to self-register through the MFDS online system, with documents in English.

    CFIA’s Korea page lists no certificate for fresh or frozen non-live fish, and certificate AQAH-1089 for crustaceans, including live lobster. Cooked crustaceans and peeled, headless shrimp are exempt from AQAH-1089. In Korea, the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service (NFQS) quarantines live aquatic animals, including crustaceans, and needs the exporting government’s quarantine certificate (as of October 2026). US exporters should check with NOAA Fisheries which export certificate, if any, applies to their product.

    Rules are as of October 2026. Confirm the final requirements with your Korean importer, a licensed Korean customs broker or the agency concerned before you ship.

    Pre-shipment checklist

    • You know your 10-digit HSK code and your country’s share of it in Korea.
    • Your buyer’s customs broker has confirmed the KORUS or Korea–Canada FTA rate for that code.
    • You can provide proof of origin for that agreement.
    • Your plant or vessel is registered with MFDS, and the registration is valid on the declaration date.
    • For live lobster or other crustaceans, the government certificate is arranged and your importer has booked NFQS quarantine.
    • Your buyer has approved the Korean label and origin text (see Korea’s labeling and origin rules).

    Check your price against Korean customs prices

    SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, shows Korea’s seafood imports by 10-digit HSK code, origin and month, built on Korea Customs Service data. See US seafood shipments to Korea (free sign-up) and Canada’s seafood trade with Korea (free sign-up).

    Upload your offer sheet and see where your price sits against Korean customs import prices for the same product, by percentile and by origin. Try SEACHING Quote Check (free sign-up)

    FAQ

    Did the 2025 US tariffs change Korea’s import duty on US seafood?

    No. Those are US duties on goods entering the US. Korea’s 2026 tariff schedule lists a 0% Korea–US FTA rate for US pollock surimi, flatfish, cod and lobster (checked October 2026).

    Does Korea import Dungeness or snow crab from the US or Canada?

    Very little: the US supplied 0.1% and Canada 0.4% of Korea’s crab imports in Jan–Sep 2026, against Russia’s 83.0%.

    Does Canadian live lobster need a certificate for Korea?

    Yes. CFIA lists certificate AQAH-1089 for crustaceans, including live lobster, and NFQS quarantines live aquatic animals on arrival in Korea (as of October 2026).

    Sources and method

  • Korea-Ecuador SECA: What Tariff Cuts Would Mean for Shrimp Exporters

    Korea-Ecuador SECA: What Tariff Cuts Would Mean for Shrimp Exporters

    Data as of: Korea’s imports Jan–Sep 2026 and Jan–Sep 2025 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, retrieved October 15, 2026); agreement status checked October 15, 2026; tariff rules checked October 14, 2026.

    The Korea-Ecuador FTA has not cut Korea’s shrimp tariff yet. The two countries signed the Strategic Economic Cooperation Agreement (SECA) on September 2, 2025, but it was not in force as of October 15, 2026. Ecuadorian frozen shrimp still pays Korea’s 20% base duty. Once in force, the SECA opens a duty-free shrimp quota of 10,000 tonnes in year one.

    Key takeaways

    • Korea and Ecuador signed the SECA on September 2, 2025; Korea’s trade ministry recorded no ratification or entry into force as of October 15, 2026.
    • The SECA gives Ecuadorian shrimp a duty-free quota in Korea of 10,000 tonnes in year one, rising to 15,000 tonnes from year six; volumes above it pay the 20% base rate (SECA Appendix 2-B-1).
    • Korea imported 2,018 tonnes of frozen whiteleg shrimp from Ecuador worth US$10.3 million in Jan–Sep 2026, 1.8% of Korea’s shrimp imports by value, down from US$12.4 million in Jan–Sep 2025 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Ecuadorian whiteleg shrimp averaged US$5.11/kg in Korean customs value in Jan–Sep 2026, against US$6.59/kg for duty-free Peruvian shrimp (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).

    Is the Korea-Ecuador SECA in force?

    No. Ecuador was not on the list of 23 FTAs in force on Korea Customs Service’s (KCS) FTA portal. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) chronology ends at the 2025 signing, with no ratification or entry into force, as of October 15, 2026.

    What the SECA is
    SECA is Korea and Ecuador’s name for their trade agreement. On tariffs it works like an FTA; until it is in force, Korea’s normal rates apply.

    DateStep
    October 11, 2023Conclusion declared, text initialed
    September 2, 2025Agreement signed in Seoul
    April 14, 2026Ecuador’s National Assembly approves
    May 2026Korean government sends it to Korea’s National Assembly
    October 15, 2026Not in force

    Sources: MOTIR FTA site (SECA chronology, checked October 15, 2026); Asamblea Nacional del Ecuador, August 4, 2026.

    Entry into force follows 60 days after the two sides exchange notifications (Article 23.4).

    What tariff does Ecuadorian shrimp pay in Korea today?

    It pays Korea’s 20% base rate. Korea’s 2026 tariff schedule has no preferential code for Ecuador on frozen whiteleg shrimp (HSK 0306.17.9091). The Korean importer pays it on the CIF value.

    How does Ecuador compare with competing shrimp origins?

    Ecuador is Korea’s second-largest supplier of frozen whiteleg shrimp (15.4% by value in Jan–Sep 2026) and has the lowest average customs value of the main origins, despite paying 20% duty against Peru’s 0%.

    OriginAgreement in force with Korea2026 rate, HSK 0306.17.9091Share of line by value, Jan–Sep 2026Avg. customs value, US$/kg
    PeruKorea-Peru FTA (2011)0%59.4%6.59
    EcuadorNone (SECA signed, not in force)20% (base)15.4%5.11
    VietnamKorea-Vietnam FTA0% within a 15,000 t quota in 2026; 20% above it8.6%7.37
    MalaysiaKorea-ASEAN FTA0% within the ASEAN quota of 5,000 t a year8.4%7.07
    Saudi ArabiaNonecheck UNI-PASS2.9%5.86
    ThailandKorea-ASEAN FTA0% within the ASEAN quota of 5,000 t a year2.3%8.00
    ColombiaKorea-Colombia FTA (2016)0%1.7%5.63
    ChinaKorea-China FTA8%0.2%7.23

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, Jan–Sep 2026, retrieved October 15, 2026; KCS 2026 tariff schedule; KCS FTA portal. Customs value is CIF value divided by weight, not a market price, and mixes size grades.

    Bar chart of the average customs value of Korea's frozen whiteleg shrimp imports by origin, Jan–Sep 2026: Ecuador US$5.11/kg at 20% duty, Colombia US$5.63, Peru US$6.59 duty-free, Vietnam US$7.37. Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data

    This line is a small part of Korea’s shrimp trade: US$66.8 million in Jan–Sep 2026, down from US$74.3 million a year earlier. Frozen peeled shrimp (HSK 0306.17.1090) reached US$313.9 million, Korea’s largest single seafood import line, and Ecuador shipped none of it.

    What would the SECA change for Ecuadorian shrimp?

    It would not remove the 20% tariff outright. Korea’s schedule puts Ecuadorian shrimp under a tariff-rate quota (TRQ): a fixed volume enters duty-free each year, and the rest pays the base rate. Only smoked shrimp gets a full phase-out, over 15 years.

    SECA yearDuty-free quota, tonnesRate above quota
    Year 110,00020%
    Year 211,00020%
    Year 312,00020%
    Year 413,00020%
    Year 514,00020%
    Year 6 onward15,00020%

    Source: Korea-Ecuador SECA, Annex 2-B and Appendix 2-B-1, checked October 14, 2026.

    • One quota for all forms. It covers frozen shrimp, shell-on or peeled (HSK 0306.16 and 0306.17), and prepared shrimp (1605.21 and 1605.29).
    • Importers bid for it. The Korea Fishery Trade Association allocates the quota by auction. The auction rules are not in the agreement.
    • Year one may be short. It is the calendar year of entry into force, and the text is silent on part-year quotas.
    • The codes date from 2021. The schedule lists shell-on shrimp as 0306.17.9090; Korea’s 2026 tariff uses 0306.17.9091 for whiteleg. Ask a broker how the quota maps once it applies.

    The year-one quota of 10,000 tonnes is about five times the 2,018 tonnes Korea imported from Ecuador in Jan–Sep 2026, and close to the 10,452 tonnes of whole whiteleg shrimp Korea imported from all origins in those nine months. In full-year 2025, Korea imported 14,416 tonnes of this line, 2,720 of them from Ecuador.

    CaseDutyDuty-paid value, US$/kgvs. Peru
    Ecuador today, or above the quota20%6.147.0% lower
    Ecuador inside the SECA quota0%5.1122.5% lower
    Peru (Korea-Peru FTA)0%6.59–

    Illustrative calculation from average customs values, Jan–Sep 2026 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data). Excludes freight, port handling and Korean VAT; not adjusted for size grade.

    Common misconceptions about the SECA and Ecuador’s shrimp share

    “Once in force, all Ecuadorian shrimp enters duty-free.” Only the quota does, although Korea removes tariffs on 96.4% of tariff lines overall (2023 conclusion announcement).

    “The tariff is the only reason Ecuador’s share is small.” Ecuador’s average duty-paid value is already below Peru’s. It ships only whole frozen whiteleg shrimp, while most Korean spending goes to peeled and prepared shrimp.

    What can Ecuadorian exporters do before the SECA applies?

    Prepare origin paperwork and ask buyers about quota bids.

    • Exporter: arrange proof of origin: a certificate from Ecuador’s competent authority or an approved exporter’s declaration, in English, issued within seven days of shipment and valid 12 months.
    • Exporter: meet the origin rule. Shrimp must be wholly obtained in Ecuador; farmed shrimp counts even from imported larvae. Prepared shrimp (HS 1605) cannot use non-originating raw shrimp.
    • Korean importer: bids for quota and claims the SECA rate at import declaration.

    See the guide to exporting seafood to Korea and Korea’s seafood import duties by species. Ecuador’s biggest seafood line into Korea is frozen squid (US$15.5 million, Jan–Sep 2026), whose 22% base rate the SECA removes over five years.

    Confirm rates, codes and quota steps in UNI-PASS, the KCS customs system, or with a Korean customs broker before pricing a shipment.

    Track Ecuador’s shrimp in Korea’s import data

    A quota helps only if Korean buyers want your form. SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, shows Korea’s monthly imports by 10-digit HS code and origin: frozen whole whiteleg shrimp imports by origin (free sign-up) and frozen peeled shrimp, Korea’s largest shrimp line (free sign-up). See also Korea’s shrimp imports by origin, Chile, Peru and Ecuador seafood exports to Korea and Asian shrimp exports to Korea.

    The whiteleg shrimp page compares origins by value, unit price and volume.

    SEACHING country table for Korea's frozen whiteleg shrimp imports (HS 0306179091), with value, unit price and volume by origin for October 2025 to September 2026

    See where Ecuadorian shrimp ranks among Korea’s suppliers each month. Open Ecuador’s Korea trade page on SEACHING (free sign-up)

    FAQ

    When will the Korea-Ecuador SECA enter into force?

    No date was set as of October 15, 2026. Korea’s National Assembly still had to ratify, and entry into force follows 60 days after the notification exchange.

    Which origins ship frozen whiteleg shrimp to Korea duty-free today?

    Peru, Colombia and Chile pay 0% on HSK 0306.17.9091 under their FTAs (2026 schedule). Vietnam and ASEAN members pay 0% only within FTA quotas. Ecuador pays 20%.

    Does the SECA change sanitary rules for Ecuadorian shrimp?

    No. Ecuadorian plants still register with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) through Ecuador’s competent authority, and frozen shrimp still goes through National Fishery Products Quality Management Service (NFQS) quarantine. The SECA changes tariffs only.

    Sources and method

  • Exporting Vietnamese Seafood to Korea: Tariffs, Market Share and Competing Origins

    Exporting Vietnamese Seafood to Korea: Tariffs, Market Share and Competing Origins

    Data as of: Korea’s imports Jan–Sep 2026 and Jan–Sep 2025 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, retrieved October 15, 2026); 2026 tariff schedule; rules checked October 2026.

    Vietnam is the third-largest origin of Korea’s seafood imports, with US$631.8 million (14.3% of value) in Jan–Sep 2026, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data. For a Vietnam seafood export to Korea, frozen peeled shrimp and webfoot octopus lead, and six of the top eight codes pay 0% under the Korea–Vietnam FTA in 2026.

    Key takeaways

    • Vietnam supplied US$631.8 million, or 14.3%, of Korea’s seafood imports in Jan–Sep 2026, behind China (23.2%) and Russia (16.9%), according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data.
    • Korea’s imports from Vietnam rose 4.8% by value but fell 4.7% by weight in Jan–Sep 2026 against Jan–Sep 2025, as the average customs value rose from US$4.98 to US$5.48 per kg (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • In Jan–Sep 2026, Vietnam held 82.4% of Korea’s frozen webfoot octopus imports and 82.2% of breaded shrimp, but only 42.4% of frozen peeled shrimp, where China held 40.7% (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Under Korea’s FTA decree, Vietnamese frozen shrimp and other prepared shrimp pay 0% only within a shared 15,000-tonne yearly quota in 2026 and 20% above it, while breaded shrimp pays 0% with no quota (as of October 2026).

    How much seafood does Korea import from Vietnam?

    Korea bought US$631.8 million of seafood from Vietnam in Jan–Sep 2026, up 4.8% from US$602.8 million a year earlier. Vietnam’s share rose from 13.8% to 14.3% while Korea’s total grew 0.7%. In this article, Korea’s seafood imports means HS chapter 03 plus prepared fish and crustaceans (HS 1603–1605); seaweed and salt are excluded.

    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%
    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 fell from 120,995 to 115,332 tonnes. The product mix is one reading of the higher average price: surimi, Vietnam’s lowest-priced large line at US$1.85 per kg, fell, while webfoot octopus and other prepared shrimp grew. For all origins, see Korea’s fish imports by country.

    What does Korea buy from Vietnam?

    The top 10 HSK codes made up 83.6% of Vietnam’s sales to Korea in Jan–Sep 2026, and Vietnam was the largest origin in 39 codes carrying 85.9% of its sales. Shrimp in all forms brought in US$253.3 million, 40.1% of the total.

    HSKProductValue from VietnamWeightUS$/kgVietnam’s share of this HSK (2025)Main rival
    0306.17.1090Frozen peeled shrimpUS$133.12 million15,760 t8.4542.4% (47.5%)China 40.7%
    0307.52.3000Frozen webfoot octopus (jukkumi)US$119.50 million17,124 t6.9882.4% (79.3%)Thailand 13.2%
    1605.21.1000Breaded shrimp, not in airtight containersUS$62.45 million10,648 t5.8782.2% (78.5%)Thailand 17.2%
    0304.99.1000Frozen surimi, otherUS$53.30 million28,851 t1.8545.4% (50.7%)China 40.9%
    1605.21.9000Other prepared shrimp, not in airtight containersUS$44.10 million4,052 t10.8869.4% (72.1%)Thailand 27.3%
    1604.19.9010Prepared filefish (jwichi-po)US$32.41 million3,925 t8.2692.3% (81.1%)China 7.7%
    0307.43.1090Frozen cuttlefish, otherUS$28.43 million3,558 t7.9970.9% (67.9%)Thailand 14.3%
    0307.52.2000Frozen long-arm octopus (nakji)US$25.60 million3,553 t7.2125.0% (24.8%)China 72.0%
    0307.92.9000Other frozen molluscsUS$17.41 million2,566 t6.7823.8% (13.3%)UK 23.0%
    0307.49.3010Cuttlefish and squid (listed species), dried, salted or smokedUS$11.88 million329 t36.0698.3% (99.8%)China 1.7%

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

    Bar chart of Korea's imports from Vietnam in six HSK codes, Jan–Sep 2024, 2025 and 2026, in US$ million; webfoot octopus rose to 119.5 in 2026 and frozen peeled shrimp fell back to 133.1

    Webfoot octopus grew most, from US$99.98 million in Jan–Sep 2024 to US$119.50 million in Jan–Sep 2026, while peeled shrimp and surimi fell back in 2026. The octopus codes are explained in Korea’s octopus imports by HS code.

    Who does Vietnam compete with in each product?

    China is the main rival in peeled shrimp, surimi and long-arm octopus, and Thailand in webfoot octopus, cuttlefish and prepared shrimp.

    Bar chart of Korea's import price per kg, Vietnam against its largest rival in seven HSK codes, Jan–Sep 2026; Vietnam was cheaper than Thailand in four codes and dearer than China in three

    Against Thailand, Vietnam is cheaper. In breaded shrimp, Korea’s customs value was US$5.87 per kg for Vietnamese product and US$8.52 for Thai product in Jan–Sep 2026; in webfoot octopus it was US$6.98 against US$7.96. Thailand’s share fell in both codes.

    Against China, it is the reverse. Chinese peeled shrimp entered at US$7.18 per kg against Vietnam’s US$8.45, and Chinese surimi at US$1.29 against US$1.85. Vietnam lost share in both: peeled shrimp from 47.5% to 42.4%, and surimi from 50.7% to 45.4%. Long-arm octopus follows the same pattern (US$7.21 against US$6.75). Compare your offer with the Korea seafood import price benchmark; Korea’s surimi imports and shrimp imports by origin go deeper.

    SEACHING’s page for Vietnamese breaded shrimp (“Covered with bread crumbs or batter”) shows Korea’s monthly customs unit price for that origin and the model forecast to February 2027 as a dashed line.

    SEACHING page for breaded shrimp (HS 1605211000) from Vietnam, with summary cards and a Unit Price Trend & Forecast chart: monthly import unit price for March–September 2026 and a dashed model forecast to February 2027

    Monthly series by origin: frozen peeled shrimp (free sign-up), frozen webfoot octopus (free sign-up) and frozen surimi (free sign-up).

    Which FTA gives Vietnamese seafood the lower duty?

    For six of Vietnam’s top eight codes, the Korea–Vietnam FTA rate is 0% in 2026, and the ASEAN–Korea rate is the same or higher. Shrimp is the exception: both agreements give frozen shrimp and other prepared shrimp 0% only within yearly quotas.

    HSK / productBasic rateKorea–Vietnam FTAASEAN–Korea FTARCEP (ASEAN)Korea–China FTA
    0306.17.1090 frozen peeled shrimp20%0% within 15,000 t quota, 20% above0% within 5,000 t quotano line8%
    0307.52.3000 frozen webfoot octopus20%0%0%13.3%8%
    1605.21.1000 breaded shrimp20%0%0%13.3%8%
    0304.99.1000 frozen surimi, other10%0%0%6.7%4%
    1605.21.9000 other prepared shrimp20%0% within 15,000 t quota, 20% above0% within 2,000 t, 16% aboveno line8%
    1604.19.9010 prepared filefish20%0%0%13.3%8%
    0307.43.1090 frozen cuttlefish, other20%0%5%20%8%
    0307.52.2000 frozen long-arm octopus20%0%0%13.3%20%

    Source: Korea Customs Service, tariff schedule by HSK code, 2026 rates (January 1 to December 31, 2026); shrimp quotas from the Enforcement Decree of the FTA Customs Act, Annexes 4 and 16. Checked October 2026. Use of the ASEAN quotas by Vietnamese shipments is not confirmed.

    Vietnam’s 15,000-tonne shrimp quota is one pool for frozen shrimp, live, fresh or chilled shrimp, and other prepared shrimp (1605.21.9000). Korea imported 28,627 tonnes of Vietnamese product in those codes in 2025 and 20,603 tonnes in Jan–Sep 2026, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data. Customs data cannot show which duty rate applied to each shipment; confirm quota rules with a customs broker. Outside the quota, Vietnamese frozen peeled shrimp pays 20%, against 8% for Chinese peeled shrimp under the Korea–China FTA.

    The importer claims the FTA rate before Korean customs accepts the declaration and must hold proof of origin. Confirm the 2026 rate for your code with a licensed Korean customs broker or on Korea Customs Service UNIPASS. See the Korea seafood import duty guide.

    Does your product qualify as Vietnamese under the FTA?

    Raw products must be wholly obtained in Vietnam; prepared products have more room. In Annex 3-A of the signed Korea–Vietnam FTA, frozen shrimp, octopus, cuttlefish and surimi (HS 0304.99) carry the rule “WO” (wholly obtained). Article 3.2 defines this to include fish caught or farmed in Vietnam’s internal waters or territorial sea, and sea catches taken by vessels registered in Vietnam and flying its flag. Under the same annex, prepared shrimp and prepared fish in HS 1604 and 1605 qualify with a change of chapter (CC) or 40% regional value content (RVC 40).

    Read literally, frozen shrimp peeled in Vietnam from imported raw shrimp does not meet the WO rule, while breaded shrimp made from it moves from chapter 03 to chapter 16 and can meet the CC rule. The rules in the signed text use 2012 HS codes, so confirm the current version with your broker.

    The certificate of origin follows the form in Annex 3-C of the agreement, titled “FORM KV”. Under Article 3.14, Vietnam’s issuing authority issues it on or before the shipment date or within three working days after. It is valid for one year from issue (Article 3.16), and an import worth US$600 FOB or less needs no certificate (Article 3.17).

    What does a Vietnamese plant need before the first shipment?

    Common steps are in the step-by-step guide to exporting seafood to Korea; this table shows what differs for Vietnam.

    StepWhoDocuments or toolsTiming
    1. Find your 10-digit HSK code and its main rival originExporterKorea’s import data by HSK and originBefore you quote
    2. Check the origin rule (WO for raw, change of chapter or 40% value for prepared)ExporterFTA Annex 3-ABefore you quote
    3. Choose the Korea–Vietnam or ASEAN–Korea rate; for shrimp, ask about quotaExporter with the importer’s customs brokerFORM KV, or the ASEAN–Korea certificate of originBefore the import declaration is accepted
    4. Get your plant registered with MFDS through the Vietnamese authoritiesPlant, via Vietnam’s competent authorityApplication through the Vietnamese governmentBefore the import declaration; valid 2 years
    5. Get a health certificate for each shipmentVietnam’s competent authorityGovernment health certificateEach shipment
    6. For raw, uncut frozen shrimp and live animals, check NFQS quarantineExporter with importerDocuments NFQS asks forBefore shipment

    Vietnam is one of the 11 countries with a seafood safety arrangement with Korea, according to a Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) guide dated October 2024. Under the Special Act on Imported Food Safety Control and its enforcement rule, each shipment needs the exporting government’s health certificate and registration lasts two years (as of October 2026). See the MFDS foreign facility registration guide.

    The National Fishery Products Quality Management Service (NFQS) quarantines live aquatic animals and frozen or chilled shrimp that has not been heat-treated or cut, as of October 2026. Ask NFQS through your importer whether peeled shrimp counts as cut.

    Confirm these rules, summarized as of October 2026, with your importer, a licensed Korean customs broker or the agency concerned before you ship.

    Pre-shipment checklist

    • You know your full HSK code, Vietnam’s position in it and the main rival origin.
    • Your product meets the origin rule: wholly obtained for raw products, or change of chapter or 40% value for prepared ones.
    • Your buyer has said which agreement they will claim, and for frozen shrimp, whether the quota rate is still open.
    • Your plant is registered with MFDS through the Vietnamese authorities, and a health certificate is arranged for this shipment.
    • Your buyer has approved the Korean label and origin text (see Korea’s labeling and origin rules).

    How much of Vietnam’s seafood exports go to Korea?

    Korea took US$798.3 million, or 8.44%, of Vietnam’s US$9,454.3 million of seafood exports in 2023, according to exporter-reported UN Comtrade data (FOB, so not comparable with Korea’s CIF values above).

    Vietnam exported US$1,454.7 million of frozen catfish (pangasius) fillets in 2023, by the same Comtrade data, but Korea imported only US$4.51 million of frozen catfish fillets (HS 0304.62) in Jan–Sep 2026, all from Vietnam, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data.

    Before a first order, read why seafood shipments fail Korean import inspection. Other origin guides cover China, Thailand and Indonesia and shrimp from India, Indonesia and Thailand.

    See where Vietnam ranks for your product in Korea

    SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, shows Korea’s seafood imports by 10-digit HSK code, origin and month, built on Korea Customs Service data.

    See how Vietnam ranks among Korea’s suppliers of your product, month by month. Open Vietnam’s Korea trade page on SEACHING (free sign-up)

    FAQ

    Is Vietnamese shrimp duty-free in Korea?

    It depends on the form. Breaded shrimp (HSK 1605.21.1000) pays 0% under the Korea–Vietnam FTA in 2026 without a quota. Frozen shrimp and other prepared shrimp pay 0% only within a 15,000-tonne yearly quota and 20% above it, as of October 2026.

    Should my buyer use the Korea–Vietnam FTA or the ASEAN–Korea FTA?

    Compare the two rates for your HSK code. In 2026, frozen cuttlefish pays 0% under the Korea–Vietnam FTA and 5% under the ASEAN–Korea FTA. Other prepared shrimp above the Vietnam quota is the reverse: 20% under the Korea–Vietnam FTA and 16% under the ASEAN–Korea FTA’s standard rate (as of October 2026). Ask a customs broker whether a Vietnamese shipment can use the ASEAN shrimp quotas.

    Do Vietnamese seafood plants register with MFDS themselves?

    No. Because Vietnam has a seafood safety arrangement with Korea, registration goes through the Vietnamese government, not online, according to an MFDS guide dated October 2024.

    Sources and method

  • Exporting Seafood from Thailand and Indonesia to Korea: The Untapped Headroom

    Exporting Seafood from Thailand and Indonesia to Korea: The Untapped Headroom

    Data as of: UN Comtrade 2023 (exporter-reported); Korea’s imports Jan–Sep 2026 vs Jan–Sep 2025 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data); tariffs and rules checked October 14, 2026.

    South Korea bought only 2.89% of Thailand’s seafood exports in 2023 and 1.62% of Indonesia’s, against 8.44% of Vietnam’s, according to exporter-reported UN Comtrade data. The gap is uneven across products. Korea took 81.3% of Thailand’s frozen octopus exports but only 4.8% of its frozen squid and cuttlefish.

    Key takeaways

    • Korea took 2.89% of Thailand’s world seafood exports, 1.62% of Indonesia’s (excluding seaweed) and 8.44% of Vietnam’s in 2023, according to exporter-reported UN Comtrade data.
    • Without prepared tuna, Thailand’s largest export line, Korea’s share of Thai seafood exports in 2023 rises to about 4.7% (UN Comtrade).
    • In Jan–Sep 2026, Thailand supplied 13.2% of Korea’s frozen webfoot octopus imports, 38.7% of its fish cake imports and 39.9% of its salted jellyfish imports, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data.
    • Under Korea’s 2026 tariff schedule, Thai fish cake and frozen cuttlefish pay 5% under the ASEAN–Korea FTA, while the same lines from Vietnam pay 0%.

    How much of Thailand’s and Indonesia’s seafood goes to Korea?

    Less than 3% in both cases, against more than 8% for Vietnam, in 2023 (UN Comtrade). All three have FTAs with Korea, so tariffs alone do not explain the gap.

    Exporter (2023)World seafood exportsExports to KoreaKorea’s share
    VietnamUS$9,454.3 millionUS$798.3 million8.44%
    ThailandUS$5,274.5 millionUS$152.3 million2.89%
    Indonesia (excl. seaweed)US$5,016.4 millionUS$81.2 million1.62%

    Source: UN Comtrade, exporter-reported FOB values, 2023. Scope: HS 03, 1604, 1605, 1504, 230120 and 051191.

    Bar chart of Korea's share of each country's seafood exports in 2023: Vietnam 8.44%, Thailand 2.89%, Thailand excluding prepared tuna about 4.7%, Indonesia 1.62% (UN Comtrade, exporter-reported)

    Thailand’s total is inflated by one product Korea hardly buys. Prepared tuna (HS 160414) was Thailand’s largest seafood export in 2023 at US$2,087.4 million, and only US$3.16 million of it (0.15%) went to Korea. Take tuna out and Korea’s share of Thai seafood exports rises to about 4.7%.

    Which Thai seafood already sells in Korea?

    Thailand ranked 9th among Korea’s seafood suppliers in Jan–Sep 2026, with US$96.3 million or 2.2% of Korea’s seafood imports, down 7.5% from Jan–Sep 2025, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data. Vietnam held 14.3%.

    HSK (Korea’s 10-digit code)ProductImports from ThailandThailand’s share of this HSKLargest origin
    0307.52.3000Frozen webfoot octopus (jukkumi)US$19.11 million13.2%Vietnam, 82.4%
    1605.21.9000Prepared shrimp, otherUS$17.33 million27.3%Vietnam
    1605.21.1000Breaded shrimpUS$13.06 million17.2%Vietnam
    0306.17.1090Frozen peeled shrimpUS$11.51 million3.7%Vietnam
    0307.43.1090Frozen cuttlefish, other speciesUS$5.74 million14.3%Vietnam, 70.9%
    0308.30.4000Salted jellyfishUS$5.22 million39.9%Mexico, 46.7%
    1604.20.4090Fish cake (not crab-flavored)US$4.00 million38.7%Thailand (China 22.4%)
    1604.20.4010Crab-flavored fish cake (crab sticks)US$1.64 million43.0%Thailand (India 23.6%)

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, Jan–Sep 2026.

    Bar chart of Thailand's share of Korea's imports in eight HSK codes, Jan–Sep 2026: crab sticks 43.0%, salted jellyfish 39.9%, fish cake 38.7%, prepared shrimp 27.3%, breaded shrimp 17.2%, cuttlefish 14.3%, webfoot octopus 13.2%, peeled shrimp 3.7%

    In fish cake and crab sticks, Thailand is already Korea’s largest supplier. In salted jellyfish it is second to Mexico, and in webfoot octopus and cuttlefish it is a distant second to Vietnam. Shrimp lines are covered in the guide to exporting shrimp from India, Indonesia and Thailand.

    Thai product also sells at a higher price in some lines. Korea’s customs value for Thai webfoot octopus averaged US$7.96 per kg in Jan–Sep 2026, against US$6.98 for Vietnamese. Thai fish cake averaged US$4.53 per kg, against US$2.99 for Chinese. Check the monthly series for frozen webfoot octopus import data (free sign-up) and fish cake imports into Korea (free sign-up).

    The origin page for Thai webfoot octopus tracks Korea’s monthly customs unit price and adds SEACHING’s model forecast as a dashed line.

    SEACHING page for webfoot octopus (HS 0307523000) from Thailand, showing Korea's monthly import unit price and the model forecast to February 2027

    Where is the headroom, product by product?

    Headroom is largest where a country exports a lot and Korea takes little. The table compares each product’s world exports with the share that went to Korea in 2023.

    Product (HS 6-digit)Thailand: world exportsThailand: Korea’s shareIndonesia: world exportsIndonesia: Korea’s share
    Frozen octopus (030752)US$43.1 million81.3%US$110.0 million7.4%
    Jellyfish (030830)US$16.3 million45.7%––
    Prepared shrimp, not airtight (160529 / 160521)US$414.7 million7.1%US$422.8 million0.2%
    Frozen squid and cuttlefish (030743)US$225.6 million4.8%US$627.1 million2.1%
    Frozen shrimp (030617)US$594.4 million4.2%US$1,110.6 million0.8%
    Other prepared fish, incl. fish cake (160420)US$313.8 million3.8%––
    Prepared crab (160510)––US$347.9 million0.03%

    Source: UN Comtrade, exporter-reported FOB values, 2023. “–” means not queried for this article.

    Korea already takes four of every five dollars of Thai frozen octopus, and nearly half of Thai jellyfish. The room for Thailand is in frozen squid and cuttlefish (US$225.6 million exported, 4.8% to Korea) and prepared fish (US$313.8 million, 3.8%). For Indonesia, frozen squid and cuttlefish is the big line. Indonesia exported US$627.1 million of it in 2023, and Korea took 2.1%.

    Headroom is not demand. Some squid lines carry an adjustment tariff (see the tariff section), so read the table as a list of products to check. These are 2023 FOB values reported by exporters; do not compare them directly with Korea’s 2026 CIF import figures.

    Indonesia: a different product mix

    In Jan–Sep 2026, Korea imported US$38.8 million of Indonesian seafood, 0.9% of its seafood imports and down 12.1% from Jan–Sep 2025 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data). Korea’s seafood imports here means HS chapter 03 plus prepared fish and crustaceans (HS 1603–1605); seaweed and salt are excluded.

    HSKProductImports from IndonesiaIndonesia’s share of this HSK
    0305.49.9000Other smoked fish, incl. filletsUS$5.98 million69.3%
    1604.32.0000Caviar substitutesUS$5.00 million30.6%
    0303.55.0000Frozen jack mackerelUS$2.75 million83.4%
    0307.43.1090Frozen cuttlefish, other speciesUS$2.61 million6.5%
    0307.43.2010Frozen squid (Loligo, Ommastrephes and related species)US$2.53 million20.4% (Vietnam 42.7%)
    0307.52.3000Frozen webfoot octopusUS$1.81 million1.2%
    0304.61.0000Frozen tilapia filletsUS$1.49 million48.4% (Taiwan 49.4%)

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, Jan–Sep 2026.

    The gap with Thailand is clearest in webfoot octopus and cuttlefish. Indonesian frozen octopus exports were US$110.0 million in 2023, but Indonesia held only 1.2% of Korea’s webfoot octopus imports in Jan–Sep 2026. Webfoot octopus has its own HSK line, separate from long-arm and large octopus; see Korea’s octopus imports by HS code. Compare Indonesia’s monthly figures on Indonesia’s seafood trade with Korea (free sign-up).

    Which tariff applies: AKFTA, Korea–Indonesia CEPA or RCEP?

    Thailand ships under the ASEAN–Korea FTA (AKFTA) or RCEP. Indonesia can also use the Korea–Indonesia CEPA, in force since January 1, 2023. RCEP has applied in Korea since February 1, 2022. The rate differs by 10-digit HSK code, and “most Thai seafood enters at 0%” is not true for every line.

    HSK / productBasic rateAKFTAKorea–Indonesia CEPAVietnam (Korea–Vietnam FTA)China (Korea–China FTA)RCEP (ASEAN)
    0307.52.3000 frozen webfoot octopus20%0%0%0%8%13.3%
    0308.30.4000 salted jellyfish20%0%0%0%8%13.3%
    0307.43.1090 frozen cuttlefish, other20%5%no line0%8%20%
    1604.20.4090 fish cake20%5%no line0%8%20%
    1604.20.4010 crab sticks20%5%2.1%0%4%20%
    0305.49.9000 other smoked fish20%0%0%0%4%13.3%
    0304.61.0000 frozen tilapia fillets10%0%0%0%4%5%

    Source: Korea Customs Service, tariff schedule by HSK code, 2026 rates (January 1 to December 31, 2026). “No line” means the agreement has no rate for that code, so another agreement or the general rate applies.

    Three points matter for pricing. First, Thai fish cake, crab sticks and cuttlefish pay 5% under AKFTA, while Vietnamese product pays 0%. Second, an Indonesian crab-stick exporter does better under the CEPA (2.1%) than under AKFTA (5%), but has no CEPA line for fish cake or cuttlefish. Third, RCEP rates were higher than AKFTA on every line in the table, so RCEP is rarely the first choice for these products.

    Frozen squid is a special case. Korea applies a 22% adjustment tariff to frozen squid in 2026, and the AKFTA line for Loligo-type squid (0307.43.2010) is 21.6%. For Indonesian squid in that code, expect a rate above 20% whichever agreement you use.

    The importer claims the FTA rate before Korean customs accepts the declaration and must hold proof of origin. Under AKFTA, that proof is the certificate of origin known as Form AK, issued in the exporting country. Agree with your buyer which agreement they will claim before you apply for the certificate. Rates here are from the 2026 schedule as of October 14, 2026; your buyer’s customs broker should confirm the rate on Korea Customs Service UNIPASS for the declaration date. More on rate types is in the Korea seafood import duty guide.

    What do you do before the first shipment to Korea?

    The common steps are in the step-by-step guide to exporting seafood to Korea.

    StepWhoDocuments or toolsTiming
    1. Find your 10-digit HSK code and your share of it in KoreaExporterKorea’s import data by HSK and originBefore you quote
    2. Choose the agreement (AKFTA, Korea–Indonesia CEPA or RCEP)Exporter with the importer’s customs brokerCertificate of origin for that agreement (Form AK for AKFTA)Before the import declaration is accepted
    3. Get your plant registered with MFDS through your governmentPlant, via your national competent authorityGovernment notification to KoreaBefore the import declaration; valid 2 years
    4. Get a health certificate for each shipmentYour national competent authorityHealth certificate naming the registered plantEach shipment
    5. Check whether your product needs NFQS quarantineExporter with importerQuarantine certificate only for covered productsBefore shipment
    6. Agree on the Korean label textExporter with importerKorean label contentBefore cartons are printed

    Thailand and Indonesia are both on the list of 11 countries with a seafood safety arrangement with Korea, according to a guide from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) dated October 2024. Plants there are registered with MFDS through their own government, for two years at a time under Korea’s Special Act on Imported Food Safety Control (October 2026). Only plants your government has notified to Korea can export, and each shipment needs a government health certificate.

    Quarantine by the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service (NFQS) covers live aquatic animals and uncooked, uncut frozen or chilled abalone, oysters and shrimp, as of October 2026. Frozen octopus, squid, cuttlefish, fish cake and salted jellyfish are not on that list. For Korean labels, see the guide to Korea’s labeling and origin rules.

    These rules are summarized as of October 14, 2026. Confirm the final requirements with your Korean importer, a licensed Korean customs broker or the agency concerned before you ship.

    Pre-shipment checklist

    • You know the 10-digit HSK code for your product and Thailand’s or Indonesia’s share of it.
    • You know the rate under AKFTA, the Korea–Indonesia CEPA and RCEP for that code, and which one your buyer will claim.
    • Your certificate of origin matches that agreement.
    • Your plant is on your government’s list for Korea, and its MFDS registration is valid on the declaration date.
    • The health certificate shows the same plant name and number as the MFDS registration.
    • If the product is raw shrimp or a live animal, you hold the original quarantine certificate.
    • Your buyer has approved the Korean label text.

    Who are you competing with in Korea?

    In most of these products, the competitor is Vietnam, not another Thai or Indonesian plant. Vietnam supplied 82.4% of Korea’s frozen webfoot octopus imports and 70.9% of its frozen cuttlefish (other species) imports in Jan–Sep 2026, at 0% duty. Counting live and chilled webfoot octopus too, Vietnam held 75.9% and Thailand 12.7% in the same period. See the Vietnam seafood export guide.

    In fish cake, China is second to Thailand with 22.4% of the code, at a lower price per kg; in crab sticks, India is second with 23.6%. For squid and cuttlefish as a group, Korea’s largest origins were China (35.0%), Peru (25.7%) and Vietnam (14.2%) in Jan–Sep 2026. The guide to exporting Chinese seafood to Korea and Korea’s surimi imports by origin and price cover those competitors.

    See where Thailand ranks among Korea’s suppliers

    SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, shows Korea’s seafood imports by 10-digit HSK code, origin and month, built on Korea Customs Service data.

    See how Thailand ranks among Korea’s suppliers of webfoot octopus, fish cake and salted jellyfish, month by month. Open Thailand’s Korea trade page on SEACHING (free sign-up)

    FAQ

    Is Thai seafood duty-free in Korea under the ASEAN–Korea FTA?

    Not all of it. Under Korea’s 2026 tariff schedule, frozen webfoot octopus and salted jellyfish from Thailand pay 0% under AKFTA, but fish cake, crab sticks and frozen cuttlefish (other species) pay 5%. Frozen squid in some codes is under a 22% adjustment tariff in 2026.

    Should an Indonesian exporter use the Korea–Indonesia CEPA or AKFTA?

    It depends on the HSK code. For crab sticks (1604.20.4010), the CEPA rate is 2.1% against 5% under AKFTA in 2026. For fish cake and frozen cuttlefish (other species), the CEPA has no line, so AKFTA (5%) is the option.

    Why does Korea buy so much Thai frozen octopus?

    Korea took 81.3% of Thailand’s frozen octopus exports in 2023, according to UN Comtrade. On the Korean side, webfoot octopus (jukkumi), a small octopus with its own HSK code, made up about 93% of frozen octopus imports from Thailand in Jan–Sep 2026. Thailand held 13.2% of that code, behind Vietnam.

    Sources and method

  • Korea Seafood Import Duty: Tariff Rates by Species and FTA

    Korea Seafood Import Duty: Tariff Rates by Species and FTA

    Data as of: Korea Customs Service 2026 tariff schedule (file dated February 11, 2026); laws and decrees checked October 14, 2026.

    Korea’s import duty on seafood starts at a base rate of 10% for most frozen fish and 20% for fresh fish, crustaceans, molluscs and prepared seafood, according to the Korea Customs Service (KCS) 2026 tariff schedule. Adjustment tariffs raise a few products to 20–32%, while FTAs cut many lines to 0%.

    Key takeaways

    • Korea’s 2026 base duty is 10% on frozen fish (HS 0303) and 20% on fresh fish, crustaceans, molluscs and prepared seafood (KCS tariff schedule).
    • Korea’s 2026 adjustment tariffs set 22% on frozen Alaska pollock and frozen squid, 24% on frozen saury and 32% on salted shrimp (decree for calendar 2026).
    • Under Korea’s FTA decree, Vietnamese frozen shrimp pays 0% up to 15,000 tonnes in 2026 and 20% above that; ASEAN shrimp has a 5,000-tonne annual 0% quota.
    • Unprocessed seafood in HS 0301–0308 is exempt from Korea’s 10% import VAT; prepared seafood in HS 1604–1605 is not (VAT Act, October 2026).

    Definition: Korea’s seafood import duty. Korea charges duty on the CIF value of a shipment. One 10-digit HSK code can carry base, WTO, adjustment, quota and FTA rates, and the Customs Act and the FTA Customs Special Cases Act decide which one your buyer pays.

    What import duty does Korea charge on seafood?

    The base rate is 10% or 20%, set by product form rather than species.

    HS headingProduct form2026 base rate
    0301Live fish10%
    0302Fresh or chilled fish20%
    0303Frozen fish10%
    0304Fillets: fresh or chilled / frozen20% / 10%
    0305Dried, salted or smoked fish20%
    0306Crustaceans (shrimp, crab, lobster)20%
    0307Molluscs (squid, octopus, clams)20% (some frozen squid 10%)
    1604, 1605Prepared fish and shellfish20%

    Source: Korea Customs Service 2026 tariff schedule; USDA FAS GAIN KS2025-0046, Table A10.

    Customs Act Article 30 adds freight, insurance and other transport costs up to the Korean port to the price paid. If you sell FOB, duty is still charged on the CIF value.

    Which rate applies when one code has several?

    Korean law ranks them. Under Customs Act Article 50, an adjustment or quota tariff replaces the base rate, and a WTO bound rate applies only when lower. An FTA rate applies only if it is lower still, but trade-remedy duties and adjustment tariffs under Article 69, item 2, override it (FTA Customs Special Cases Act, Article 5).

    Take frozen Alaska pollock. The base rate is 10%, but the 2026 adjustment tariff is 22%, so Russian pollock (no FTA) pays 22%. The Korea–EU line is 30%, so EU pollock also pays 22%. US pollock pays 0%.

    The documents behind an FTA claim are covered in the step-by-step guide to exporting seafood to Korea.

    What is the duty on my species from my country?

    The tables show 2026 rates for 11 common codes. “–” means that agreement has no line for the code, so the non-FTA rate applies unless another agreement covers it (Indonesia is also in ASEAN).

    Origins in the Americas and Europe (%, 2026)

    Product (HSK)No FTA (e.g., Russia, Ecuador)USCanadaChilePeruEU, UK (Jan–Jun)EFTA (Norway)
    Fresh or chilled Atlantic salmon (0302.14.0000)20000000
    Frozen shrimp meat (0306.17.1090)20000000
    Frozen whiteleg shrimp (0306.17.9091)2000000–
    Breaded shrimp, not airtight (1605.21.1000)20000000
    Frozen Alaska pollock (0303.67.0000)2200030 → 2230 → 22–
    Frozen pollock surimi (0304.94.1000)10000000
    Frozen mackerel (0303.54.0000)10 (quota 0)000000 up to 500 t/yr
    Frozen squid, other (0307.43.2090)22000000
    Frozen webfoot octopus (0307.52.3000)20000000
    Snow crab, live or chilled (0306.33.2000)20000000
    Live or chilled lobster, Homarus (0306.32.0000)20000000

    Origins in Asia (%, 2026)

    Product (HSK)ChinaVietnamASEANIndiaIndonesia (CEPA)Japan (RCEP)
    Fresh or chilled Atlantic salmon80000–
    Frozen shrimp meat80 up to 15,000 t, then 200 up to 5,000 t/yr–––
    Frozen whiteleg shrimp80 up to 15,000 t, then 200 up to 5,000 t/yr–––
    Breaded shrimp, not airtight800100–
    Frozen Alaska pollock25 → 2225 → 22–0––
    Frozen pollock surimi000005
    Frozen mackerel1088–––
    Frozen squid, other805–––
    Frozen webfoot octopus800100–
    Snow crab, live or chilled201616–9.6–
    Live or chilled lobster, Homarus40010010

    Source: Korea Customs Service 2026 tariff schedule (rates in force January 1–December 31, 2026; EU and UK rates through June 30, 2026); shrimp quotas from the FTA Customs Special Cases Act Enforcement Decree, Annexes 3, 4 and 16. Rates checked October 14, 2026. Verify on UNIPASS before you quote.

    Indonesian and Thai frozen shrimp have no bilateral line, so they use the shared ASEAN quota or pay 20%. Frozen shrimp meat from Bangladesh or Laos has a 14% Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement rate. Where an FTA rate sits below an adjustment tariff, as with squid, the tables show the FTA rate; the 2026 decree does not say which item of Article 69 applies, so confirm in UNIPASS.

    For shrimp, see Korea’s shrimp imports by origin and the India, Indonesia and Thailand shrimp guide.

    What is Korea’s adjustment tariff, and which seafood does it hit?

    An adjustment tariff (jojeong gwanse) is a temporary rate above the base rate that protects a domestic industry. Customs Act Article 69 allows up to 100% including the base rate, and a presidential decree sets products and rates each year. The decree in force on October 14, 2026 covers declarations through December 31, 2026.

    ProductHSKBase rate2026 adjustment tariff
    Frozen Alaska pollock0303.6710%22%
    Frozen Pacific saury, over 22 cm0303.59.200010%24%
    Frozen squid (excluding some small species)0307.43.2010, .209010% / 20%22%
    Salted or brined shrimp0306.9520%32%
    Live sea bream0301.99.4091, .409910%28% or KRW 2,052/kg, whichever is higher
    Live sea bass0301.99.905910%28%
    Live eel (not glass eel)0301.92.909010%20%

    Source: Enforcement decree on adjustment tariffs under Customs Act Article 69 (promulgated December 30, 2025); KCS 2026 tariff schedule.

    The Korea pollock import guide explains how this rate shapes origin choice.

    How do tariff-rate quotas work for seafood in Korea?

    Korea uses two kinds. The first is a quota tariff under Customs Act Article 71, which can cut the base rate by up to 40 percentage points for a set volume. In 2026, frozen mackerel of over 300 g and up to 600 g from any origin pays 0% for 25,000 tonnes from February 12 to December 31, and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) requires importers to supply it to market within 45 days. The mackerel price analysis explains why.

    The second kind sits inside FTAs: the Vietnam and ASEAN shrimp quotas above, and a 500-tonne annual EFTA quota for mackerel. The importer needs a ministry recommendation before acceptance, or KCS allocates the volume first come, first served for listed products. US frozen pollock has been duty-free without limit since 2026.

    Common misconceptions about Korean seafood tariffs

    • “The FTA rate applies automatically.” The importer must claim it before the declaration is accepted and hold proof of origin.
    • “A higher FTA line means a higher duty.” The lower Customs Act rate applies instead (FTA Act, Article 5).
    • “Every origin gets a preference.” Korea’s 23 FTAs in force cover 60 countries, not Russia (KCS FTA portal, October 14, 2026). The Korea–Ecuador SECA, signed September 2, 2025, is not in force; see the Korea–Ecuador SECA shrimp analysis.
    • “EU rates stay the same all year.” The KCS file lists EU and UK rates only through June 30, 2026; Korea–EU cuts step down each July 1.

    How do I check the current rate myself?

    Search the 10-digit HSK code in UNIPASS CLIP (the interface is in Korean; type the code in the 세번·상품검색 box at the top). Each rate line carries a code; official names below are from the CLIP rate search, October 14, 2026.

    CodeOfficial name
    ABase rate
    CWTO bound rate
    LAdjustment tariff
    P1Quota tariff (within volume, on recommendation)
    FUS1, FVN1, FAS1 and similarFTA rate (option 1) of the named agreement
    FVN4, FAS4, FEF4FTA rate (option 4) of the Korea–Vietnam, Korea–ASEAN and Korea–EFTA FTAs; for shrimp and mackerel these lines match the FTA quotas above
    E1, E2, E3Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement rate: general, Bangladesh, Laos
    RLeast-developed country preferential rate

    Screenshot of the Korean-language UNIPASS CLIP tariff page for HSK 0306.17.1090 (frozen shrimp meat), showing the 2026 base rate of 20% and Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement rates E2 and E3 of 14%, October 14, 2026

    FTA schedules are on the KCS FTA portal. Rates here were checked on October 14, 2026. Confirm the applied rate in UNIPASS or with a licensed customs broker before you quote.

    Check what Korea already pays for your product

    Duty is what your buyer pays at the border. Customs data shows what they already pay for the product, and to whom:

    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. Start with SEACHING’s product data (free sign-up)

    FAQ

    Who pays import duty on seafood shipped to Korea?

    Under Customs Act Article 19, the owner of the goods at the import declaration owes the duty, normally the Korean importer. A contract can shift the cost, not the legal duty.

    Is VAT charged on seafood imported into Korea?

    Import VAT is 10% of the customs value plus duty. Live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted and smoked seafood in HS 0301–0308 is exempt; prepared seafood in HS 1604–1605 is not (VAT Act Enforcement Rule, Annex 1, October 2026). Hypothetically, breaded Indian shrimp at US$100,000 CIF pays US$10,000 duty and US$11,000 VAT.

    Sources and method

  • Exporting Chinese Seafood to Korea: Competing in Korea’s Largest Origin

    Exporting Chinese Seafood to Korea: Competing in Korea’s Largest Origin

    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.

    China is the largest origin of Korea’s seafood imports, with US$1,024.2 million, 23.2% of import value, in Jan–Sep 2026, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data. For a China seafood export to Korea, the product decides the competition: China supplied over 95% of Korea’s monkfish and live Manila clam but competed with Vietnam in peeled shrimp and surimi.

    Key takeaways

    • China supplied US$1,024.2 million, or 23.2%, of Korea’s seafood imports in Jan–Sep 2026, ahead of Russia (16.9%) and Vietnam (14.3%), according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data.
    • Korea’s imports from China fell 1.4% by value but rose 5.7% by weight in Jan–Sep 2026 against Jan–Sep 2025, as the average customs value fell from US$3.75 to US$3.50 per kg (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • In Jan–Sep 2026, China held 40.7% of Korea’s frozen peeled shrimp imports and Vietnam 42.4%; in frozen surimi the split was 40.9% and 45.4% (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Under the Korea Customs Service 2026 tariff schedule (checked October 2026), frozen long-arm octopus (nakji) pays 20% under the Korea–China FTA and 0% under the Korea–Vietnam FTA.

    How much seafood does Korea import from China?

    China sold Korea US$1,024.2 million of seafood in Jan–Sep 2026, 23.2% of the total and more than any other origin. The volume was 293,024 tonnes. 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%
    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.

    China lost a little ground while Korea’s total rose 0.7% and its two closest rivals grew. For the full ranking, see Korea’s fish imports by country.

    What does Korea buy from China?

    China shipped at least US$100,000 in 190 of Korea’s 10-digit HSK codes in the 12 months to September 2026. The top 10 codes below added up to US$593.6 million, or 58.0% of China’s total in Jan–Sep 2026.

    HSKProductValue from ChinaWeightUS$/kgChina’s share of this HSKNext origin
    0306.17.1090Frozen peeled shrimpUS$127.67 million17,788 t7.1840.7%Vietnam 42.4%
    0307.43.2090Frozen squid, otherUS$82.51 million29,882 t2.7635.1%Peru 24.7%
    0307.51.1000Live or chilled long-arm octopusUS$78.74 million3,668 t21.4699.4%Thailand 0.6%
    0307.52.2000Frozen long-arm octopusUS$73.74 million10,927 t6.7572.0%Vietnam 25.0%
    1605.54.2091Seasoned squidUS$48.89 million9,769 t5.0180.1%Vietnam 17.8%
    0304.99.1000Frozen surimi, otherUS$48.02 million37,196 t1.2940.9%Vietnam 45.4%
    0303.89.9060Frozen monkfishUS$40.97 million18,327 t2.2497.6%USA 2.2%
    1604.19.9090Other prepared fishUS$35.47 million8,183 t4.3380.1%Vietnam 14.0%
    0303.89.5020Frozen large yellow croakerUS$34.14 million5,744 t5.94100%none
    1604.17.9000Prepared eelUS$23.48 million2,118 t11.0898.2%Vietnam 0.8%

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

    Horizontal bar chart of Korea's top 10 imports from China by HSK code, Jan–Sep 2026, led by frozen peeled shrimp at US$127.7 million and frozen squid at US$82.5 million

    Long-arm octopus, live and frozen, brought in US$152.5 million together. Yellow croaker and croaker-type fish are covered in the guide to Korea’s hairtail and croaker imports, and octopus codes in Korea’s octopus imports by HS code.

    Where does China dominate, and where is it contested?

    China is the largest origin in 81 of the 190 codes, and those codes carry 71.5% of its sales to Korea. In 51 codes China holds 90% or more of Korea’s imports. There, a new Chinese supplier competes with other Chinese plants.

    China holds 90% or more (Jan–Sep 2026)China’s shareContested lines (Jan–Sep 2026)China / main rival
    Live or chilled long-arm octopus99.4%Frozen peeled shrimp40.7% / Vietnam 42.4%
    Frozen monkfish97.6%Frozen surimi, other40.9% / Vietnam 45.4%
    Frozen large yellow croaker100%Frozen squid, other35.1% / Peru 24.7%
    Frozen blue crab95.7%Frozen long-arm octopus72.0% / Vietnam 25.0%
    Live or chilled Manila clam100%Frozen webfoot octopus2.7% / Vietnam 82.4%
    Live croaker and live loach100% eachSeasoned squid80.1% / Vietnam 17.8%

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, Jan–Sep 2026, retrieved October 15, 2026.

    Webfoot octopus (jukkumi) shows how much the form matters. China supplied 92.5% of Korea’s live or chilled webfoot octopus but only 2.7% of the frozen product, where Vietnam held 82.4% and Thailand 13.2%. Clams are covered in the guide to Korea’s clam and shellfish imports.

    In the two biggest contested lines, China gained share over the past year. Its share of frozen peeled shrimp rose from 36.0% in Jan–Sep 2025 to 40.7% in Jan–Sep 2026, and of frozen surimi from 34.9% to 40.9%. Vietnam’s share fell in both.

    Dumbbell chart of China's and Vietnam's shares of Korea's imports in frozen peeled shrimp, frozen surimi and frozen webfoot octopus, Jan–Sep 2025 against Jan–Sep 2026; China rose to 40.7% in shrimp and 40.9% in surimi

    The data does not show why, but one visible difference is price. Korea’s customs value for Chinese product was lower than for Vietnamese in each contested line in Jan–Sep 2026: US$7.18 against US$8.45 per kg in peeled shrimp, and US$1.29 against US$1.85 in surimi. Check the monthly series for frozen shrimp meat import data by origin (free sign-up) and frozen surimi imports into Korea (free sign-up).

    On the origin page for Chinese frozen peeled shrimp, you can check Korea’s monthly customs unit price and SEACHING’s model forecast, shown as a dashed line.

    SEACHING page for frozen peeled shrimp (HS 0306171090) from China, showing Korea's monthly import unit price and the model forecast to February 2027

    How do China’s Korean tariffs compare with Vietnam’s?

    In most contested lines, Vietnamese product pays less duty in Korea than Chinese product. Both FTAs took effect on December 20, 2015, with different cuts by HSK code.

    HSK / productBasic rateKorea–China FTAKorea–Vietnam FTARCEP (China)
    0306.17.1090 frozen peeled shrimp20%8%0% within quota, 20% aboveno line
    0307.43.2090 frozen squid, other20% (22% adjustment tariff)8%0%no line
    0307.52.2000 frozen long-arm octopus20%20%0%no line
    0307.52.3000 frozen webfoot octopus20%8%0%13.3%
    0304.99.1000 frozen surimi, other10%4%0%no line
    1604.19.9090 other prepared fish20%8%0%no line
    1604.17.9000 prepared eel20%20%0%no line
    0303.89.9060 frozen monkfish10%10%10%no line
    0306.14.3090 frozen blue crab20% (WTO 14%)13.8%11.2%no line

    Source: Korea Customs Service, tariff schedule by HSK code, 2026 rates (January 1 to December 31, 2026). “No line” means the file has no RCEP rate for China in that code.

    First, Vietnam’s 0% on frozen shrimp applies only within a 15,000-tonne yearly quota shared across several shrimp codes in 2026; above it the rate is 20%. Second, frozen long-arm octopus and prepared eel pay 20% from China and 0% from Vietnam. China still held 72.0% of frozen long-arm octopus, so a 20-point gap has not closed the market to Chinese plants. Third, the RCEP rate for China (13.3% on webfoot octopus) is higher than the Korea–China FTA rate (8%), so RCEP gives no advantage in the codes in this table.

    The 2026 file also lists a separate 0% Korea–China FTA line, coded FCN6, for products such as live and frozen long-arm octopus, frozen monkfish, live loach, live Manila clam and seasoned squid. Korea Customs Service names it only as an optional Korea–China FTA rate, and the file does not state its conditions. Ask a customs broker about its conditions before you price on it.

    The importer claims the FTA rate before Korean customs accepts the declaration and must hold proof of origin. These rates are from the 2026 schedule as of October 2026. Confirm the rate for your code and declaration date with a licensed Korean customs broker or on Korea Customs Service UNIPASS. Rate types are explained in the Korea seafood import duty guide.

    What does a Chinese plant need before the first shipment?

    The common steps are in the step-by-step guide to exporting seafood to Korea. This table shows what applies to China.

    StepWhoDocuments or toolsTiming
    1. Check whether your HSK code is China-dominated or contestedExporterKorea’s import data by HSK and originBefore you quote
    2. Choose the Korea–China FTA or RCEP rateExporter with the importer’s customs brokerCertificate of origin for that agreementBefore the import declaration is accepted
    3. Get your plant registered with MFDS through the Chinese authoritiesPlant, via China’s competent authorityGovernment notification to KoreaBefore the import declaration; valid 2 years
    4. Get a health certificate for each shipmentChina’s competent authorityGovernment health certificateEach shipment
    5. Check whether NFQS quarantine appliesExporter with importerAsk NFQS which documents apply to live animals and raw shrimpBefore shipment
    6. File traceability reports after customsKorean importerKorea’s traceability systemWithin 5 days of each transfer

    China is one of the 11 countries with a seafood safety arrangement with Korea, according to a Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) guide dated October 2024. Under that arrangement, the Chinese government notifies Korea of approved plants, only those plants can export, and each shipment needs a government health certificate. Plant registration with MFDS lasts two years under the Special Act on Imported Food Safety Control (as of October 2026).

    The National Fishery Products Quality Management Service (NFQS) quarantines live aquatic animals and uncooked, uncut frozen or chilled abalone, oysters and shrimp, as of October 2026. That would include live shipments of octopus, clams and fish. Ask NFQS through your importer whether your shrimp product counts as cut.

    Korea and China signed a memorandum on August 20, 2026 to exchange seafood certificates electronically, but no pilot date had been announced as of October 2026. Until then, ask your importer which certificate format customs will accept.

    These rules are summarized as of October 2026. Confirm the final requirements with your Korean importer, a licensed Korean customs broker or the agency concerned before you ship.

    Pre-shipment checklist

    • You know your 10-digit HSK code and China’s share of it in Korea.
    • You know the Korea–China FTA and RCEP rates for that code, and which one your buyer will claim.
    • Your certificate of origin matches that agreement.
    • Your plant is on China’s notified list for Korea, and its MFDS registration is valid on the declaration date.
    • China’s competent authority will issue a health certificate for this shipment.
    • If the product is live or is raw, uncut shrimp, your importer has confirmed with NFQS what the quarantine needs.
    • Your buyer has approved the Korean label and origin text (see Korea’s labeling and origin rules).

    Why can China’s import weight figures mislead?

    Published totals for Korea’s seafood imports from China do not all use the same scope. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries put 2025 imports from China at about 960,000 tonnes and US$1.5 billion. The ministry’s fishery trade statistics also count sea salt (HS 2501). This article counts only HS 03 and 1603–1605, so its tonnage is much lower. Compare weights only when both figures use the same scope.

    How can Chinese suppliers win in contested lines?

    Start with price per kg. In frozen squid, China’s average customs value fell from US$3.44 to US$2.76 per kg between Jan–Sep 2025 and Jan–Sep 2026, and Peru’s share of that code rose from 16.2% to 24.7%. Check frozen squid import prices (free sign-up) before you quote, and read the Korea seafood import price benchmark for how to compare offers with customs values.

    Then price in the duty gap from the tariff table above. The Vietnam seafood export guide shows the same market from the other side.

    Before a first order, read why seafood shipments fail Korean import inspection and what Korean seafood importers look for. Other origin guides cover Thailand and Indonesia and the US and Canada.

    Compare China with Vietnam and Peru, product by product

    SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, shows Korea’s seafood imports by 10-digit HSK code, origin and month, built on Korea Customs Service data.

    See how China ranks against Vietnam and Peru for your product in Korea, month by month. Open China’s Korea trade page on SEACHING (free sign-up)

    FAQ

    Is the Korea–China FTA rate always lower than the RCEP rate for seafood?

    Not necessarily, but in the codes in this article it was lower, or RCEP had no China line. For frozen webfoot octopus in 2026, the Korea–China FTA rate is 8% and the RCEP rate for China is 13.3%.

    Does Vietnam’s 0% rate on frozen shrimp have a limit?

    Yes. In 2026, Vietnamese frozen shrimp in the listed codes enters at 0% only within 15,000 tonnes a year in total, and pays 20% above that. Chinese peeled shrimp pays 8% under the Korea–China FTA, and the 2026 file shows no quota line for China in that code.

    Who files Korea’s traceability reports for Chinese seafood?

    The Korean importer and later distributors do, not the exporter. Since June 29, 2026, 27 imported seafood items are covered, including frozen squid, and each transfer must be reported within 5 days. The exporter’s part is to send accurate origin and product documents.

    Sources and method

  • Which Seafood Should You Export to Korea First? A 5-Step Data Check

    Which Seafood Should You Export to Korea First? A 5-Step Data Check

    Data as of: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data through September 2026, queried October 15, 2026. Tariffs and MFDS inspection lists checked October 14, 2026.

    The best seafood to export to Korea first passes five checks in Korea’s import data: growing import volume, room among origins, a price you can match, few inspection failures and enough importers. The value of Korea’s frozen webfoot octopus imports rose 9.0% to US$145.1 million in Jan–Sep 2026, but volume fell 1.7% (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).

    Key takeaways

    • Korea imported US$145.1 million and 20,583 tonnes of frozen webfoot octopus (HSK 0307.52.3000) in Jan–Sep 2026: value up 9.0%, volume down 1.7% on Jan–Sep 2025 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Vietnam supplied 82.4% of Korea’s frozen webfoot octopus imports by value in Jan–Sep 2026 at US$6.98/kg; Thailand supplied 13.2% at US$7.96/kg (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Korea’s 2026 duty on frozen webfoot octopus is 0% from Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, 8% from China and 20% without an FTA (Korea Customs Service 2026 tariff schedule).
    • SEACHING estimates that 231 Korean companies imported frozen webfoot octopus in October 2025–September 2026, with the top five holding 17.0% of import records (estimate, query of October 15, 2026).

    What does Korea import the most right now?

    Shrimp, squid and salmon led Korea’s seafood imports by value in Jan–Sep 2026. The table groups HS codes by species, within HS chapter 03 and HS 1603–1605 (seaweed and salt excluded).

    Species groupKorea’s imports, Jan–Sep 2026 (US$ million)
    Shrimp587.1
    Squid and cuttlefish449.7
    Salmon420.2
    Crab399.0
    Octopus, including webfoot and small octopus377.0
    Alaska pollock (whole, fillets, surimi, roe)266.7
    Tuna204.5
    Mackerel148.6
    Surimi, other than pollock117.8

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports, Jan–Sep 2026, queried October 15, 2026. Species groups follow the ranking linked below.

    A big import line shows that buyers exist, not that your offer can win orders. The ranking of Korea’s top seafood imports by species has the full list.

    Before you start, have your product’s 10-digit Korean HS code (HSK), your CIF price per kg and your country’s FTA with Korea. Korean customs values imports at CIF, so compare your CIF price, not FOB. The worked example is frozen webfoot octopus (jukkumi).

    Step 1: Is Korea buying more of it?

    Compare value and volume for the same months of two years; value can rise on price alone. The table covers only 12 sample HS codes pulled from SEACHING for this article, each with at least US$5 million of imports in Jan–Sep 2025. It is not a ranking of all Korean seafood imports.

    Product (HSK)Jan–Sep 2026 (US$ million)Value changeVolume changeUS$/kg, 2025 → 2026
    Frozen Pacific salmon, other than sockeye (0303.12.0000)59.5+72.3%+82.7%6.73 → 6.34
    Fresh Atlantic salmon (0302.14.0000)207.0+18.2%+9.4%10.47 → 11.31
    Frozen webfoot octopus (0307.52.3000)145.1+9.0%−1.7%6.36 → 7.05
    Fresh salmon fillets (0304.41.0000)128.3+8.6%+5.3%17.20 → 17.74
    Frozen mackerel fillets (0304.89.5000)41.2+5.0%−20.4%5.99 → 7.91
    Frozen peeled shrimp (0306.17.1090)313.9+4.9%+6.8%8.22 → 8.08
    Frozen mackerel (0303.54.0000)107.4+2.2%−41.9%2.59 → 4.55
    Frozen Atlantic salmon (0303.13.0000)9.2−4.1%+3.6%8.19 → 7.58
    Frozen Alaska pollock (0303.67.0000)93.9−7.6%−22.5%1.08 → 1.28
    Live and fresh webfoot octopus (0307.51.2000)12.4−9.0%−8.2%6.48 → 6.42
    Frozen squid, other (0307.43.2090)235.3−26.2%+4.5%3.53 → 2.49
    Frozen salmon fillets (0304.81.0000)14.1−45.5%−40.1%9.41 → 8.55

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

    Bar chart of the change in Korea's import value (bars) and volume (dots) for 12 sample seafood HS codes, Jan–Sep 2026 vs Jan–Sep 2025, with frozen webfoot octopus at +9.0% in value and volume down

    Frozen webfoot octopus gets a mixed result. Korea spent 9.0% more but bought 1.7% less by weight, because the average customs value rose 10.9% to US$7.05/kg. The monthly unit price climbed from US$6.44/kg in January 2026 to US$7.40/kg in August, then eased to US$7.21/kg in September.

    Step 2: Who supplies it now, and is there room for another origin?

    Check each origin’s share and its direction. A dominant origin is the benchmark your offer will be read against.

    OriginShare of value, Jan–Sep 2025Share of value, Jan–Sep 2026Value changeVolume, Jan–Sep 2026
    Vietnam79.3%82.4%+13.3%17,124 t
    Thailand17.1%13.2%−16.1%2,402 t
    China1.7%2.7%+77.4%648 t
    Indonesia1.5%1.2%−7.7%296 t

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, frozen webfoot octopus (HSK 0307.52.3000), imports, queried October 15, 2026. Shares are of all origins combined.

    SEACHING country table for Korea's frozen webfoot octopus imports (HS 0307523000), with value, unit price and volume by origin for October 2025 to September 2026

    The “By Country” tab shows these measures by origin for October 2025–September 2026, a different window from the table above. Four origins supplied 99.5% of the value in Jan–Sep 2026, and Vietnam’s share rose while Thailand’s fell. See the guides for Vietnamese exporters and Thai and Indonesian exporters.

    Step 3: What price does Korea pay, and can you compete?

    Divide customs value by weight per origin, then add the buyer’s duty. This is a customs average across sizes and grades, not a market price.

    OriginCustoms value, Jan–Sep 2026 (US$/kg)2026 dutyValue plus duty, simple calculation (US$/kg)
    Vietnam6.980% (Korea–Vietnam FTA)6.98
    Thailand7.960% (Korea–ASEAN FTA)7.96
    Indonesia6.110% (Korea–Indonesia CEPA)6.11
    China6.058% (Korea–China FTA)6.53

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, HSK 0307.52.3000, Jan–Sep 2026; Korea Customs Service 2026 tariff schedule. Rate without an FTA: 20%. Value plus duty is a simple calculation, customs value × (1 + duty), without VAT or other costs.

    SEACHING Trends tab for Korea's frozen webfoot octopus imports (HS 0307523000), showing monthly import value and unit price from October 2025 to September 2026

    The Trends tab plots monthly import value and unit price for October 2025–September 2026, so you see the price direction before you quote. In Jan–Sep 2026, Thailand’s customs value was about US$1/kg above Vietnam’s, and Thailand still supplied 13.2% of value, down from 17.1%. On the simple calculation above, China’s US$6.05/kg plus 8% duty comes to US$6.53/kg, below Vietnam’s US$6.98/kg. To set your own offer against these numbers, see benchmarking a seafood price against Korean customs prices.

    Step 4: Do shipments of it fail Korean inspection?

    Check the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) records for your product and country. Failures are rare: MFDS rejected 51 of 87,818 unprocessed seafood import declarations in 2025, or 0.06%.

    MFDS publishes two lists on its Imported Food Information Maru portal. The inspection order list names products tested at every shipment. On October 14, 2026 it had three seafood entries: Japanese bluefin tuna, Chinese frozen yellow croaker and Vietnamese processed shrimp. None covered webfoot octopus. The rejection list, in Korean, shows each rejected product with origin, exporter and failed test. Search it for your own product and origin. The guide to Korean import inspection for seafood explains what happens after a failure.

    Step 5: How many Korean companies import it?

    Count the importers and their concentration. A short, concentrated list means few buyers to approach; a long, spread-out list means more potential buyers.

    SEACHING estimates that 231 companies imported frozen webfoot octopus in October 2025–September 2026: 192 bought from Vietnam, 46 from Thailand, 21 from China and 9 from Indonesia, some from more than one. The top five held 17.0% of import records and the top ten 28.7%.

    SEACHING Companies tab for Korea's frozen webfoot octopus imports (HS 0307523000), listing estimated importers and their origins, with company names blurred

    The Companies tab shows the same estimate, Importers (231), with origin filters; company names are blurred here. The article on who imports seafood into Korea compares importer counts across products.

    How do you read the five results together?

    No single number makes a product “best”; weigh the five together.

    CheckFrozen webfoot octopusSignal
    1. GrowthValue +9.0%, volume −1.7%, Jan–Sep 2026Mixed: price-led
    2. OriginsVietnam 82.4% and gainingGood for Vietnam, harder for others
    3. PriceCustoms value US$6.05–7.96/kg; 0% duty for Vietnam, Thailand, IndonesiaGood if your CIF price fits
    4. InspectionNo seafood inspection order on it (October 14, 2026)Good; check the rejection list
    5. Importers231 estimated, top five 17.0% of recordsMany estimated buyers

    Source: Steps 1–5 above.

    Three common mistakes. First, mixing product forms: live and fresh webfoot octopus is a seasonal trade, with 94.7% of its Jan–Sep 2026 value arriving in February to May, while frozen was 92.2% of the two codes combined. Second, comparing nine months of 2026 with a full year of 2025. Third, reading importer counts as exact; they are estimates. The article on octopus imports by HS code separates the octopus codes.

    Run the five checks on your own product

    When a product passes, the step-by-step guide to exporting seafood to Korea covers registration, labels and shipping. The data above is here:

    Before you pick a product for Korea, look up how much of it Korea already imports, from which origins and at what customs value per kg. SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, shows Korea’s seafood imports by 10-digit HS code and month, built on Korea Customs Service data. Run the five checks on your product (free sign-up)

    FAQ

    Which seafood has zero import duty in Korea?

    It depends on the 10-digit HS code and your country’s FTA. Frozen webfoot octopus (HSK 0307.52.3000) pays 0% from Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia in 2026, 8% from China and 20% without an FTA (Korea Customs Service 2026 tariff schedule). Other species are in Korea’s seafood import duty by species and FTA. Confirm the rate with a licensed customs broker.

    How much import data should I look at before choosing a product?

    Compare the same months in at least two years, so seasonal swings do not look like growth, and read monthly figures for seasonal products.

    Where can I check Korean import inspection failures for free?

    MFDS lists rejected imports on its Imported Food Information Maru portal (impfood.mfds.go.kr). The list is in Korean, can be filtered to seafood and shows the product, origin, exporter and failed test (checked October 14, 2026).

    Sources and method

  • Shipping Seafood to Korea: Lead Times, MOQs and Container Loads

    Shipping Seafood to Korea: Lead Times, MOQs and Container Loads

    Data as of October 14, 2026. Regulations checked October 14, 2026.

    Shipping frozen seafood to Korea usually means full reefer containers, and in LINKSUP’s experience one container is the minimum order. A 20ft reefer carries up to 27,470 kg and a 40ft high-cube reefer up to 29,260 kg, according to CMA CGM specifications. Order to shipment typically takes about three months (LINKSUP estimate), before ocean transit and Korean import inspection.

    This guide covers the logistics side: timing, order size and containers. For registration, certificates and labels, start with our step-by-step guide to exporting seafood to Korea.

    Key takeaways

    • In LINKSUP’s experience, Korean importers of frozen seafood expect at least one full container per order. This is a LINKSUP estimate from its Busan import desk, not a public statistic.
    • LINKSUP estimates that order, production planning and shipment of frozen seafood typically take about three months, with large differences by product.
    • CMA CGM lists a maximum payload of 27,470 kg for a 20ft reefer and 29,260 kg for a 40ft high-cube reefer; the carrier states these figures are non-contractual examples (checked October 2026).
    • Korea’s 2027 Lunar New Year (Seollal) falls on February 7 and Chuseok on September 15, according to the 2027 calendar published by the Korea AeroSpace Administration in June 2026.
    • Under Korean law as of October 2026, the importer can file the food import declaration from 5 days before the ship’s expected arrival, so documents need to reach the buyer before then.

    How long does it take to ship frozen seafood to Korea?

    Plan on about three months from order to shipment, in LINKSUP’s experience, and then add ocean transit and the time Korean inspection takes after arrival. The three months covers the buyer’s purchase order, your production or catch planning, and booking and loading the container. Some products move faster, and seasonal catches can take longer.

    The table separates what you control from what your Korean buyer controls. The time column says where each figure comes from.

    StepWho does itMain documentsTime and source
    1. Confirm Korea buys your productExporterNone. Check Korea’s import data (how to choose a product)Your choice
    2. Register your plant with MFDSExporterForeign food facility registration (registration guide)MFDS processing period 3 days; registration valid 2 years
    3. Offer, price, Incoterm, purchase orderExporter and buyerOffer sheet, proforma invoice, contractSteps 3 to 5 together: about 3 months (LINKSUP estimate)
    4. Production planning, processing, freezingExporterProduction records, lab results if the buyer asks(included above)
    5. Book reefer, stuff and loadExporter or forwarderBill of lading, packing list, commercial invoice, health or quarantine certificate, certificate of origin for FTA rates(included above)
    6. Ocean transit to KoreaCarrierBill of ladingCheck your carrier’s schedule
    7. Arrival at a Korean port, bonded storageImporterArrival noticeUSDA lists Busan, Incheon and Yeosu among the main entry ports
    8. Import declaration and MFDS inspectionImporterImport declaration (can be filed from 5 days before arrival)Depends on inspection type; see why shipments fail
    9. NFQS quarantine, if your product is listedImporterOriginal quarantine certificate from your governmentDocuments 2 days, clinical 3 days, laboratory 15 days (NFQS)
    10. Customs clearance and dutyImporter or customs brokerCustoms declaration, FTA origin proofAfter MFDS and NFQS results

    Sources: LINKSUP estimate (steps 3 to 5); Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS); National Fishery Products Quality Management Service (NFQS); USDA FAS GAIN KS2025-0046. Regulations as of October 2026.

    Timeline of a frozen seafood shipment to Korea from purchase order to customs clearance, with about three months from order to shipment marked as a LINKSUP estimate

    Steps 7 to 10 are the Korean importer’s legal work. You cannot file them, but you decide how fast they go. Missing certificates, a plant that is not registered, or a label that does not match the declaration will stop the container in bonded storage. Our guide to why seafood shipments fail Korean import inspection lists the common causes.

    What is the minimum order for frozen seafood in Korea?

    In LINKSUP’s experience, Korean importers of frozen seafood ask for at least one full container per order. Plan your first offer around that volume.

    Every shipment, full or half-full, needs its own import declaration, inspection and customs clearance on the Korean side. If your volume is below a container, look at buyers who consolidate. Many smaller Korean buyers purchase through importers or import agents rather than importing themselves, as explained in how Korea’s seafood imports really work.

    How much frozen seafood fits in a 20ft or 40ft reefer?

    A 20ft reefer can carry up to 27,470 kg and a 40ft high-cube reefer up to 29,260 kg, based on CMA CGM’s published specifications. The 40ft box has more than twice the space but only slightly more weight capacity, so with dense frozen cargo, check the weight limit first.

    Container (CMA CGM example)Max gross weightAverage tareMax payloadInternal volume
    20ft reefer30,480 kg3,010 kg27,470 kg28.6 m³
    40ft high-cube reefer34,000 kg4,740 kg29,260 kg68 m³

    Source: CMA CGM, Reefer Technical Specifications, checked October 14, 2026. The carrier states the data is non-contractual and does not reflect most of its fleet.

    Treat these as ceilings, not targets. Your real load depends on the carton size, pallet type, the air space a reefer needs to circulate cold air, and road weight limits at both ends. Ask your carrier for the specification of the exact equipment you book, and agree the quantity per container with your buyer in tonnes and in cartons.

    Can you ship less than a full container to Korea?

    It depends on your route. Ask your forwarder whether a reefer consolidation service runs on your route to Busan, how often it sails, and who takes responsibility for temperature when several shippers share one box. If the answer is unclear, assume full container loads.

    Another route is to share space with a buyer who already imports in volume.

    From LINKSUP’s trading desk

    We import frozen seafood into Korea from Busan. For frozen products, Korean buyers usually set the minimum order at the volume that fills one container. From order through production planning to shipment, we typically plan for about three months, though this varies a lot by product. In the past, we have also imported smaller volumes by the pallet, jointly, using spare space in containers of products we already bring in at volume.

    Which Incoterm should you quote for Busan?

    Some Korean buyers ask for a price to a Korean port, written as CFR or CIF Busan. Know what those terms do before you quote them. Under Incoterms 2020, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) lists FAS, FOB, CFR and CIF as rules for sea and inland waterway transport, and the other seven rules for any mode of transport.

    Under CFR and CIF, you pay freight to Busan, but the risk passes to the buyer once the goods are on board at your port of loading. With a container, you usually hand the box to the carrier at a terminal before it is loaded. FCA, CPT and CIP are the any-mode rules that move risk at handover to the carrier, so compare them with CFR and CIF. Discuss this with your buyer and your bank, and check the ICC text before you sign.

    When should you take the order for Seollal or Chuseok?

    Work backward from the date your buyer needs stock in a Korean cold store. Take that date, subtract ocean transit and the time for inspection after arrival, then subtract about three months for order to shipment (LINKSUP estimate). The table uses a stock date four weeks before each holiday as an example only. Agree the real date with your buyer.

    Holiday (2027)Holiday dateExample stock date in KoreaOrder placed by (about 3 months before shipment, LINKSUP estimate)
    Seollal (Lunar New Year)February 7, 2027 (holidays February 6–9)January 10, 2027About October 10, 2026, minus your transit and inspection time
    ChuseokSeptember 15, 2027 (holidays September 14–16)August 18, 2027About May 18, 2027, minus your transit and inspection time

    Sources: Korea AeroSpace Administration, 2027 calendar (announced June 29, 2026); Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute. Order dates are a worked example using the LINKSUP estimate.

    The Seollal row matters now. A new order placed in late October 2026 would, on a three-month lead time, ship around late January 2027. That is after the example stock date and only days before the holiday. Offer stock you already have, or plan for Chuseok 2027. Our Korean seafood demand calendar shows which months Korea’s imports of each species rise.

    What happens after the container reaches Busan?

    Your Korean importer takes over at arrival and files the food import declaration with MFDS, from up to 5 days before the expected arrival date (as of October 2026). MFDS then applies one of four inspection types: document, on-site, laboratory or random sampling. Some products also need NFQS quarantine, including live aquatic animals and frozen or chilled shrimp, abalone and oysters. NFQS lists 2 days for document review, 3 days for clinical inspection and 15 days for laboratory testing.

    If a shipment fails, the importer must return it, re-export it to another country, convert it to another use with approval, or destroy it. Confirm the current rules with a Korean customs broker or the agency concerned before you ship.

    Pre-shipment checklist for a container to Korea

    • Your plant is registered with MFDS, and the registration number is on your health certificate where required (registration guide).
    • You have the health certificate, and an original quarantine certificate if NFQS lists your product.
    • You have a certificate of origin if your buyer will claim an FTA tariff rate.
    • Korean labeling is agreed with the buyer and matches the cartons (labeling rules).
    • The reefer set point in the booking matches the temperature in your contract and product specification.
    • Quantity per container is agreed in tonnes and in cartons, within the payload of the equipment booked.
    • Copies of the bill of lading, invoice, packing list and certificates reach the buyer more than 5 days before arrival.
    • The Incoterm, the named port (for example, Busan) and who insures the cargo are written in the contract.

    Check whether your product supports full-container orders

    Before you commit to a container a month, check how much of your product Korea already imports and how steady the monthly volume is. For example, see Korea’s frozen mackerel imports by month (free sign-up), frozen Alaska pollock import data (free sign-up), or Vietnam’s seafood trade with Korea (free sign-up). If your buyer side is still open, our note on what Korean importers check before a first order explains what they look at besides price and volume.

    Before you agree a container-per-month plan, look up how much of your product Korea already imports, from which origins and at what customs value per kg. SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, shows Korea’s seafood imports by 10-digit HS code and month, built on Korea Customs Service data. Look up your product on SEACHING (free sign-up)

    LINKSUP imports seafood into Korea from its base in Busan and built SEACHING from that work. If you want to discuss a specific product, you can reach the team through seaching.co.kr.

    FAQ

    Can I ship fresh or live seafood to Korea by air instead of reefer?

    Yes, air freight is used for fresh and live products, but the Korean import rules stay the same. Live aquatic animals need NFQS quarantine in addition to the MFDS import declaration (as of October 2026). Air shipments are smaller, so ask your buyer what minimum they accept for air cargo.

    Which Korean ports receive imported seafood?

    USDA’s 2025 Korea seafood market report names Busan, Incheon and Yeosu among the main ports where imported seafood arrives. Many importers keep their own cold storage near the port, according to the same report. Ask your buyer which port and which bonded cold store to name on the bill of lading.

    Who pays Korean import duty on my seafood?

    The Korean importer pays duty when it clears customs, unless your contract uses a delivered-duty-paid term. Tariff rates differ by species and by free trade agreement. Our guide to exporting seafood to Korea links to the rates.

    Sources and method