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Category: Market Reports

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

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

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

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

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

    Key takeaways

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

    How much king crab and snow crab does Korea import?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    How does the customs price compare with retail crab prices?

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

    Is there room for crab from origins other than Russia?

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

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

    Tariffs favor these origins as of October 2026:

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

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

    The Korean importer claims the FTA rate before clearance and must hold the origin documents, so send them with the shipping papers. Confirm the final rate on UNIPASS or with a Korean customs broker. The guide to Korea’s seafood import duty covers the rules.

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

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

    Check your crab price against Korean customs prices

    SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, shows Korea’s imports by 10-digit HS code, origin and month. Its “By Country” table for live snow crab lists value, price per kg and volume by origin for the latest twelve months.

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

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

    FAQ

    When is snow crab season for Korean imports?

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

    Does Korea charge import duty on Russian king crab?

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

    Sources and method

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

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

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

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

    Key takeaways

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

    How much seafood does the average South Korean eat?

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

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

    Why do sources give different per-capita numbers?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Is Korean seafood consumption rising or falling?

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

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

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

    Is South Korea self-sufficient in seafood?

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

    What does this mean for exporters selling to Korea?

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

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

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

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

    Which figure should you cite?

    Name the basis with the figure:

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

    For country comparisons, use FAO data on both sides.

    Look up Korea’s imports for your species

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

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

    FAQ

    Do Koreans eat a lot of seafood?

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

    Where does the 60.9 kg figure come from?

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

    Is South Korea self-sufficient in food?

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

    Sources and method

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

    South Korea Seafood Market Size: What the Trade Statistics Show

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

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

    Key takeaways

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

    How big is the South Korean seafood market?

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

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

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

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

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

    Why do market size estimates disagree?

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

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

    Even official import figures differ by product list:

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

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

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

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

    What do official statistics measure?

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

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

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

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

    How do you read market size from trade statistics?

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Is Korea a net seafood importer?

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

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

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

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

    Which number should you cite?

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

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

    Sources: see Sources and method.

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

    Quote these figures, then check your own product

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

    FAQ

    How much seafood does South Korea import each year?

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

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

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

    Are Korea’s seafood imports growing in 2026?

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

    Sources and method

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

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

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

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

    Key takeaways

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Which channels in Korea ask for certified seafood?

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Before you pitch certification, ask your Korean buyer:

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

    Is certification a differentiator or a baseline for your species?

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

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

    Common misconceptions about MSC and ASC in Korea

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

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

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

    Check who is certified for your species

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

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

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

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

    FAQ

    What is the difference between MSC and ASC?

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

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

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

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

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

    Sources and method

  • What Seafood Does South Korea Import the Most? Top 20 Species Ranked

    What Seafood Does South Korea Import the Most? Top 20 Species Ranked

    Data as of: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data through September 2026, queried October 15, 2026. 2026 figures can still be revised.

    What seafood does South Korea import the most? By value, shrimp: US$587.1 million in January–September 2026, ahead of squid and cuttlefish (US$449.7 million) and salmon (US$420.2 million), according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data grouped by species. This ranks imports, not what Koreans eat most.

    The number that matters: US$587.1 million
    Korea’s shrimp imports in Jan–Sep 2026, up 2.2%. Shrimp took first place as squid and cuttlefish, the leader in Jan–Sep 2025, fell 21.8%. Shrimp, squid and salmon made up 33.0% of Korea’s seafood import value.

    Key takeaways

    • Shrimp was Korea’s largest seafood import by species group in Jan–Sep 2026 at US$587.1 million, 43.1% of it from Vietnam (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Korea’s squid and cuttlefish imports fell 21.8% to US$449.7 million in Jan–Sep 2026 while weight rose 1.8%, so the drop came from price (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Counted as one group each, crab (US$399.0 million) and octopus (US$377.0 million) ranked fourth and fifth among Korea’s seafood imports in Jan–Sep 2026 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • The top 20 species groups accounted for 79.3% of Korea’s US$4,415.6 million of seafood imports in Jan–Sep 2026 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).

    What seafood does South Korea import the most?

    Shrimp leads, followed by squid and cuttlefish, salmon, crab and octopus. Korea imported US$4,415.6 million of seafood in Jan–Sep 2026, up 0.7%, and the top five species groups took 50.6% of it.

    Here, Korea’s seafood imports means HS chapter 03 plus prepared fish and crustaceans (HS 1603–1605); seaweed and salt are excluded. Each group sums the Korean tariff codes (HSK) listed under Sources and method.

    RankSpecies groupUS$ millionChangeTonnesUS$/kgLeading origin (share)
    1Shrimp587.1+2.2%82,1697.15Vietnam (43.1%)
    2Squid and cuttlefish449.7−21.8%131,3303.42China (35.0%)
    3Salmon420.2+14.8%37,94711.07Norway (79.0%)
    4Crab399.0+11.9%33,91711.76Russia (83.0%)
    5Octopus, including webfoot and small octopus377.0+6.9%44,8368.41China (45.0%)
    6Alaska pollock266.7+2.5%124,7902.14Russia (80.0%)
    7Tuna204.5+33.2%19,19610.65Türkiye (28.2%)
    8Mackerel148.6+3.0%28,7855.16Norway (77.8%)
    9Surimi, other than pollock117.8+1.6%73,4871.60Vietnam (45.5%)
    10Flatfish69.9+18.2%21,6353.23Russia (46.0%)
    11Croaker (mineo)61.5+18.0%12,9964.73China (33.3%)
    12Lobster53.8−4.3%1,91328.14Canada (98.9%)
    13Clams, cockles and ark shells53.7−14.0%35,9531.49China (89.6%)
    14Scallop46.3−12.1%9,0455.12Japan (62.1%)
    15Eel45.5−66.6%2,47818.35China (57.6%)
    16Yellow croaker (jogi)43.0−16.9%8,0185.36China (99.5%)
    17Monkfish42.0−3.5%18,5572.26China (97.6%)
    18Cod41.0+1.5%7,2115.69Russia (71.3%)
    19Seabream39.0−5.0%4,7128.28Japan (93.1%)
    20Filefish35.3+7.8%4,1778.45Vietnam (92.2%)

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports, Jan–Sep 2026; change is value against Jan–Sep 2025. US$/kg is customs value divided by weight. Groups are LINKSUP’s grouping of HSK codes.

    Horizontal bar chart of Korea's top 20 seafood import species groups by value, January–September 2026, led by shrimp at US$587.1 million, squid and cuttlefish at US$449.7 million and salmon at US$420.2 million, with the leading origin labeled on each bar

    US$/kg here is a CIF customs value, not a market price, so compare it with your CIF offer.

    What changed from 2025?

    The top two swapped places. In Jan–Sep 2025, squid and cuttlefish led at US$575.2 million, ahead of shrimp at US$574.4 million. In Jan–Sep 2026 shrimp led by US$137.4 million.

    Squid lost value on price, not volume: weight rose 1.8%, but value per kilo fell 23.2%. See the squid import guide and the Q3 2026 report.

    SEACHING’s By Country table for seasoned squid, part of this group, shows which origins supply it and how far their unit prices differ.

    SEACHING By Country table for Korea's seasoned squid imports (HS 1605542091), data period 2025-10 to 2026-09, listing origins with import value, unit price and volume

    Other moves:

    • Tuna rose 33.2% to US$204.5 million, the fastest growth in the top 20, though it stayed seventh. Frozen bluefin tuna fillets from Türkiye were US$56.8 million, up 26.4%.
    • Eel fell 66.6% to US$45.5 million, dropping from ninth to 15th. Glass eels for farming fell from US$94.7 million to US$16.3 million (see the eel import guide).

    Why rank by species instead of HS code?

    Because one species can sit under many codes. Alaska pollock enters Korea under five HSK codes worth more than US$2 million each in Jan–Sep 2026, at prices from US$1.28/kg to US$4.36/kg.

    Pollock productHSKUS$ millionUS$/kgLeading origin
    Frozen whole0303.67.000093.91.28Russia (94%)
    Frozen surimi0304.94.100066.22.89United States (58%)
    Frozen roe0303.91.201057.24.36Russia (92%)
    Frozen fillets0304.75.000046.93.16Russia (95%)
    Fresh or chilled0302.55.00002.33.56Japan (100%)

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

    No single pollock code reaches Korea’s top 10, but the species ranks sixth. Code 0305.53.1000 (dried fish, US$62.1 million) is labeled Alaska pollock on SEACHING, but Korean customs statistics name it only “other fish, dried”, so it stays in “other”.

    The opposite problem is the “other” code. HSK 0306.33.9000, “other crab, live”, was worth US$98.4 million without naming the crab. The largest code left outside every species group, 0307.92.9000 “other molluscs, frozen”, was US$73.2 million. In total, 16.2% of Korea’s seafood import value sits in codes outside the 27 groups.

    Crab and octopus each hold products that Korean buyers trade separately. Live snow crab was US$129.6 million and frozen king crab US$40.8 million, up 214.2%. Long-arm octopus (nakji) was US$181.6 million, 84.0% from China; webfoot octopus (jukkumi) US$157.5 million, 75.9% from Vietnam.

    SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, matches Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) import declarations to customs data and reclassifies items by species, state and processing, using a patented classification system. The figures here use HSK codes only. For how buyers name products, see the guide to Korean buyer specifications.

    How is the single-HS-code ranking different?

    By single code, frozen peeled shrimp is still first, and frozen webfoot octopus and bluefin tuna fillets take fourth and fifth. No crab or pollock code makes the top five.

    RankHSKProductUS$ millionChangeLeading origin
    10306.17.1090Peeled shrimp, frozen313.9+4.9%Vietnam (42.4%)
    20307.43.2090Other squid, frozen235.3−26.2%China (35.1%)
    30302.14.0000Atlantic salmon, fresh or chilled207.0+18.2%Norway (96.5%)
    40307.52.3000Webfoot octopus, frozen145.1+9.0%Vietnam (82.4%)
    50304.87.1000Bluefin tuna fillets, frozen144.4+32.2%Türkiye (39.3%)

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports, Jan–Sep 2026; change against Jan–Sep 2025.

    Is this the same as what Koreans eat most?

    No. Import rankings leave out Korea’s own catch. A USDA report lists 12 species Koreans eat most, from mackerel and squid to anchovy and oyster. Hairtail, anchovy and oyster are missing from the import top 20.

    Korea’s coastal and offshore fleets caught 202,554 tonnes of mackerel and 31,006 tonnes of squid in 2025, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF). See also how much seafood Koreans eat and Korea’s seafood self-sufficiency.

    Look up your species in Korea’s import data

    Each HSK code has its own SEACHING page. Start with frozen peeled shrimp, Korea’s largest single seafood import (free sign-up), frozen squid import data (free sign-up), fresh Atlantic salmon import data (free sign-up) or whole frozen Alaska pollock imports (free sign-up). Origins are ranked in Korea’s seafood suppliers by country.

    Your species may sit inside one of Korea’s “other” HS codes. Look up how much of it Korea imports, from which origins and at what customs value per kg. Look up your product on SEACHING (free sign-up)

    FAQ

    What is the most imported fish in South Korea?

    Salmon is Korea’s most imported fish by value: US$420.2 million in Jan–Sep 2026, 79.0% of it from Norway, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data. Alaska pollock was second at US$266.7 million and tuna third at US$204.5 million. The salmon guide and the pollock guide cover each species.

    Which seafood has the highest import price per kg in Korea?

    Lobster had the highest customs value per kilo among Korea’s top 20 seafood import groups in Jan–Sep 2026, at US$28.14/kg, ahead of eel (US$18.35/kg) and crab (US$11.76/kg), according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data.

    Which country supplies most of Korea’s shrimp?

    Vietnam supplied 43.1% of Korea’s shrimp imports by value in Jan–Sep 2026, out of US$587.1 million, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data. The shrimp import guide ranks the other origins.

    Sources and method

    Species groupHSK codes included
    Shrimp0306.16, 0306.17, 0306.35, 0306.36, 0306.95, 1605.21, 1605.29
    Squid and cuttlefish0307.42, 0307.43, 0307.49, 1605.54
    Salmon0302.13, 0302.14, 0303.11, 0303.12, 0303.13, 0304.41, 0304.81, 0305.41
    Crab0306.14, 0306.33, 0306.93, 1605.10
    Octopus, including webfoot and small octopus0307.51, 0307.52, 0307.59
    Alaska pollock0302.55, 0303.67, 0304.75, 0304.94, 0303.91.2010, 0305.20.4010, 0305.49.2000
    Tuna0302.31–0302.39, 0303.41–0303.49, 0304.87
    Mackerel0302.44, 0303.54, 0304.89.5000
    Surimi, other than pollock0304.93.1000, 0304.95.1000, 0304.99.1000
    Flatfish0301.99.8000, 0302.21–0302.29, 0303.31–0303.39, 0304.83
    Croaker (mineo)0303.89.9091, 0301.99.9095
    Lobster0306.11, 0306.12, 0306.15, 0306.31, 0306.32, 0306.34, 0306.91, 0306.92, 0306.94, 1605.30
    Clams, cockles and ark shells0307.71, 0307.72, 0307.79, 1605.56
    Scallop0307.21, 0307.22, 0307.29, 1605.52
    Eel0301.92, 0302.74, 0303.26, 1604.17
    Yellow croaker (jogi)0303.89.5010, 0303.89.5020, 0303.89.5090, 0305.20.4020, 0305.59.4000, 0305.69.6000
    Monkfish0303.89.9060, 0302.89.9040
    Cod0302.51, 0303.63, 0304.71, 0305.51
    Seabream0301.99.40xx, 0302.85, 0302.89.6000
    Filefish0304.89.4000, 1604.19.9010
    Groups ranked 21st–27thAtka mackerel (0303.89.9040); yellowtail (0301.99.2000, 0302.89.1000); hairtail (0302.89.2000, 0303.89.2000); rockfish (0301.99.9040, 0303.89.9050); swordfish (0302.47, 0303.57, 0304.45, 0304.54, 0304.84, 0304.91.9000); Pacific saury (0302.49.3000, 0303.59.2000, 0305.69.8000); herring (0302.41, 0303.51, 0304.86, 0305.42, 0305.61, 0305.20.4030, 1604.12)
  • South Korea Seafood Imports by Country: Where Korea Buys Its Fish

    South Korea Seafood Imports by Country: Where Korea Buys Its Fish

    Data as of: Korean import data through September 2026, queried October 15, 2026; FTA list checked October 15, 2026.

    South Korea’s fish and seafood imports by country are led by China, with 23.2% of import value in Jan–Sep 2026, followed by Russia (16.9%), Vietnam (14.3%) and Norway (10.4%), according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data. Together the four supplied 64.8% of Korea’s US$4,415.6 million in seafood imports.

    The number that matters: 64.8%
    The top four’s share of Korea’s seafood imports in Jan–Sep 2026, up from 63.1% a year earlier. Each leads different products; the main overlap is China and Vietnam, which split Korea’s frozen peeled shrimp and frozen fish surimi roughly evenly.

    Key takeaways

    • China was Korea’s largest seafood supplier in Jan–Sep 2026 at US$1,024.2 million, 1.4% less than a year earlier (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Russia’s seafood sales to Korea rose 8.8% in value in Jan–Sep 2026, to US$747.5 million, the fastest growth among Korea’s top four suppliers (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Of 83 Korean import lines (10-digit HS codes) worth US$10 million or more in Jan–Sep 2026, China was the largest origin for 23, Russia for 14, Vietnam for 10, Japan for 5 and Norway for 4 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Türkiye climbed from 22nd place among Korea’s seafood origins in 2024 to 12th in Jan–Sep 2026, on frozen bluefin tuna fillets worth US$56.8 million (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).

    Which countries does South Korea import the most seafood from?

    China, Russia, Vietnam and Norway, in that order; Peru, in fifth, supplied less than half of Norway’s share. Korea’s seafood imports here means HS chapter 03 plus prepared fish and crustaceans (HS 1603–1605); seaweed and salt are excluded.

    RankOriginValue, Jan–Sep 2026 (US$ million)ShareVolume (tonnes)Value vs Jan–Sep 2025Volume vs Jan–Sep 2025
    1China1,024.223.2%293,024-1.4%+5.7%
    2Russia747.516.9%184,267+8.8%-11.8%
    3Vietnam631.814.3%115,332+4.8%-4.7%
    4Norway458.410.4%47,496+5.0%-25.8%
    5Peru181.44.1%48,596-8.8%+41.7%
    6Japan161.63.7%23,375+13.2%-39.9%
    7United States137.33.1%38,763+7.3%+0.8%
    8Chile115.12.6%28,943-12.7%+13.7%
    9Thailand96.32.2%13,064-7.5%-6.6%
    10Canada79.71.8%7,194+17.0%+82.1%
    11Taiwan72.91.7%17,690-0.8%-3.4%
    12Türkiye66.41.5%3,134+18.7%+9.1%
    13Argentina49.91.1%7,640-9.0%-17.2%
    14United Kingdom45.41.0%5,001+1.6%+4.6%
    15Indonesia38.80.9%7,797-12.1%-23.7%
    All origins4,415.6100%959,847+0.7%-4.6%

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports, HS 03 and 1603–1605, Jan–Sep 2026 vs Jan–Sep 2025.

    The top 15 supplied 88.5%. Korea paid 0.7% more for 4.6% less seafood than a year earlier. At least 84 origins shipped US$100,000 or more of seafood to Korea in the 12 months to September 2026.

    Korea's top 15 seafood origins by import value, Jan–Sep 2026 against Jan–Sep 2025, led by China at US$1,024 million and Russia at US$748 million

    How has the ranking changed since 2024?

    The top four held the same places in full-year 2024, full-year 2025 and Jan–Sep 2026.

    Origin2024 rank2025 rankJan–Sep 2026 rank
    Peru755
    Japan566
    United States677
    Chile1088
    Canada91110
    Türkiye221412
    United Kingdom181614
    Hong Kong121229

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports by value, HS 03 and 1603–1605. Full years compared with a nine-month total, so only ranks are compared.

    Two moves come from a single product. Türkiye’s frozen bluefin tuna fillets made up 85.6% of its sales to Korea in Jan–Sep 2026. Hong Kong fell because its glass eels for aquaculture (HS 0301.92.1000) dropped from US$87.2 million in Jan–Sep 2025 to US$12.8 million. Peru has held fifth place since 2025. This year its prepared squid fell 38.6% in value, while its frozen squid volume rose 74.2%. The 2025 full-year review has more.

    What does each country sell to Korea?

    Most large suppliers lead different products. The table lists each main origin’s three biggest 10-digit HS codes and its share of Korea’s imports of that code.

    OriginLargest product (US$ million, origin’s share of Korea’s imports of the code)SecondThird
    ChinaFrozen peeled shrimp, 0306.17.1090 (127.7, 40.7%)Frozen squid, 0307.43.2090 (82.5, 35.1%)Live, fresh or chilled octopus (nakji), 0307.51.1000 (78.7, 99.4%)
    RussiaLive, fresh or chilled snow crab, 0306.33.2000 (125.8, 97.1%)Frozen Alaska pollock, 0303.67.0000 (88.1, 93.9%)Other frozen crab, 0306.14.9090 (84.1, 79.8%)
    VietnamFrozen peeled shrimp, 0306.17.1090 (133.1, 42.4%)Frozen webfoot octopus (jukkumi), 0307.52.3000 (119.5, 82.4%)Breaded shrimp, 1605.21.1000 (62.5, 82.2%)
    NorwayFresh or chilled Atlantic salmon, 0302.14.0000 (199.7, 96.5%)Fresh or chilled salmon fillets, 0304.41.0000 (124.5, 97.0%)Frozen mackerel, 0303.54.0000 (84.5, 78.6%)
    PeruFrozen squid, 0307.43.2090 (58.1, 24.7%)Prepared squid, 1605.54.2099 (56.4, 72.7%)Frozen whiteleg shrimp, 0306.17.9091 (39.7, 59.4%)
    JapanLive yellowtail, 0301.99.2000 (33.4, 100%)Live red sea bream, 0301.99.4091 (33.2, 98.6%)Live, fresh or chilled scallops, 0307.21.9000 (18.4, 91.4%)
    United StatesFrozen pollock surimi, 0304.94.1000 (38.2, 57.7%)Frozen flatfish, 0303.39.1000 (11.9, 27.8%)Frozen flatfish fillets, 0304.83.1000 (8.1, 66.2%)
    ChileFrozen Pacific salmon, 0303.12.0000 (54.1, 90.9%)Frozen squid, 0307.43.2090 (33.0, 14.0%)Frozen salmon fillets, 0304.81.0000 (9.3, 65.4%)
    ThailandFrozen webfoot octopus, 0307.52.3000 (19.1, 13.2%)Other prepared shrimp, 1605.21.9000 (17.3, 27.3%)Breaded shrimp, 1605.21.1000 (13.1, 17.2%)
    CanadaFrozen lobster, 0306.12.9000 (31.9, 99.6%)Live or fresh lobster, 0306.32.0000 (20.9, 99.8%)Frozen rockfish, 0303.89.9050 (7.3, 24.1%)
    TürkiyeFrozen bluefin tuna fillets, 0304.87.1000 (56.8, 39.3%)

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

    Norway, Russia and Canada each supply more than 95% of Korea’s imports of their largest product. Frozen squid is split: China holds 35.1% of Korea’s imports, Peru 24.7% and Chile 14.0%. See also Korea’s top imported seafood species.

    Why did Russia lose first place, and is it recovering?

    Russia was Korea’s largest seafood supplier in 2022, and its sales fell 17.6% in 2024, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). In Jan–Sep 2026 its sales rose 8.8% in value, though volume fell 11.8%. Frozen pollock volume fell 24.0%, and frozen sardines almost stopped, from 16,805 tonnes to 991 tonnes. Snow crab value rose 3.3%.

    Russia has no free trade agreement with Korea: it is not on the Korea Customs Service list of FTAs in force (May 2026 list, checked October 15, 2026). In 2026, Russian frozen pollock pays a 22% adjustment tariff and live, fresh or chilled snow crab pays 20%, as of October 2026. The USDA’s 2025 Korea seafood report also notes: “Industry sources report that some of the Russian fishery species were sold to China for further processing and finally exported to the ROK from China.” No public figure shows how much trade this covers. More in Korea’s pollock imports and Russian crab in Korea.

    What does China sell to Korea?

    China sold Korea US$1,024.2 million of seafood in Jan–Sep 2026, 1.4% less than a year earlier, while volume rose 5.7%. Its three largest products are in the table above. The guide to exporting Chinese seafood to Korea covers China in detail.

    Why do other sources rank some countries differently?

    Scope changes the ranking. Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) country tables also count sea salt and fishmeal. In the MOF file for Jan–Jul 2026, salt lifts India and fishmeal lifts Chile. USDA reports use Korea International Trade Association data with another scope. The guide to South Korea’s seafood market size compares these sources.

    Where does your country rank, and who are you competing with?

    Find your country in the first table and its products in the second. Shrimp sellers compete with China and Vietnam, and squid sellers with China, Peru and Chile. Origin guides: Vietnam, Norway, Chile, Peru and Ecuador, India shrimp, Thailand and Indonesia and the US and Canada. The Q3 2026 import report has the latest quarter.

    On SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, each product page has a “By Country” table. The page below, for HS 1605.21.1000 (shrimp covered with bread crumbs or batter), lists value, unit price and volume by origin for October 2025 to September 2026.

    SEACHING By Country table for HS 1605211000, shrimp covered with bread crumbs or batter, showing Korea's import value, unit price and volume from Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and China, October 2025 to September 2026

    See your country’s numbers

    Country pages on SEACHING: China–Korea seafood trade (free sign-up), Russia–Korea seafood trade (free sign-up), Vietnam–Korea seafood trade (free sign-up) and Norway–Korea seafood trade (free sign-up).

    See how your country ranks among Korea’s seafood suppliers, product by product and month by month. Open your product’s Korea import page on SEACHING (free sign-up)

    FAQ

    How many countries export seafood to South Korea?

    At least 84 origins shipped US$100,000 or more of seafood (HS 03 and 1603–1605) to Korea in the 12 months to September 2026, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data.

    Does South Korea have a free trade agreement with Russia?

    No. Russia is not on the Korea Customs Service list of FTAs in force (May 2026 list, checked October 15, 2026), so Russian seafood pays non-preferential rates, for example 22% on frozen pollock in 2026 (as of October 2026). Confirm the rate for your product with a Korean customs broker.

    Does South Korea import seafood from Japan?

    Yes. Japan was Korea’s sixth-largest seafood origin in Jan–Sep 2026 at US$161.6 million, led by live yellowtail and live red sea bream. Korea has banned all seafood from eight Japanese prefectures, including Fukushima, since September 9, 2013, according to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) (checked October 15, 2026).

    Sources and method

  • Korea’s Seafood Demand Calendar: Holiday and Seasonal Import Peaks

    Korea’s Seafood Demand Calendar: Holiday and Seasonal Import Peaks

    Data as of: Korea’s monthly imports by HS code, October 2023 to September 2026, queried October 15, 2026.

    Korea’s seasonal seafood demand shows up most clearly before Seollal, not Chuseok. In the two months before each Lunar New Year from 2024 to 2026, Korea’s frozen large yellow croaker imports ran at 2.3 to 2.8 times their monthly average, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data for October 2023 to September 2026.

    The number that matters: 3.3x
    Korea’s December imports of frozen large yellow croaker (HS 0303.89-5020) against its average month, by weight, October 2023 to September 2026. Seollal 2027 falls on February 7.

    Key takeaways

    • In the two months before Seollal 2024, 2025 and 2026, Korea’s frozen large yellow croaker imports were 227%, 279% and 239% of their monthly average by weight (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Korea’s frozen mackerel, surimi and long-arm octopus (nakji) imports were also above their monthly average before all three Seollal holidays from 2024 to 2026 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • None of the 18 seafood HS codes analyzed for Korea’s imports ran above 110% of its monthly average by weight before all three Chuseok holidays from 2024 to 2026 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).

    When does Korea import the most seafood?

    For Korea’s seafood imports as a whole, the seasons are mild: December runs at 114% of the monthly average by weight and June at 89%, over October 2023 to September 2026. Here, Korea’s seafood imports means HS chapter 03 plus prepared fish and crustaceans (HS 1603–1605); seaweed and salt are excluded.

    Individual products swing far more. The calendar covers the 12 HS codes with the largest import value, 40.7% of the total over the three years. The index compares each month with that product’s average month, so 150 means 1.5 times a normal month. The 115 and 85 cut-offs are a reading aid, not a statistical test, and are applied before rounding.

    MonthAbove average (index 115 or more)Below average (index 85 or less)
    JanSurimi 177, other live crab 131, pollock 119Long-arm octopus 71, bluefin tuna fillets 82, squid 83
    FebBluefin tuna fillets 135, pollock 118Squid 59, webfoot octopus 82, long-arm octopus 83, peeled shrimp 84
    MarPollock 176, other frozen crab 131Webfoot octopus 75, squid 76, peeled shrimp 84
    AprBluefin tuna fillets 191, other live crab 142, other frozen crab 142, pollock 121None
    MayBluefin tuna fillets 117, squid 115Pollock 60, surimi 74
    JunBluefin tuna fillets 143, squid 126Pollock 17, other live crab 54, surimi 65
    JulSnow crab 145, squid 119Other live crab 23, pollock 53, surimi 76
    AugSquid 119Other live crab 23, bluefin tuna fillets 46, surimi 77, long-arm octopus 83
    SepPollock 137, peeled shrimp 119, salmon fillets 116, squid 116Other live crab 70, long-arm octopus 82
    OctOther live crab 128Bluefin tuna fillets 57, snow crab 80
    NovOther live crab 146, long-arm octopus 140, surimi 133Bluefin tuna fillets 38, other frozen crab 68
    DecLong-arm octopus 168, other live crab 162, surimi 137None

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, Oct 2023–Sep 2026; method below. Fresh Atlantic salmon stayed between 90 and 112.

    Heatmap of Korea's monthly import index for its 12 largest seafood HS codes, Oct 2023–Sep 2026: surimi peaks at 177 in January, pollock at 176 in March, other live crab falls to 23 in July and August

    Do imports really rise before Seollal and Chuseok?

    Before Seollal, yes, for some species. Before Chuseok, no. The table compares the two months before each holiday month with that period’s average.

    Product (HS)Seollal 2024Seollal 2025Seollal 2026Chuseok 2024Chuseok 2025Chuseok 2026
    Frozen large yellow croaker (0303.89-5020)227279239734959
    Frozen small yellow croaker (0303.89-5010)215111204234732
    Frozen mackerel (0303.54)191114148407072
    Frozen surimi (0304.99-1000)170128145818278
    Frozen long-arm octopus, nakji (0307.52-2000)128147114998978
    Frozen hairtail (0303.89-2000)8711113712012484
    Frozen peeled shrimp (0306.17-1090)110103101111112102
    Frozen pollock (0303.67)102791309012938
    All seafood in scope1181021159410187

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data; holiday dates from KASI. Index for the two months before the holiday month; window months under Sources and method.

    Bar charts of Korea's monthly import index for frozen large yellow croaker, mackerel and Alaska pollock, Oct 2023–Sep 2026, holidays marked: croaker and mackerel rise above 100 before Seollal, not before Chuseok; pollock has no repeating pattern

    Large yellow croaker is the clearest case: US$228.4 million of imports from October 2023 to September 2026, with a March index of 29. Hairtail rose before two of the three Chuseok holidays (120 and 124) but fell to 84 before Chuseok 2026.

    Seollal always falls in winter, so this data cannot separate a holiday effect from a winter effect. Customs data also shows when goods clear, not when they sell.

    Why do some species not follow the holidays?

    Frozen pollock peaks in March (176) and nearly stops in June (17). Frozen squid runs above average from May to September and falls to 59 in February. Other live crab (HS 0306.33-9000) drops to 23 in July and August.

    Government stock also matters. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) supplied 20,000 tonnes of stockpiled seafood before Chuseok 2026, which MOF called its largest such release. The release ran from August 24 to September 27, 2026, and included 15,700 tonnes of pollock, 1,700 tonnes of squid, 1,500 tonnes of mackerel and 800 tonnes of hairtail, at up to 40% below market prices.

    Korea’s frozen pollock imports in July and August 2026 were 38% of that period’s average month. That partly overlaps the release, but customs data cannot show that one caused the other. Pollock, mackerel and squid sellers should also watch MOF’s holiday supply announcements.

    Is there a summer peak too?

    Not for eel. Korea’s live eel imports (HS 0301.92-9090) ran at 81 in July and peaked from October to December (140 to 146). Squid and snow crab do run high in summer by weight, but snow crab’s value peak is December (157), not July (145 by weight). See Korea’s eel imports and king crab and snow crab imports.

    When should you ship for Seollal and Chuseok 2027?

    Work back from the month the goods must clear Korean customs. For Seollal 2027, the pattern above points to clearance in December 2026 and January 2027. LINKSUP estimates that order, production planning and shipment of frozen seafood typically take about three months, and that this varies a lot by product. Sea transit and Korean inspection come on top.

    HolidayDatePre-holiday import window in the dataOrder by, to ship at the start of the window (about 3 months, LINKSUP estimate)
    Seollal 2027February 7, 2027December 2026 – January 2027September 2026; earlier to allow for transit
    Chuseok 2027September 15, 2027July – August 2027April 2027; earlier to allow for transit

    Sources: Korea AeroSpace Administration 2027 calendar (June 29, 2026); lead time is a LINKSUP estimate, not a statistic.

    For Seollal 2027, that means stock already produced; a new order now is better aimed at Chuseok 2027 or your product’s own peak. The guide to shipping lead times and minimum orders for Korea works through each step. Confirm timing with your importer and a licensed customs broker.

    How these figures were compiled

    The figures come from SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan. Each product is one 10-digit Korean HS code (HSK), summed across origins. The index uses weight; by value, 10 of the 12 largest codes peak in the same month, while snow crab and fresh Atlantic salmon peak in December.

    SEACHING’s Trends tab for large yellow croaker charts import value and unit price for October 2025 to September 2026; the one sharp spike, third from the left, is December 2025.

    SEACHING Trends tab for Korea's frozen large yellow croaker imports (HS 0303895020), showing monthly import value and unit price from October 2025 to September 2026

    With three years of data, one unusual year moves the average: bluefin tuna fillets ran at 127, 199 and 246 in April. Read the calendar as a starting point, not a forecast. See also Korea’s seafood self-sufficiency rate, the Korea seafood import report, hairtail and yellow croaker imports, mackerel prices in Korea and MSC and ASC certification in Korea.

    Check your product’s monthly pattern before you plan shipments

    Compare frozen large yellow croaker imports by month (free sign-up), frozen mackerel imports by month (free sign-up), frozen pollock imports by month (free sign-up) and frozen squid imports by month (free sign-up).

    Before you plan your holiday shipments, look up your own product’s month-by-month Korean imports, origins and customs value per kg. SEACHING shows Korea’s seafood imports by 10-digit HS code and month, built on Korea Customs Service data. Look up your product on SEACHING (free sign-up)

    FAQ

    When are Seollal and Chuseok in 2027?

    Seollal 2027 falls on Sunday, February 7 (holiday February 6–8, substitute holiday February 9). Chuseok 2027 falls on Wednesday, September 15 (holiday September 14–16), according to Korea’s official 2027 calendar.

    Does Korea import more seafood before Chuseok?

    Not consistently. Frozen yellow croaker and mackerel imports were below their monthly average before each Chuseok from 2024 to 2026, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data.

    Does the Korean government release seafood stock before holidays?

    It did before Chuseok 2026: MOF supplied 20,000 tonnes of stockpiled seafood from August 24 to September 27, 2026, including 15,700 tonnes of pollock, at up to 40% below market prices.

    Sources and method

  • South Korea Seafood Imports: Q3 2026 Report

    South Korea Seafood Imports: Q3 2026 Report

    Data as of: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data through September 2026, queried October 15, 2026. 2026 figures can still be revised.

    South Korea’s seafood imports totaled US$1,467.6 million in the third quarter of 2026 (July–September), down 2.4% from Q3 2025, while weight fell 15.2% to 300,529 tonnes, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data. China supplied 23.0% of the value, and shrimp was the largest species group at US$205.5 million.

    The number that matters: −31.5%
    The fall in Korea’s squid and cuttlefish imports in Q3 2026, to US$158.3 million. That US$72.7 million loss is twice the total decline. Without squid, Korea’s seafood imports rose 2.9%.

    Key takeaways

    • Korea’s seafood imports were US$4,415.6 million in Jan–Sep 2026, up 0.7% on Jan–Sep 2025, while weight fell 4.6% (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • China (23.0%), Russia (17.4%), Vietnam (15.3%) and Norway (10.5%) supplied 66.3% of Korea’s seafood import value in Q3 2026, in the same order as in Q3 2025, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data.
    • In Q3 2026, Korea’s squid and cuttlefish imports fell 31.5% to US$158.3 million, while salmon rose 12.7% to US$122.5 million (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Korea’s average seafood import price rose 15.1% to US$4.88/kg in Q3 2026, but prices at HS-code level rose 3.1%; the rest is product mix (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).

    How much seafood did South Korea import in Q3 2026?

    Korea imported US$1,467.6 million of seafood in Q3 2026, 2.4% less than a year earlier. Weight fell faster, so the average value per kilo rose 15.1%.

    Here, Korea’s seafood imports means HS chapter 03 plus prepared fish and crustaceans (HS 1603–1605); seaweed, salt and fishmeal are excluded.

    Korea’s seafood importsQ3 2025Q3 2026Change
    Value (US$ million)1,503.41,467.6−2.4%
    Weight (tonnes)354,366300,529−15.2%
    Average unit price (US$/kg)4.244.88+15.1%
    Jan–Sep value (US$ million)4,383.04,415.6+0.7%
    Jan–Sep weight (tonnes)1,005,656959,847−4.6%

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports, HS 03 and 1603–1605, Q3 and Jan–Sep of 2025 and 2026, queried October 15, 2026.

    July was the weak month, August was up, and September was slightly down. Weight fell in all three months.

    Month2025 (US$ million)2026 (US$ million)Value changeWeight change
    July503.4452.1−10.2%−26.4%
    August442.4472.0+6.7%−4.4%
    September557.6543.5−2.5%−12.8%

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports, HS 03 and 1603–1605, July–September 2025 and 2026.

    Which countries supplied Korea’s seafood imports in Q3 2026?

    China was Korea’s largest seafood supplier in Q3 2026 with 23.0% of import value, followed by Russia, Vietnam and Norway. Together the top four supplied 66.3%, and the top 10 supplied 83.1%.

    RankOriginQ3 2025 (US$ million)Q3 2026 (US$ million)Share, Q3 2026ChangeRank, Q3 2025
    1China334.5337.923.0%+1.0%1
    2Russia251.9256.117.4%+1.6%2
    3Vietnam225.8224.215.3%−0.7%3
    4Norway140.8154.210.5%+9.5%4
    5Peru82.558.34.0%−29.3%5
    6Japan44.045.83.1%+4.0%7
    7United States49.345.63.1%−7.5%6
    8Canada39.139.22.7%+0.4%8
    9Thailand34.929.72.0%−14.8%9
    10Chile24.528.41.9%+16.0%12
    All other origins276.2248.216.9%−10.1%

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports by origin, HS 03 and 1603–1605, Q3 2025 and Q3 2026. Shares are of total Q3 2026 import value.

    Grouped bar chart of Korea's seafood import value by origin, Q3 2025 vs Q3 2026, for the top 10 origins, led by China at US$337.9 million in Q3 2026

    Russia’s value rose 1.6% while its weight fell 35.7%, led by 21,294 fewer tonnes of whole frozen Alaska pollock. Peru fell 29.3% but still ranked fifth. Outside the top 10, Türkiye more than doubled to US$20.8 million, of which US$17.5 million was frozen bluefin tuna fillets.

    The ranking of Korea’s seafood suppliers by country has the full list. See also the Vietnam export guide and the Norway export guide.

    Which species groups did Korea import most in Q3 2026?

    Shrimp stayed Korea’s largest seafood import group in Q3 2026 at US$205.5 million, nearly flat on Q3 2025. Squid and cuttlefish stayed second despite a 31.5% fall. The species groups cover 67.0% of Q3 import value.

    Species groupValue (US$ million)Weight (tonnes)US$/kgValue changeLeading origin (share)
    Shrimp205.529,7606.91−0.3%Vietnam (42.3%)
    Squid and cuttlefish158.345,2853.50−31.5%China (33.5%)
    Salmon122.510,14412.07+12.7%Norway (90.3%)
    Long-arm octopus (nakji)67.05,58012.02−4.8%China (88.4%)
    Alaska pollock fillets, surimi and roe57.215,9883.58−3.5%Russia (74.0%)
    Webfoot octopus (jukkumi)55.97,6377.32+1.3%Vietnam (85.7%)
    Tuna47.75,6228.48+44.5%Türkiye (38.2%)
    Mackerel46.68,0435.79+19.2%Norway (86.0%)
    Snow crab, live and fresh45.02,09721.47+15.0%Russia (99.8%)
    Other crab, frozen38.43,9039.83+23.0%Russia (80.6%)

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports, Q3 2026; change is against Q3 2025. Species groups are LINKSUP’s grouping of HSK codes, listed under Sources and method.

    Frozen peeled shrimp (HSK 0306.17.1090) was the largest single code at US$110.2 million, 42.4% from Vietnam. Frozen squid (0307.43.2090, “other squid, frozen”) was second at US$85.3 million, down 39.1%, and fresh Atlantic salmon (0302.14.0000) was third at US$68.6 million, up 14.5%.

    Korea paid 33.0% more for frozen mackerel (0303.54.0000) but took 27.9% less by weight, as the price rose from US$2.78/kg to US$5.14/kg. Norway supplied 90.9%. See the mackerel price analysis, the salmon guide, the shrimp guide and the ranking of what Korea imports most.

    What stood out this quarter?

    Squid explains the whole decline. Korea’s squid and cuttlefish imports fell by US$72.7 million; total seafood imports fell by US$35.8 million. Without squid, Korea’s Q3 seafood imports rose 2.9% to US$1,309.3 million.

    Frozen squid (0307.43.2090) dropped 21.2% in weight and 22.8% in unit price, to US$2.61/kg. Customs data does not show why. For context, Korea’s own squid catch rose 128.5% to 31,006 tonnes in 2025, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF). If you sell squid, check your buyers’ 2026 order sizes before quoting for 2027. The squid import guide covers origins and codes.

    The Trends tab of SEACHING’s page for this code plots Korea’s monthly import value and unit price for the latest year, so you can see whether the two moved together.

    SEACHING Trends tab for other frozen squid (HS 0307432090), data period 2025-10 to 2026-09, with a 12-month chart of Korea's import value and unit price

    Of the 53,838 tonnes Korea’s imports lost in Q3, whole frozen Alaska pollock accounted for 39% (down 58.5% to 14,832 tonnes) and squid and cuttlefish for 20%.

    How should you read these numbers?

    Read the average unit price as a mix figure, not a market price. At each HS code’s Q3 2025 price, Korea’s Q3 2026 imports would have been worth US$1,423.5 million; the actual figure was 3.1% higher. The rest of the 15.1% rise comes from fewer kilos of cheap products, such as whole frozen pollock at US$1.58/kg.

    Notes on method:

    • Unit price is customs value divided by weight. Korea values imports at CIF, so compare it with your CIF price.
    • Scope is narrower than some official totals. The guide to Korea’s seafood market size explains why published totals differ.

    How can you check Q3 imports of your own product?

    SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, has a page for each 10-digit HSK code. Compare July–September 2026 with the same months of 2025: frozen peeled shrimp import data on SEACHING (free sign-up), frozen squid imports by month (free sign-up), fresh Atlantic salmon imports by origin (free sign-up) and whole frozen Alaska pollock imports (free sign-up).

    You may quote the figures in this report with attribution: “Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, July–September 2026.” For other species, origins or months, query the data on SEACHING (free sign-up).

    FAQ

    Which country supplies the most seafood to South Korea?

    China supplied 23.0% of Korea’s seafood import value in Q3 2026, or US$337.9 million, ahead of Russia (17.4%) and Vietnam (15.3%), according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data (HS 03 and 1603–1605).

    Why do different sources give different totals for Korea’s seafood imports?

    Sources use different product scopes and price bases. Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries totals include salt and other non-fish lines, while this report covers HS 03 and 1603–1605 only. Korea’s customs values are CIF, so they include freight and insurance to the Korean port.

    Sources and method

    • SEACHING, Korea Customs Service import data by 10-digit HSK code and origin, monthly, July 2025 to September 2026 and January–September of 2025 and 2026, queried October 15, 2026
    • Korea Customs Service trade statistics, source of the customs data, accessed October 15, 2026
    • Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries press release on 2025 fisheries production, February 26, 2026
    • Scope: HS chapter 03 plus HS 1603, 1604 and 1605 (516 HSK codes). Seaweed (1212), salt (2501) and non-food codes (0511, 1521, 2301) excluded.
    • Origin totals add up each origin’s code-level imports; origins with under US$100,000 of a code in the 12 months to September 2026 are counted in “All other origins”.
    • Species groups (HSK): shrimp 0306.16/17/35/36/95 and 1605.21/29; squid and cuttlefish 0307.42/43/49 and 1605.54; salmon 0302.13/14, 0303.11–13, 0304.41/81, 0305.41; long-arm octopus 0307.51.1000 and 0307.52.2000; Alaska pollock fillets, surimi and roe 0304.75, 0304.94, 0303.91.2010; webfoot octopus 0307.51.2000 and 0307.52.3000; tuna 0302.3x, 0303.4x, 0304.87; mackerel 0302.44, 0303.54, 0304.89.5000; snow crab 0306.33.2000; other frozen crab 0306.14.9090. Nineteen groups in total cover 67.0% of Q3 2026 value.
    • Unit price is customs value (CIF, US$) divided by weight (kg).
  • Salmon Import Prices in Korea: 2026 Trend and Forecast

    Salmon Import Prices in Korea: 2026 Trend and Forecast

    Data as of: Korea’s imports through September 2026, retrieved October 15, 2026; tariffs checked October 15, 2026.

    Fresh Atlantic salmon entered Korea at an average customs value of US$11.31 per kg in Jan–Sep 2026, up 8.1% from Jan–Sep 2025, according to SEACHING’s analysis of Korea Customs Service data. Frozen salmon got cheaper. As of October 15, 2026, SEACHING’s price forecast model projected US$11.78 per kg for Norwegian fresh salmon in January 2027.

    The number that matters: US$11.31/kg
    Korea’s average import price for fresh whole Atlantic salmon, Jan–Sep 2026, up 8.1% year on year, while all three frozen salmon codes got cheaper.

    Key takeaways

    • Korea’s frozen salmon import prices fell in Jan–Sep 2026 from a year earlier: Pacific salmon 5.7%, whole Atlantic 7.4%, fillets 9.1% (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Korea’s import price for fresh Norwegian salmon was US$11.22 per kg in January 2026, against US$14.59 in January 2025 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • In won, Korea’s fresh Norwegian salmon imports cost 11.8% more per kg in Jan–Sep 2026 than a year earlier, against 8.1% in dollars (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data; Bank of Korea exchange rates).

    What is the import price of salmon in Korea right now?

    In September 2026, fresh whole Atlantic salmon cleared Korean customs at US$11.58 per kg, up 5.5% from September 2025. Norway supplied 96.5% of it by value in Jan–Sep 2026. SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, compiles these figures from Korea Customs Service data.

    Product (HSK), all originsAvg. price Jan–Sep 2026Price vs Jan–Sep 2025Volume Jan–Sep 2026Volume vs Jan–Sep 2025
    Fresh whole Atlantic salmon (0302.14.0000)US$11.31/kg+8.1%18,304.5 t+9.4%
    Fresh salmon fillets (0304.41.0000)US$17.74/kg+3.1%7,233.7 t+5.3%
    Frozen Pacific salmon (0303.12.0000)US$6.34/kg−5.7%9,384.1 t+82.7%
    Frozen whole Atlantic salmon (0303.13.0000)US$7.58/kg−7.4%1,215.0 t+3.6%
    Frozen salmon fillets (0304.81.0000)US$8.55/kg−9.1%1,653.9 t−40.1%

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, Jan–Sep 2026 vs Jan–Sep 2025.

    These are CIF customs values before duty and VAT, not wholesale prices. Prices by origin, and how to test an offer against them, are in the method for benchmarking your offer against Korean customs prices.

    How have salmon import prices moved in 2026?

    Korea’s import price for fresh Norwegian salmon stayed between US$10.44 and US$12.17 per kg from October 2025 to September 2026, a narrower band with a higher floor than in prior years.

    Chart titled 'No January spike for Norwegian salmon in Korea in 2026': monthly import price (line) and tonnes (bars) of fresh Norwegian salmon in Korea, October 2023 to September 2026, January peaks of US$15.97/kg (2024) and US$14.59/kg (2025), and a dashed SEACHING forecast to February 2027

    12 months toLowest monthHighest monthGap
    September 2024US$9.96/kg (Nov 2023)US$15.97/kg (Jan 2024)US$6.01
    September 2025US$9.11/kg (Aug 2025)US$14.59/kg (Jan 2025)US$5.48
    September 2026US$10.44/kg (Jul 2026)US$12.17/kg (Mar 2026)US$1.73

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, HSK 0302.14.0000, Norway.

    From October 2023 to September 2026, prices peaked in winter and dipped in summer: January averaged US$13.93 per kg and July US$10.01. In 2026 the winter peak did not come.

    Volume still grew: Korea imported 17,559.1 tonnes of fresh whole Norwegian salmon in Jan–Sep 2026, up 7.7% year on year.

    Why are fresh and frozen salmon prices moving in opposite directions?

    Fresh and frozen salmon come from different suppliers. Across five salmon HSK codes, Norway supplied 79.3% of Korea’s imports by value in Jan–Sep 2026 and Chile 17.5%. Only 2.2% of Norway’s value was frozen, while 91.9% of Chile’s was.

    Read together, the data suggest fresh prices tracked Norway and frozen prices tracked Chile. Korea’s imports of frozen Pacific salmon, mostly from Chile, rose 82.7% by volume in Jan–Sep 2026 while the price fell 5.7%.

    The 9.1% fall in frozen fillet prices comes mostly from origin mix. Cheaper US fillets rose from 14.7% to 26.7% of the volume, while Chile fell from 67.9% to 53.8%. At the 2025 origin mix, the 2026 average would have been US$9.57 per kg, not US$8.55.

    Tariffs do not explain the gap. Under Korea’s 2026 tariff schedule (checked October 15, 2026), salmon from Norway (Korea–EFTA FTA) and Chile (Korea–Chile FTA) enters at 0% under all five codes. Origin detail is in the guides to Norwegian seafood exports to Korea and Chilean seafood exports to Korea.

    Why is salmon so expensive in Korea?

    Most of Korea’s salmon import bill is for fresh fish, the higher-priced forms: fresh whole fish and fillets made up 80.2% of the value of Korea’s imports under the five salmon codes in Jan–Sep 2026 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).

    The Norwegian Seafood Council reports that Koreans eat salmon largely raw and that retail accounts for around 40% of sales. Avinor, the Norwegian airport operator, says in a cargo promotion article that fresh Norwegian salmon flies from Oslo to Incheon, with a target of reaching Seoul within three days from the farm.

    Air freight is already inside the CIF customs value. VAT, transport inside Korea, processing and margins come on top.

    The exchange rate added to the cost in 2026. The won averaged 1,462.22 per US dollar in Jan–Sep 2026, against 1,413.42 a year earlier, so a dollar cost 3.5% more in won, according to the Bank of Korea.

    Fresh Norwegian salmon (0302.14.0000)20252026Change
    Jan–Sep, US$/kg10.5211.37+8.1%
    Jan–Sep, KRW/kg14,87316,624+11.8%
    September, US$/kg11.0711.66+5.4%
    September, KRW/kg15,40515,849+2.9%

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data; Bank of Korea ECOS monthly average KRW/USD rate.

    The won was weakest in June 2026 (1,527.30 per dollar) and strengthened to 1,359.00 by September. The guide to the Korean won and seafood import prices covers currency risk.

    Where are salmon import prices heading?

    As of October 15, 2026, SEACHING’s price model projected a small dip, then a mild winter rise: US$11.38 per kg for fresh Norwegian salmon in October 2026, US$11.78 in January 2027 and US$11.63 in February 2027.

    SEACHING model projection, US$/kgOct 2026Nov 2026Dec 2026Jan 2027Feb 2027Actual Sep 2026
    Fresh whole salmon, Norway11.3811.5111.6911.7811.6311.66
    Fresh salmon fillets, Norway17.3917.4617.6317.7717.7117.51
    Frozen Pacific salmon, Chile6.476.466.506.536.526.42

    Source: SEACHING AI Price Forecast, retrieved October 15, 2026; actuals from SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data.

    The model’s inputs are Korea Customs Service import prices, FRED exchange-rate indices and NOAA sea-surface temperature data. Its January 2027 value is above January 2026 (US$11.22) but well below January 2025 (US$14.59). Contract prices are not a listed input.

    SEACHING’s page for fresh Norwegian salmon shows the monthly import unit price for recent months and the dashed model line to February 2027.

    SEACHING page for fresh Atlantic salmon (HS 0302140000) from Norway, showing Korea's monthly import unit price and the model forecast to February 2027

    The same view exists for fresh salmon fillet import prices (free sign-up) and frozen salmon fillet import prices (free sign-up).

    Check the next month’s salmon prices before you quote

    The October 2026 data, due in mid-November, will show whether the winter rise has started. For the wider market, see the overview of Korea’s salmon imports and the quarterly report on Korea’s seafood imports.

    SEACHING’s price forecast models Korea’s 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 Korea’s salmon import price the same as the wholesale price?

    No. It is the CIF customs value per kg before duty, VAT and costs inside Korea.

    Do Norwegian and Chilean salmon pay import duty in Korea?

    Not on the five main salmon HSK codes. Under Korea’s 2026 tariff schedule (checked October 15, 2026), Norwegian and Chilean salmon enters at 0%, against basic rates of 20% for fresh and 10% for frozen. Confirm your rate with a licensed Korean customs broker.

    How big is Korea’s salmon market?

    The Norwegian Seafood Council estimates Korea’s salmon market at 45,800 tonnes in 2025, with Norway holding 89%. Korea’s imports under five salmon HSK codes reached US$418.25 million in Jan–Sep 2026, up 15.1% from Jan–Sep 2025 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).

    Sources and method

    Method: price = customs value (US$, CIF) ÷ net weight. Multi-month averages divide total value by total weight. Months with no imports from an origin count as zero. Year-on-year changes compare Jan–Sep 2026 with Jan–Sep 2025. The fixed-mix figure for frozen fillets applies each origin’s Jan–Sep 2026 price to its Jan–Sep 2025 volume. Won prices convert each month’s dollar value at that month’s average base rate. Figures for 2026 may be revised when Korea Customs Service publishes final data.

  • Korea’s Seafood Self-Sufficiency: From 100% in 1995 to 57% in 2023

    Korea’s Seafood Self-Sufficiency: From 100% in 1995 to 57% in 2023

    Data as of: KREI Food Balance Sheet 2023 edition (2023 values preliminary); Korea’s imports by HS code Jan–Sep 2026, data through September 2026.

    Korea’s seafood self-sufficiency rate for fish and shellfish was 57.0% in 2023: domestic production of 1.93 million tonnes covered 57% of domestic consumption of 3.39 million tonnes, according to the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI) Food Balance Sheet. The rate was 100.4% in 1995, fell to a low of 48.9% in 2019 and has risen every year since.

    Key takeaways

    • Korea’s fish and shellfish self-sufficiency rate was 57.0% in 2023 (preliminary), against 100.4% in 1995, according to the KREI Food Balance Sheet 2023 edition.
    • The low point was 48.9% in 2019. The rate rose in each of the four years to 2023, reaching 49.8%, 51.0%, 52.1% and 57.0% (KREI).
    • Between 2019 and 2023, Korea’s fish and shellfish production fell 3.8% while domestic consumption fell 17.5%, so the recovery came from lower consumption, not from a larger catch (KREI data).
    • Korea imported 2.28 million tonnes of fish and shellfish in 2023, equal to 67.2% of domestic consumption, and 2.4 times the 1995 volume (KREI data).

    What is Korea’s seafood self-sufficiency rate?

    It is the share of the fish and shellfish Korea consumes that Korea also produces: 57.0% in 2023. KREI compiles the Food Balance Sheet each year on the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) method, with fish and shellfish figures from the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI).

    Definition. Self-sufficiency rate = domestic production ÷ domestic consumption × 100. In KREI’s Food Balance Sheet, domestic consumption is food use plus processing, feed and seed use and losses. It is a volume ratio for a whole year, not the share of Korean-caught fish on a Korean plate.

    The 2023 figures are preliminary and may be revised.

    How has the rate changed since 1995?

    Korea moved from producing more fish and shellfish than it consumed to producing about half. The rate was above 100% in five of the seven years from 1993 to 1999, peaking at 112.5% in 1998. It fell to 55.7% by 2004, recovered to 74.4% in 2011 and then slid to its low of 48.9% in 2019.

    Line chart, Korea now produces just over half the fish and shellfish it eats: Korea's fish and shellfish self-sufficiency rate, 1993–2023, from 110.7% in 1993 to a low of 48.9% in 2019 and 57.0% in 2023 (preliminary), KREI

    YearSelf-sufficiency rate (fish and shellfish)
    1995100.4%
    1998112.5%
    200087.7%
    200560.0%
    201068.1%
    201557.9%
    201948.9% (lowest)
    202049.8%
    202151.0%
    202252.1%
    202357.0% (preliminary)

    Source: KREI, Food Balance Sheet 2023 edition, annual self-sufficiency rates.

    From 1995 to 2019, Korea’s fish and shellfish production fell 24.9%, from 2.68 to 2.01 million tonnes, while consumption rose 54.2%, from 2.67 to 4.11 million tonnes. Imports nearly tripled, from 0.93 to 2.79 million tonnes.

    Why do other sources say 77%?

    They most likely measure a broader product group. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) publishes a “fishery products” self-sufficiency rate on Korea’s official indicator portal, e-Narajipyo: 77.5% for 2023 and 76.7% for 2024.

    MeasurePublisherCoversLatest value
    Fish and shellfish self-sufficiencyKREI, Food Balance SheetFish and shellfish only57.0% (2023, preliminary)
    Fishery products self-sufficiencyMOF, e-NarajipyoAll fishery products; scope not detailed on the page77.5% (2023), 76.7% (2024)
    Fishery products self-sufficiency, outlookKMIFishery products; scope not stated in the report75.3% (2026 outlook)

    Sources: KREI Food Balance Sheet 2023 edition; e-Narajipyo indicator 1317, updated October 13, 2026; KMI outlook as reported in Korea Fisheries Economy, January 2026.

    The indicator page does not list its scope, but adding seaweed (128.6% self-sufficient in 2023) to KREI’s fish and shellfish figures gives 77.4%, close to MOF’s 77.5%. This suggests, but does not confirm, that MOF counts both. For exporters of fish, crustaceans or molluscs, the 57% series is the relevant one. Cite it with its name and edition.

    Why has self-sufficiency risen since 2019?

    Because Korea consumed less, not because it caught more. From 2019 to 2023, fish and shellfish production fell 3.8%, from 2,009.7 to 1,932.7 thousand tonnes. Consumption fell 17.5%, from 4,111.9 to 3,391.9 thousand tonnes. Imports fell 18.2% over the same years.

    Per-person supply fell from 42.0 kg in 2019 to 36.0 kg in 2023 (KREI). For other per-capita figures, see Korea’s seafood consumption per capita.

    Grouped bar chart, consumption grew, then fell; production kept shrinking: Korea's fish and shellfish production, imports and domestic consumption in 1995, 2019 and 2023 in thousand tonnes, with consumption at 4,112 in 2019 and 3,392 in 2023 (preliminary), KREI

    Common misreadings of the 57% figure

    “Korea’s self-sufficiency keeps falling.” It rose every year from the 2019 low to 2023. The 2023 rate of 57.0% is lower than in the 1990s but higher than in any year from 2016 to 2022; the provisional 2024 rate is 56.2% (KREI Food Balance Sheet 2024).

    “One of the two numbers, 57% or 77%, is wrong.” Both come from official sources. They most likely cover different product groups, as shown above.

    “57% self-sufficiency means 43% of Korea’s fish is imported.” Not in volume terms. In 2023, Korea’s fish and shellfish imports equaled 67.2% of domestic consumption, because exports and stocks carried between years also enter the balance.

    Which species does Korea depend on imports for?

    Mostly the species at the top of Korean demand. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) names mackerel, squid, pollock, shrimp, flatfish, hairtail, crab, monkfish, eel, anchovy, oyster and octopus as Korea’s main species and reports that domestic supply of the top species falls short, so Korea relies on imports, mostly frozen.

    Import trends still differ by species in the same year, as three frozen product lines show for Jan–Sep 2026.

    HS codeProductJan–Sep 2025Jan–Sep 2026Volume change
    0306.17.1090Frozen peeled shrimp36,398 t, US$299.2 million38,864 t, US$313.9 million+6.8%
    0307.43.2090Frozen squid90,240 t, US$318.9 million94,336 t, US$235.3 million+4.5%
    0303.67.0000Frozen Alaska pollock94,477 t, US$101.6 million73,204 t, US$93.9 million−22.5%

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

    SEACHING monthly trend for Korea's frozen peeled shrimp imports (HS 0306171090), showing import value and unit price, October 2025 to September 2026

    On this Trends tab you can check, month by month, whether Korea’s import value and unit price for a product move together. For species detail, see the squid import guide, the pollock import guide and what seafood Korea imports most.

    What does the self-sufficiency rate mean for seafood exporters?

    A long-running gap does not mean growing import demand. Korea has produced less fish and shellfish than it consumes every year since 2000, but from 2019 to 2023 consumption fell 17.5% and imports 18.2%.

    Treat the national rate as background and your HS code as the signal: in Jan–Sep 2026, Korea’s frozen shrimp import volume rose while frozen pollock fell. For market size, see the Korea seafood market size breakdown; for the latest quarter, the Korea seafood imports report for Q3 2026.

    Check Korea’s import trend for your species

    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. The figures above come from these pages:

    Korea’s self-sufficiency rate tells you the gap exists; import data tells you who fills it. Look up how much of your species Korea imports, from which origins and at what customs value per kg. Look up your product on SEACHING (free sign-up)

    FAQ

    How much fish and shellfish does each Korean get per year?

    KREI’s Food Balance Sheet puts Korea’s fish and shellfish supply at 36.0 kg per person in 2023, down from 42.0 kg in 2019. This is supply reaching the market, not measured intake, and it excludes other aquatic products.

    Will Korea’s seafood self-sufficiency keep rising?

    No forecast for the fish and shellfish rate appears in the KREI and KMI sources checked for this article (October 2026). For the broader fishery products rate, a KMI outlook reported in January 2026 expected a fall from 77.3% in 2025 to 75.3% in 2026.

    Sources and method