Tag: China

Korea Squid Imports: How Imports Replaced a Shrinking Catch

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

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

Korea’s squid imports at a glance	Jan–Sep 2026
Size	US$449.7 million, 131,330 tonnes, 10.2% of Korea’s seafood imports
Top origins (share of value)	China 35.0% · Peru 25.7% · Vietnam 14.2% · Chile 7.3% · Ecuador 3.4%
Customs price per kg	All squid US$3.42 · frozen “other” squid US$2.49 · other prepared squid US$4.26 · seasoned squid US$5.69 · frozen cuttlefish US$7.81
Main HS codes	0307.43.2090 · 1605.54.2099 · 1605.54.2091 · 0307.43.1090 · 0307.43.2010
Duty, 2026 (frozen “other” squid)	Adjustment tariff 22% without an FTA rate · Peru, Chile, US, Vietnam 0% · ASEAN 5% · China 8%
Korea’s own catch	Coastal squid 31,006 t in 2025, after a record low of 13,568 t in 2024
Source	SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data; Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries; Korea Customs Service 2026 tariff schedule

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

Key takeaways

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

How much squid does Korea import, and from where?

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

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

Origin	Value, Jan–Sep 2026	Share of value	Volume	US$/kg	Value vs Jan–Sep 2025	Volume vs Jan–Sep 2025
China	US$157.3M	35.0%	44,825 t	3.51	−15.8%	−1.6%
Peru	US$115.6M	25.7%	40,255 t	2.87	−19.6%	+46.3%
Vietnam	US$63.9M	14.2%	6,061 t	10.54	+11.6%	+3.7%
Chile	US$33.0M	7.3%	17,232 t	1.91	−48.2%	+6.2%
Ecuador	US$15.5M	3.4%	10,042 t	1.54	−0.4%	+35.9%
Argentina	US$13.9M	3.1%	3,062 t	4.54	−27.2%	−32.4%
Spain	US$10.3M	2.3%	2,393 t	4.32	+28.8%	+29.9%
Taiwan	US$8.6M	1.9%	1,508 t	5.72	−66.2%	−72.6%
Indonesia	US$6.2M	1.4%	906 t	6.88	−10.8%	−25.2%
Thailand	US$6.1M	1.4%	651 t	9.34	−12.2%	−13.8%
All origins	US$449.7M	100%	131,330 t	3.42	−21.8%	+1.8%

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

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

How have the origins changed over three years?

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

Share of Korea’s squid import value	2024	2025	Jan–Sep 2025	Jan–Sep 2026
China	46.2%	32.4%	32.5%	35.0%
Peru	15.2%	26.4%	25.0%	25.7%
Vietnam	12.9%	10.8%	10.0%	14.2%
Chile	6.3%	9.1%	11.1%	7.3%
Ecuador	0.0%	3.6%	2.7%	3.4%
Argentina	4.7%	3.5%	3.3%	3.1%
Taiwan	4.3%	3.7%	4.4%	1.9%

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Which squid does each origin sell to Korea?

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

HSK code	Product	Value, Jan–Sep 2026	Share of squid	Volume	US$/kg	Value vs Jan–Sep 2025	Main origin (share of value)
0307.43.2090	Other squid, frozen	US$235.3M	52.3%	94,336 t	2.49	−26.2%	China 35.1%
1605.54.2099	Other squid, prepared or preserved	US$77.6M	17.3%	18,207 t	4.26	−33.5%	Peru 72.7%
1605.54.2091	Seasoned squid	US$61.0M	13.6%	10,730 t	5.69	−5.1%	China 80.1%
0307.43.1090	Other cuttlefish, frozen	US$40.1M	8.9%	5,129 t	7.81	+17.6%	Vietnam 70.9%
0307.43.2010	Squid of four named genera, frozen	US$12.4M	2.8%	1,842 t	6.73	−41.9%	Vietnam 42.7%
0307.49.3010	Cuttlefish and squid of named species, dried	US$12.1M	2.7%	337 t	35.85	−5.4%	Vietnam 98.3%
0307.49.3090	Other squid and cuttlefish, dried	US$10.8M	2.4%	678 t	15.89	+59.1%	China 96.2%

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

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

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

What prices does Korea pay per kg for squid?

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

Origin	Frozen “other” squid, 0307.43.2090	Other prepared squid, 1605.54.2099	Seasoned squid, 1605.54.2091	Frozen cuttlefish, 0307.43.1090
Peru	2.15 (3.34)	4.30 (7.67)	11.45 (4.00)	n/a
China	2.76 (3.44)	3.34 (3.60)	5.01 (6.13)	n/a
Chile	1.91 (3.92)	n/a	n/a	n/a
Ecuador	1.54 (2.11)	n/a	n/a	n/a
Argentina	4.54 (4.22)	n/a	n/a	n/a
Spain	4.32 (4.36)	n/a	n/a	n/a
Vietnam	3.98 (2.92)	10.10 (9.87)	12.73 (12.56)	7.99 (7.12)
Thailand	n/a	n/a	n/a	9.24 (8.82)
All origins	2.49 (3.53)	4.26 (6.56)	5.69 (6.60)	7.81 (7.24)

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

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

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

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

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

What import duty does Korea charge on squid?

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

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

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

Four points matter:

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

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

What else should squid exporters know before shipping?

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

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

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

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

Check Korea’s imports of your squid product

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

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

FAQ

Why is squid so expensive in Korea?

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

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

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

Which squid does Korea buy from Peru?

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

Sources and method

SEACHING, HSK 0307.42 to 1605.54 squid codes, Korea imports by origin, monthly, Jan 2024 to Sep 2026, retrieved October 15, 2026 (built on Korea Customs Service trade statistics)
SEACHING, estimated importers of HSK 0307.43.2090, 12 months to September 2026, retrieved October 15, 2026
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, 2025 fisheries production press release and attachment, February 26, 2026, checked October 15, 2026
Customs Act, Article 2, Korea Law Information Center, in force October 2, 2026, checked October 15, 2026
Customs Act, Article 30, Korea Law Information Center, in force October 2, 2026
Customs Act, Article 50, Korea Law Information Center, in force October 2, 2026
Regulation on Adjustment Tariffs under Article 69 of the Customs Act, Annex, 2026 rates, checked October 14, 2026
Korea Customs Service, 2026 tariff schedule (Public Data Portal), 2026 rates, checked October 15, 2026
Korea Customs Service, FTA portal, agreements in force, checked October 14, 2026
Korea FTA portal (fta.motir.go.kr), Korea–Ecuador SECA timeline, checked October 14, 2026
Value-Added Tax Act, Article 27, Korea Law Information Center, checked October 14, 2026
MOF press release on imported seafood traceability items, June 7, 2026
NFQS, restaurant country-of-origin labeling, checked October 1, 2026
Special Act on Imported Food Safety Control, Article 5, Korea Law Information Center, in force October 8, 2026
USDA FAS GAIN, Korea Seafood Market Update 2025, November 25, 2025

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

2026-11-11

Korea’s Hairtail and Croaker Imports: Origins, Prices and Naming

Data as of: Korea’s imports by 10-digit HS code and origin, January to September 2026, queried October 15, 2026.

Korea imports frozen hairtail (ribbonfish) mainly from Oman, which supplied 46.3% of the US$29.8 million Korea imported in Jan–Sep 2026, ahead of South Africa and Senegal, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data. Frozen small and large yellow croaker came only from China. West African croaker clears Korean customs as mineo, a separate code.

The number that matters: US$41.2 million
Korea’s frozen mineo croaker imports (HS 0303.89-9091), Jan–Sep 2026, up 18.8% on a year earlier; 84.3% came from West Africa. Korea’s frozen yellow croaker imports, almost all from China, fell 17.1% to US$42.9 million.
The finding: in Korea’s customs data, West African croaker sits under mineo, not yellow croaker, and that code is now almost as large.

Key takeaways

Oman supplied 46.3% of Korea’s frozen hairtail imports in Jan–Sep 2026, up from 27.4% a year earlier (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
China supplied 100% of Korea’s frozen small and large yellow croaker imports in Jan–Sep 2025 and Jan–Sep 2026 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
Guinea supplied 48.3% of Korea’s frozen mineo croaker imports in Jan–Sep 2026 at US$5.71 per kg; India’s cleared at US$1.81 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).

Where does Korea import hairtail (ribbonfish) from?

Oman leads, and its lead widened in 2026. Korea’s frozen hairtail imports (HS 0303.89-2000) fell 14.1% to US$29.8 million and 7,956 tonnes in Jan–Sep 2026. Senegal dropped from 26.6% of the code a year earlier to 11.2%.

Origin	US$ million	Share	Tonnes	US$/kg
Oman	13.80	46.3%	3,394	4.07
South Africa	4.87	16.4%	1,839	2.65
Senegal	3.34	11.2%	992	3.36
Japan	1.77	5.9%	207	8.52
China	1.70	5.7%	277	6.16
Morocco	0.96	3.2%	277	3.46
All origins	29.80	100%	7,956	3.75

Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, frozen hairtail (HS 0303.89-2000), Jan–Sep 2026.

Japanese hairtail cleared at more than three times the South African value per kg. Compare your offer with your own origin’s line, not the average (how to use import price benchmarks). Fresh hairtail (HS 0302.89-2000) was only US$1.06 million in Jan–Sep 2026, 96.8% from Japan.

Korean fisheries landed 44,480 tonnes of hairtail in 2025, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF). Korea imported 13,391 tonnes that year, about 30% of the domestic catch (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).

Yellow croaker or mineo: which croaker is yours?

Korean customs splits “croaker” by species. Three frozen codes sit under jogi (yellow croaker); a separate code, 0303.89-9091, is “Croakers” in English and mineo in Korean.

Korean HS code (HSK)	Customs name	Korean name	Main origin, Jan–Sep 2026	US$ million	US$/kg
0303.89-5010	Small yellow croaker (Larimichthys polyactis)	jogi	China 100%	8.51	4.32
0303.89-5020	Large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea)	jogi	China 100%	34.14	5.94
0303.89-5090	Other croakers	jogi	Small volumes	0.20	–
0303.89-9091	Croakers	mineo	Guinea 48.3%	41.25	4.34
0301.99-9095	Croakers, live	mineo	China 100%	20.28	5.82

Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, Jan–Sep 2026; names as listed for each HSK code.

In the data, frozen croaker from West Africa, India, Brazil and Mexico clears as mineo, not yellow croaker. The exception is small: in Jan–Sep 2025, Guinea and The Gambia shipped about 95% of the “other croakers” code, worth US$1.03 million. The importer’s customs broker declares the code, so agree on it before you quote.

Under Korea’s Labeling Standards for Food, fish of the croaker family (Sciaenidae) must carry the name listed in Korea’s Food Code, while other fish may use a common market name. The guide to how Korean buyers describe seafood products covers the rest of the offer.

Who supplies Korea’s frozen croaker, and at what price?

Yellow croaker comes from China; mineo mostly from West Africa. Korea’s frozen mineo imports rose 18.8% to US$41.2 million in Jan–Sep 2026, with 84.3% from seven West African origins. Small yellow croaker fell 43.3% to US$8.51 million.

Origin	US$ million	Share	Tonnes	US$/kg
Guinea	19.91	48.3%	3,485	5.71
Sierra Leone	5.74	13.9%	1,108	5.18
The Gambia	5.07	12.3%	908	5.59
Senegal	3.86	9.4%	746	5.17
India	2.29	5.6%	1,267	1.81
Brazil	1.49	3.6%	329	4.53
Mexico	1.30	3.2%	1,093	1.19

Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, frozen croakers (HS 0303.89-9091), Jan–Sep 2026.

West African mineo cleared at US$5.17 to US$5.71 per kg; Indian and Mexican below US$2. The code does not show species or size.

For some origins one code is almost the whole trade: in Jan–Sep 2026, frozen mineo was 90% of Korea’s seafood imports from Guinea, and frozen hairtail 88% of those from Oman. Live mineo came only from China; the China export guide covers it.

What tariff do hairtail and croaker pay in Korea?

Oman, South Africa and the West African origins pay Korea’s basic 10% on frozen hairtail and frozen mineo, as of October 2026, because none has a free trade agreement in force with Korea.

Product (HSK)	Basic rate	China FTA	US, Canada, Chile	EU, Peru
Frozen hairtail (0303.89-2000)	10%	10%	0%	0%
Fresh hairtail (0302.89-2000)	20%	20%	0%	0%
Frozen yellow croaker (0303.89-5010/5020)	10%	10%	0%	0%
Frozen mineo (0303.89-9091)	10%	43% listed, 10% applies	0%	57% and 53% listed, 10% applies

Source: Korea Customs Service, 2026 tariff schedule (data.go.kr), checked October 15, 2026; EU column valid to June 30, 2026 in the file.

Where an FTA column lists 40% to 57% for frozen mineo, Korean law applies the lower basic rate. The 2026 file has no least-developed-country preference row for frozen mineo or frozen hairtail. Check your code in UNIPASS and confirm with a licensed customs broker; the guide to Korea’s seafood import duties explains each rate.

What should your offer say, and what does the importer handle?

Give the trade name, the scientific name if known and the Korean code you expect, for example “frozen croaker, mineo, HSK 0303.89-9091″ or “hairtail (ribbonfish, cutlassfish), HSK 0303.89-2000”. On timing, the Korea seafood demand calendar shows frozen hairtail imports rose before Chuseok in 2024 and 2025, but not in 2026.

After customs, two Korean rules apply, as of October 2026. Frozen hairtail joined Korea’s imported seafood distribution history (traceability) list on June 29, 2026; frozen yellow croaker was already on it. Importers and distributors report each transfer within five days to the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service (NFQS). Restaurants must show the origin of hairtail and both yellow croakers.

How these figures were compiled

The figures come from SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, built on Korea Customs Service import data by 10-digit HS code and origin. Customs value per kg is declared value divided by net weight, not a market price. With live and dried codes, the ranking of Korea’s top seafood imports puts mineo at US$61.5 million and yellow croaker at US$43.0 million, Jan–Sep 2026.

SEACHING’s By Country table for frozen hairtail lists each origin’s value, unit price, volume and trend for October 2025 to September 2026.

Check your code before you quote

Open frozen hairtail import data on SEACHING (free sign-up), frozen croaker (mineo) imports by origin (free sign-up), frozen large yellow croaker imports (free sign-up) or Oman’s seafood trade with Korea (free sign-up).

Before you quote hairtail or croaker to a Korean buyer, check which code your fish clears under and what Korea paid per kg from your origin. 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

Can West African countries without a sanitary arrangement export fish to Korea?

Yes. Guinea, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Senegal shipped frozen croaker to Korea in Jan–Sep 2026, though none is on the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) list of 11 seafood sanitary-arrangement countries (October 2024 guide). The foreign plant must be registered with MFDS before the import declaration; see the MFDS facility registration guide.

Sources and method

SEACHING, Korea’s seafood imports by 10-digit HS code and origin, Korea Customs Service data, January 2025 to September 2026, queried October 15, 2026
Korea Customs Service, tariff schedule by HS code (2026), Public Data Portal, file registered February 11, 2026, checked October 15, 2026
Korea Customs Service FTA portal, FTAs in force, checked October 14, 2026
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, 2025 coastal and offshore fisheries production, February 26, 2026
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, imported seafood traceability expansion, June 7, 2026; Herald Economy report, June 6, 2026
NFQS, imported seafood traceability and restaurant origin labeling, checked October 14, 2026
MFDS, Labeling Standards for Food (Notice 2026-37), checked October 14, 2026
MFDS, guide to foreign food facility registration, October 2024 edition, checked October 14, 2026
Codes: frozen hairtail 0303.89-2000; fresh hairtail 0302.89-2000; frozen yellow croaker 0303.89-5010, 5020 and 5090; frozen croakers (mineo) 0303.89-9091; live croakers 0301.99-9095. Dried and salted croaker and hairtail codes were under US$0.2 million each and are left out.
Method: Jan–Sep 2026 compared with Jan–Sep 2025, import value in US dollars and net weight. “West Africa” here means Guinea, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Liberia. Origin rows cover origins with at least US$100,000 of imports of that code in the 12 months to September 2026.

2026-11-09

Korea Shrimp Imports: Vietnam, China, Peru and Thailand Compared

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

Korea’s shrimp imports reached US$587.1 million in Jan–Sep 2026, up 2.2% from a year earlier, according to SEACHING’s analysis of Korea Customs Service data. That made shrimp Korea’s largest seafood import group in the period. Vietnam supplied 43.1% of the value, China 24.8%, Peru 9.3% and Thailand 7.4%. More than half was frozen peeled shrimp.

Korea’s shrimp imports at a glance	Jan–Sep 2026
Size	US$587.1 million, 82,169 tonnes, 13.3% of Korea’s seafood imports
Top origins (share of value)	Vietnam 43.1% · China 24.8% · Peru 9.3% · Thailand 7.4% · Malaysia 4.1%
Customs price per kg	Frozen peeled US$8.08 · frozen whole whiteleg US$6.39 · breaded US$6.19 · other prepared US$11.51
Main HS codes	0306.17.1090 · 1605.21.1000 · 0306.17.9091 · 1605.21.9000 · 0306.17.9099
Duty, 2026	Basic 20% · Peru, Chile, Colombia, US, Canada 0% · Vietnam 0% within a 15,000-tonne quota · ASEAN 0% within a 5,000-tonne yearly quota · China 8%
Also note	Frozen or chilled shrimp that is not heat-treated or cut needs NFQS quarantine as well as MFDS inspection
Source	SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data; Korea Customs Service 2026 tariff schedule

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

Key takeaways

Shrimp was Korea’s largest seafood import group in Jan–Sep 2026, at US$587.1 million and 13.3% of Korea’s seafood imports, according to SEACHING’s analysis of Korea Customs Service data.
China’s share of Korea’s shrimp import value rose from 14.8% in 2024 to 24.8% in Jan–Sep 2026, while Vietnam’s fell from 49.3% to 43.1% (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
Frozen peeled shrimp (HSK 0306.17.1090) made up 53.5% of Korea’s shrimp imports by value in Jan–Sep 2026, and Vietnam and China supplied 83.1% of it (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
In Jan–Sep 2026, Ecuador’s frozen whole whiteleg shrimp cleared Korean customs at US$5.11 per kg, the lowest of the main origins, against US$6.59 for Peru (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
Under Korea’s 2026 tariff schedule, frozen shrimp pays a 20% basic duty, 8% from China and 0% from Peru, Chile, Colombia, the US and Canada; Vietnam’s 0% FTA rate applies only within a 15,000-tonne quota (checked October 15, 2026).

Where does South Korea import its shrimp from?

Vietnam and China supply two-thirds of Korea’s shrimp imports. In Jan–Sep 2026, Korea imported US$253.3 million of shrimp from Vietnam and US$145.4 million from China, 67.9% of the total between them. SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, compiles these figures from Korea Customs Service (KCS) data.

In this guide, shrimp means frozen, live, fresh, dried and salted shrimp and prawns (HS 0306.16, 0306.17, 0306.35, 0306.36 and 0306.95) and prepared shrimp (HS 1605.21 and 1605.29). Korea’s seafood imports here means HS chapter 03 plus prepared fish and crustaceans (HS 1603–1605); seaweed and salt are excluded.

Origin	Value, Jan–Sep 2026	Share of value	Volume	US$/kg	Value vs Jan–Sep 2025
Vietnam	US$253.3M	43.1%	40,073 t	6.32	−0.3%
China	US$145.4M	24.8%	19,670 t	7.39	+17.3%
Peru	US$54.8M	9.3%	7,500 t	7.30	+26.1%
Thailand	US$43.7M	7.4%	3,729 t	11.71	−5.8%
Malaysia	US$24.2M	4.1%	2,549 t	9.51	−3.8%
Argentina	US$22.7M	3.9%	1,788 t	12.71	+1.1%
India	US$18.2M	3.1%	2,794 t	6.51	+13.0%
Ecuador	US$10.3M	1.8%	2,018 t	5.11	−18.0%
Canada	US$5.8M	1.0%	336 t	17.15	+30.2%
United States	US$2.5M	0.4%	808 t	3.11	+5.9%
All origins	US$587.1M	100%	82,169 t	7.15	+2.2%

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

Average prices by origin partly reflect product mix. Vietnam’s US$6.32 per kg includes breaded shrimp, which made up 25% of its value. Thailand’s US$11.71 reflects prepared shrimp, which made up 70% of its sales to Korea.

How have the origins changed over three years?

China has gained share every year since 2024. Its shrimp sales to Korea rose from US$103.4 million in 2024 to US$161.3 million in 2025. In Jan–Sep 2026, 88% of China’s value was frozen peeled shrimp, and its share of that code rose from 36.0% to 40.7% against Jan–Sep 2025.

Share of Korea’s shrimp import value	2024	2025	Jan–Sep 2025	Jan–Sep 2026
Vietnam	49.3%	45.1%	44.2%	43.1%
China	14.8%	20.9%	21.6%	24.8%
Peru	8.6%	7.6%	7.6%	9.3%
Thailand	8.8%	7.9%	8.1%	7.4%
Malaysia	5.1%	4.7%	4.4%	4.1%
Argentina	3.7%	3.9%	3.9%	3.9%
India	4.0%	2.8%	2.8%	3.1%
Ecuador	2.8%	1.9%	2.2%	1.8%

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

Vietnam’s sales were flat in Jan–Sep 2026, down 0.3%, while China’s rose 17.3% and Peru’s 26.1%. Frozen whole whiteleg shrimp made up 72% of Peru’s value.

Which shrimp products does Korea buy, and under which HS codes?

Korea buys most of its shrimp frozen and peeled. In Jan–Sep 2026, frozen shrimp under HS 0306.17 made up 70.7% of the value and prepared shrimp under HS 1605.21 and 1605.29 made up 23.9%.

HSK code	Product	Value, Jan–Sep 2026	Share of shrimp	Volume	US$/kg	Value vs Jan–Sep 2025	Main origin (share of value)
0306.17.1090	Shrimp meat (peeled), frozen	US$313.9M	53.5%	38,864 t	8.08	+4.9%	Vietnam 42.4%
1605.21.1000	Prepared shrimp, breaded or battered, not airtight	US$75.9M	12.9%	12,276 t	6.19	−3.6%	Vietnam 82.2%
0306.17.9091	Whiteleg shrimp (L. vannamei), frozen, shell-on	US$66.8M	11.4%	10,452 t	6.39	−10.1%	Peru 59.4%
1605.21.9000	Other prepared shrimp, not airtight	US$63.5M	10.8%	5,518 t	11.51	+16.6%	Vietnam 69.4%
0306.17.9099	Other shrimp, frozen, shell-on	US$34.4M	5.9%	3,563 t	9.65	−5.1%	Malaysia 53.7%
0306.95.9020	Dried shrimp	US$15.7M	2.7%	1,365 t	11.46	+5.8%	China 98.5%
0306.95.9030	Salted or brined shrimp	US$7.3M	1.2%	8,828 t	0.83	+6.2%	Vietnam 98.7%
0306.16.1090	Cold-water shrimp meat, frozen	US$4.9M	0.8%	182 t	26.65	+16.4%	Canada 98.8%
0306.16.9090	Other cold-water shrimp, frozen	US$3.3M	0.6%	968 t	3.40	−21.9%	United States 63.1%

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

The six-digit HS code for frozen shrimp is 0306.17 for warm-water species and 0306.16 for cold-water species. Korea splits 0306.17 into 10-digit lines, and they matter:

Peeled or shell-on decides the code. Peeled frozen shrimp goes under 0306.17.1090. Shell-on whiteleg shrimp goes under 0306.17.9091, and other shell-on species under 0306.17.9099.
Cooking or coating moves shrimp to chapter 16. Breaded or battered shrimp goes under 1605.21.1000, and other prepared shrimp, such as cooked shrimp, under 1605.21.9000. Shrimp in airtight containers goes under 1605.29.
Each line has different main origins. Peru supplied 59.4% of the whiteleg line, while Malaysia and Argentina supplied 94.1% of other shell-on shrimp.
Salted shrimp is a separate market. Salted shrimp for saeujeot (fermented shrimp sauce) cleared at US$0.83 per kg and came almost entirely from Vietnam. The 2026 tariff file lists both a 32% adjustment tariff and a 0% Korea–Vietnam FTA rate for it; ask a customs broker which applies.

The 10-digit code decides your duty rate and the statistics a Korean buyer compares you with. The guide to finding Korean buyers with import data shows how to look up each line, and Korea’s seafood import duty guide explains how HSK codes and rates fit together.

How do shrimp import prices compare by origin?

Prices differ by origin even within one code. In frozen peeled shrimp (0306.17.1090), China’s average in Jan–Sep 2026 was US$7.18 per kg and Vietnam’s US$8.45. Thailand’s was US$12.96 and Argentina’s US$15.79.

Origin	Frozen peeled, 0306.17.1090	Frozen whole whiteleg, 0306.17.9091	Breaded, 1605.21.1000	Other prepared, 1605.21.9000
Vietnam	8.45	7.37	5.87	10.88
China	7.18	n/a	n/a	4.84
India	7.23	6.93	n/a	7.41
Peru	10.17	6.59	n/a	n/a
Thailand	12.96	8.00	8.52	16.01
Argentina	15.79	n/a	n/a	n/a
Ecuador	n/a	5.11	n/a	n/a
Malaysia	n/a	7.07	n/a	n/a
Colombia	n/a	5.63	n/a	n/a
All origins	8.08	6.39	6.19	11.51

Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, Jan–Sep 2026, imports, US$ per kg (customs value, CIF). n/a = less than US$200,000 of sales or none in the period.

A code average mixes sizes, counts, glaze levels and, in 0306.17.1090, several species. Under Article 30 of Korea’s Customs Act, the customs value includes freight and insurance to the Korean port, so these are CIF values, not wholesale prices (Customs Act, in force October 2, 2026). The guide to benchmarking your price against Korean customs import prices shows how to convert your offer before you compare.

Whiteleg prices fell for six of the eight origins in the chart. Peru’s average dropped from US$7.22 per kg in Jan–Sep 2025 to US$6.59 in Jan–Sep 2026, and Ecuador’s from US$5.46 to US$5.11. The Compare tab of SEACHING’s page for whiteleg shrimp ranks origins by unit price, lowest first, next to their import volume. It covers October 2025 to September 2026, so its order differs slightly from the Jan–Sep figures above.

What import duty does Korea charge on shrimp from each country?

Korea’s basic duty on frozen and prepared shrimp is 20%. Most large origins pay less under a free trade agreement (FTA), but Vietnam and ASEAN members pay 0% only within a quota.

Origin (agreement)	Frozen peeled, 0306.17.1090	Frozen shell-on, 0306.17.9091 and 9099	Breaded, 1605.21.1000	Other prepared, 1605.21.9000
Vietnam (Korea–Vietnam FTA)	0% within 15,000 t, then 20%	0% within 15,000 t, then 20%	0%	0% within 15,000 t, then 20%
China (Korea–China FTA)	8%	8%	8%	8%
Peru, Chile, Colombia, US, Canada	0%	0%	0%	0%
Thailand, Malaysia, other ASEAN (Korea–ASEAN FTA)	0% within 5,000 t a year	0% within 5,000 t a year	0%	0% within 2,000 t, then 16%
Indonesia (Korea–Indonesia CEPA)	no CEPA line; ASEAN quota or 20%	no CEPA line; ASEAN quota or 20%	0%	ASEAN rate
India (Korea–India CEPA)	no CEPA line; 20%	no CEPA line; 20%	10%	no CEPA line; 20%
Ecuador, Argentina, Saudi Arabia (no FTA in force)	20%	20%	20%	20%

Source: Korea Customs Service, 2026 tariff schedule (Public Data Portal), rates for January 1–December 31, 2026; quotas from the FTA Customs Act Enforcement Decree, Annexes 4 and 16. Checked October 15, 2026.

Two points change the real rate:

Each quota is one pool for several codes. Vietnam’s 15,000 tonnes cover frozen shrimp, live and fresh shrimp, and other prepared shrimp (1605.21.9000) together. Korea imported 28,627 tonnes of Vietnamese shrimp in these codes in 2025 and 20,603 tonnes in Jan–Sep 2026. Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Myanmar together shipped 6,356 tonnes in the ASEAN 5,000-tonne codes in 2025. Customs data cannot show which duty rate applied to each shipment; confirm quota rules with a customs broker.
The importer claims the rate. To use an FTA rate, the importer applies before the import declaration is accepted and must hold proof of origin. Quota rates need either a recommendation from the ministry in charge or first-come allocation by KCS, depending on the product.

Ecuador and Korea signed a trade agreement (SECA) in September 2025, but it was not in force as of October 14, 2026. The guide to the Korea–Ecuador SECA and shrimp tariffs explains what would change. Import VAT is another cost for your buyer: frozen shrimp is exempt, but prepared shrimp in HS 1605 pays 10% (VAT Act, as of October 2026).

Check the rate on KCS UNIPASS for the date of import, and confirm it with a licensed Korean customs broker.

What does a shrimp exporter need before shipping to Korea?

Shrimp needs two government checks in Korea: food safety inspection and quarantine. As of October 2026, the exporter’s main steps are:

Register your plant with MFDS. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) requires the foreign manufacturing facility to be registered before the import declaration, for two years at a time. MFDS lists 11 countries with seafood sanitary arrangements, including China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Ecuador, Peru and Argentina. In those countries the exporting government registers the plant. India and Malaysia are not on that list. See the guide to MFDS foreign facility registration.
Prepare for NFQS quarantine. The National Fishery Products Quality Management Service (NFQS) quarantines frozen or chilled shrimp that is not heat-treated or cut. Frozen and chilled shrimp from all origins has needed quarantine since April 1, 2018. The importer needs an original quarantine certificate from your government. Ask NFQS whether your peeled product counts as cut.
Check inspection orders. As of October 14, 2026, MFDS had an inspection order for doxycycline on processed products with at least 30% shrimp from four Vietnamese manufacturers, running to June 29, 2027. The guide to why seafood fails Korean import inspection covers residue testing.
Send the Korean label content. The importer submits it with the import declaration.

The importer, not the exporter, files the import declaration and holds the Korean business licenses. The full sequence is in the step-by-step guide to exporting seafood to Korea.

Where is there room for other origins, such as Ecuador and India?

Ecuador and India each compete on price in one product line.

Ecuador. Ecuador sold US$10.3 million of shrimp to Korea in Jan–Sep 2026, 1.8% of the total and down 18.0%. All of it was frozen whole whiteleg shrimp. At US$5.11 per kg, it was the cheapest of the main whiteleg origins, but it pays the 20% basic duty while Peru pays 0%.

India. India sold US$18.2 million, 3.1% of the total and up 13.0%. Peeled shrimp made up 89% of that. India’s peeled shrimp cleared at US$7.23 per kg, close to China’s US$7.18. India pays 20% on frozen shrimp, against 8% for China. The guide to exporting shrimp from India, Indonesia and Thailand covers the details.

Thailand and Indonesia. Thailand sells mostly prepared shrimp. Korea’s imports of Indonesian shrimp fell 65.2% to US$1.4 million in Jan–Sep 2026. See the Thailand and Indonesia export guide.

Argentina. Argentina has no FTA with Korea and still held 3.9% of Korea’s shrimp imports in Jan–Sep 2026, at US$15.79 per kg for peeled shrimp.

Who imports shrimp in Korea?

In frozen peeled shrimp, the largest code, no small group of buyers dominates the records. SEACHING estimates that 195 Korean companies imported frozen peeled shrimp in the 12 months to September 2026. The top 10 held 33.3% of import records, an estimate based on record counts, not value. SEACHING estimates that 134 of them bought from Vietnam, and 24 had a single import record. Company-level data is available only for this one code.

The guide to Korea’s seafood importers explains the types of buyers, and the guide to verifying a Korean importer shows how to check one before you ship.

Check Korea’s shrimp imports in your form

The same monthly data by origin exists for frozen whole whiteleg shrimp imports by origin (free sign-up), breaded shrimp import data (free sign-up) and other prepared shrimp import data (free sign-up).

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

FAQ

How much shrimp does Korea import per year?

Korea imported US$771.5 million of shrimp in 2025, or 109,035 tonnes, under the shrimp codes in this guide (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).

Does Korea import live or fresh shrimp?

Very little. Korea imported US$0.66 million of live, fresh or chilled shrimp (HS 0306.35 and 0306.36) in Jan–Sep 2026, about 0.1% of its shrimp imports (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).

What is the price of vannamei shrimp in Korea?

Korean customs data gives an import price, not a market price. Frozen whole whiteleg (vannamei) shrimp cleared at an average of US$6.39 per kg in Jan–Sep 2026, CIF, across all origins (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).

Is breaded shrimp from Thailand duty-free in Korea?

Yes, under the Korea–ASEAN FTA, breaded shrimp (HSK 1605.21.1000) from ASEAN members is listed at 0% for 2026, with no quota. Other prepared shrimp (1605.21.9000) is 0% only up to 2,000 tonnes, then 16% (tariff schedule and FTA decree, checked October 15, 2026).

Sources and method

SEACHING, HSK 0306.16 to 1605.29 shrimp codes, Korea imports by origin, monthly, Jan 2024 to Sep 2026, retrieved October 15, 2026 (built on Korea Customs Service trade statistics)
SEACHING, estimated importers of HSK 0306.17.1090, 12 months to September 2026, retrieved October 15, 2026
Korea Customs Service, 2026 tariff schedule (Public Data Portal), 2026 rates, checked October 15, 2026
FTA Customs Act Enforcement Decree, Annex 4 (Korea–ASEAN rates), amended December 30, 2024, checked October 15, 2026
FTA Customs Act Enforcement Decree, Annex 16 (Korea–Vietnam rates), amended December 30, 2024, checked October 15, 2026
FTA Customs Act Enforcement Decree, Article 3, in force January 6, 2026
Act on Special Cases of the Customs Act for the Implementation of Free Trade Agreements, Article 8, checked October 14, 2026
Regulation on Adjustment Tariffs under Article 69 of the Customs Act, Annex, 2026 rates, checked October 14, 2026
Customs Act, Article 30, Korea Law Information Center, in force October 2, 2026
Value-Added Tax Act, Article 27, Korea Law Information Center, checked October 14, 2026
Korea Customs Service, FTA portal, agreements in force, checked October 14, 2026
Special Act on Imported Food Safety Control, Article 5, Korea Law Information Center, in force October 8, 2026
MFDS, foreign facility registration guide (e-book), October 2024 edition, checked October 14, 2026
NFQS, import and export quarantine guide, checked October 14, 2026
Korea.kr policy news on shrimp quarantine, September 11, 2019
Easy Law (Ministry of Government Legislation), import quarantine documents, checked October 1, 2026

Method: shrimp = HS subheadings 0306.16, 0306.17, 0306.35, 0306.36, 0306.95, 1605.21 and 1605.29, all 10-digit HSK lines under them. Price = customs value (US$, CIF) ÷ net weight; multi-month prices divide total value by total weight. Months with no imports from an origin count as zero. Origin figures cover origins with at least US$100,000 of sales to Korea in the 12 months to September 2026, 99.95% of the value in Jan–Sep 2026. Company counts and record shares are SEACHING estimates. Figures for 2026 may be revised when Korea Customs Service publishes final data. Customs rules and tariffs change; confirm with a licensed Korean customs broker and the agencies named above.

2026-11-06

Korea’s Eel Imports: Glass Eels, Live Eel and Prepared Eel by Origin

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

Korea’s eel imports fell 66.6% to US$45.5 million in Jan–Sep 2026, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data. Glass eels for farms dropped from US$94.7 million to US$16.3 million, and live table eel from US$15.9 million to US$2.7 million. Prepared eel, 98.1% from China, rose 8.7% to US$24.1 million.

The number that matters: 53.0%
Prepared eel’s share of Korea’s eel import value in Jan–Sep 2026, up from 16.3% a year earlier.

Key takeaways

Korea imported US$45.5 million of eel in Jan–Sep 2026, down 66.6% from US$136.3 million in Jan–Sep 2025 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
Korea’s glass eel imports fell from US$94.7 million in Jan–Sep 2025 to US$16.3 million in Jan–Sep 2026; Hong Kong was the declared origin of 78.5% (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
China supplied 92.8% of Korea’s live table eel imports in Jan–Sep 2026 at US$9.43/kg, down from US$13.04/kg in Jan–Sep 2025 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
As of October 2026, live eel pays a 20% adjustment tariff in Korea, glass eels 0%, and prepared eel 20% from China but 0% from Vietnam (Korea Customs Service 2026 tariff schedule).

What does Korea actually import when it imports eel?

Korea buys eel in three markets, each with its own HS code, origins and price: seed eels for farms, live eel for eating, and prepared eel.

Market	HSK	Jan–Sep 2025 (US$ million)	Jan–Sep 2026 (US$ million)	Volume, 2026	US$/kg, 2026	Main origin, 2026
Glass eels (seed, up to 0.3 g)	0301.92.1000	94.72	16.28	5.6 t	2,920	Hong Kong 78.5%
Young eels (seed, 0.3–50 g)	0301.92.2000	3.54	2.32	9.0 t	258	Taiwan 100%
Live eel for eating	0301.92.9090	15.87	2.74	284 t	9.66	China 92.8%
Prepared eel	1604.17.1000, 1604.17.9000	22.20	24.12	2,179 t	11.07	China 98.1%
Fresh or frozen eel	0302.74, 0303.26	0.003	0.000	6 kg	–	–
All eel		136.32	45.47	2,478 t

Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports, queried October 15, 2026.

Eel was 1.03% of Korea’s seafood imports in Jan–Sep 2026 (the Q3 2026 seafood imports report covers the rest). Korea’s seafood imports here means HS chapter 03 plus prepared fish and crustaceans (HS 1603–1605); seaweed and salt are excluded.

Where do Korea’s glass eels come from, and when do they arrive?

Hong Kong was the declared origin of 78.5% of Korea’s glass eel imports by value in Jan–Sep 2026, followed by Japan at 14.5%, Taiwan at 4.1% and Vietnam at 2.8%. The data does not show where the eels were caught.

Hong Kong’s shipments fell from US$87.2 million in Jan–Sep 2025 to US$12.8 million. The average customs price across all origins fell from US$7,698/kg to US$2,920/kg. Customs data records the fall but not its cause.

February to April took 95.8% of the Jan–Sep 2026 value, and Korea recorded no glass eel imports from June 2025 to January 2026. Young eels, the larger seed fish, came only from Taiwan in 2026, at US$258/kg.

SEACHING’s “By Country” table for glass eels lists each declared origin with value, price per kg and volume for October 2025 to September 2026. With no imports from October 2025 to January 2026, that window holds the same shipments as Jan–Sep 2026.

Who sells live eel to Korea, and at what price?

China supplies almost all of Korea’s live table eel, but far less than before: 3,388 tonnes in 2024, 1,170 tonnes in Jan–Sep 2025 and 270 tonnes in Jan–Sep 2026.

Origin	Share of value, Jan–Sep 2026	Tonnes, 2025 → 2026 (Jan–Sep)	US$/kg, 2025 → 2026 (Jan–Sep)
China	92.8%	1,170 → 270	13.04 → 9.43
Morocco	5.8%	39.5 → 11.4	14.24 → 14.04
Australia	1.4%	3.8 → 2.7	12.74 → 14.11
All origins	100%	1,214 → 284	13.08 → 9.66

Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, HSK 0301.92.9090, queried October 15, 2026.

China’s monthly customs price fell from US$12.73/kg in September 2025 to US$8.64/kg in September 2026. Moroccan and Australian eel averaged about US$14/kg in Jan–Sep 2026, more than US$4.50/kg above Chinese eel.

Prepared eel: is China the only supplier?

China supplied 98.2% of Korea’s prepared eel imports (HSK 1604.17.9000) in Jan–Sep 2026, at US$11.08/kg, down from US$12.22/kg in Jan–Sep 2025. It is the only eel line whose value grew: imports under this code rose 13.6% in value and 24.7% in volume. Vietnam (US$7.24/kg), Thailand (US$12.73/kg) and Türkiye (US$23.30/kg) each had under 1%. See also China’s seafood exports to Korea and Korean buyer specifications.

What tariffs apply to eel shipped to Korea?

As of October 2026, glass eels enter Korea duty-free, live eel pays a 20% adjustment tariff through December 31, 2026, and prepared eel pays 20% unless an FTA rate is lower.

Origin (agreement)	Glass eels 0301.92.1000	Young eels 0301.92.2000	Live eel 0301.92.9090	Prepared eel 1604.17.9000
No FTA (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Morocco)	0%	5%	20% (10% base + 2026 adjustment)	20%
China (Korea–China FTA)	0%	27% or KRW 1,879/kg listed	27% or KRW 1,879/kg listed	20%
Japan (RCEP rate listed for glass eels only)	0%	5%	20%	20%
Vietnam (Korea–Vietnam FTA, RCEP)	0%	5% (RCEP)	24% or KRW 1,526/kg listed	0%
Thailand (Korea–ASEAN FTA, RCEP)	0%	5% (RCEP)	24% or KRW 1,526/kg listed	5%
Australia (Korea–Australia FTA, RCEP)	0%	5% (RCEP)	27% or KRW 1,879/kg listed	0%
Türkiye (Korea–Türkiye FTA)	0%	0%	0% listed (see note)	0%

Source: Korea Customs Service 2026 tariff schedule (data.go.kr, February 11, 2026) and 2026 adjustment tariff decree, checked October 15, 2026.

Korea applies an FTA rate only when it is lower than the regular rate. For live eel, the FTA rates listed for China, Vietnam, Thailand and Australia are not lower, so plan around 20%. Where an FTA lists 0%, as for Türkiye, check whether the adjustment tariff still applies. Confirm your rate with a licensed customs broker or on UNIPASS before you quote; see the guide to Korea’s seafood import duty.

What other rules apply? CITES and origin labeling

European eel (Anguilla anguilla) has been in CITES Appendix II since March 13, 2009. From December 2010 the EU stopped European eel trade into and out of the EU. In November 2025, CITES Committee I rejected an EU proposal to list all other Anguilla species, with 35 votes for, 100 against and 8 abstentions. Check the current Appendices before each season.

The Korean importer files the declaration and claims any FTA rate before clearance, and restaurants must show eel’s origin, according to the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service (NFQS). Before shipping prepared eel, register your plant with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). The step-by-step guide to exporting seafood to Korea covers the documents.

Check Korea’s eel imports by code

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.

Before you approach a Korean eel buyer, check which of the three eel markets your product belongs to and Korea’s latest monthly customs price per kg. Look up live eel imports on SEACHING (free sign-up)

FAQ

Does Korea import frozen eel or eel fillets?

Hardly any frozen whole eel: 6 kg in Jan–Sep 2026 (HSK 0303.26, SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data). Frozen eel fillets share HSK 0304.69 with tilapia, catfish, carp and Nile perch, so customs data cannot separate them.

When does Korea import the most live eel?

October to December. By weight, Korea’s live eel imports ran at 140 to 146 in those months and 68 in June, against a monthly average of 100 for October 2023–September 2026 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data). See the Korea seafood demand calendar.

Sources and method

SEACHING, glass eels (HSK 0301.92.1000), Korea Customs Service import data, monthly October 2023–September 2026, queried October 15, 2026. Young eels (0301.92.2000), live eel (0301.92.9090), fresh eel (0302.74.0000), frozen eel (0303.26.0000) and prepared eel (1604.17.1000, 1604.17.9000) were queried the same way on the same day
Korea Customs Service, tariff rates by item 2026 (data.go.kr), file dated February 11, 2026, checked October 15, 2026
National Law Information Center: adjustment tariff decree, rates for January 1–December 31, 2026, checked October 14, 2026
National Law Information Center: FTA Customs Act, Article 5, in force October 1, 2025
CITES CoP20 Committee I summary record, Com. I Rec. 5 (Rev. 1), November 2025, checked October 15, 2026
CITES Notification to the Parties No. 2007/022, European eel Appendix II listing, checked October 15, 2026
CITES AC30 Doc. 18.1 Annex 1, European eel listing implementation, checked October 15, 2026
NFQS, restaurant country-of-origin labeling, rules in force from July 1, 2023, checked October 1, 2026
Method: unit price is customs value divided by net weight, on a CIF basis, not a market price. Shares use all origins as the denominator. Months with no trade count as zero. Full-year 2024 figures sum origins with at least US$100,000 of imports in the 12 months to September 2026. Korea’s seafood imports means HS chapter 03 plus HS 1603–1605, excluding seaweed and salt. Frozen fillets under HSK 0304.69 mix several species and are not counted as eel.

2026-11-05

Korea’s Clam and Shellfish Imports: Why China Dominates and Where Other Origins Fit

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

China supplied 89.6% of South Korea’s clam imports in Jan–Sep 2026 and 99.3% of its Manila clam, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data. Korea’s clam imports were US$53.7 million in that period, down 14.0% from Jan–Sep 2025. Other origins sell mainly in Korea’s “other clams” codes and prepared bivalves.

The number that matters: 99.3%
China’s share of Korea’s Manila clam imports by value, Jan–Sep 2026. Half arrives live and half frozen, salted or prepared, and China supplies almost all of both.

Key takeaways

Korea imported US$53.7 million of clams in Jan–Sep 2026, 14.0% less than in Jan–Sep 2025 (Korea Customs Service data).
China supplied 99.3% of Korea’s Manila clam imports in Jan–Sep 2026; live Manila clam cleared at US$1.26 per kg, all from China (Korea Customs Service data).
In Korea’s frozen “other clams” code (HSK 0307.72.9000), Canada held 28.0%, Vietnam 27.3% and Thailand 19.1% of import value in Jan–Sep 2026.
Japan supplied 62.1% of Korea’s US$46.3 million scallop imports in Jan–Sep 2026 and China 34.5% (Korea Customs Service data).

Where does Korea import clams from?

China sold Korea US$48.2 million of the US$53.7 million total; scallops are covered separately.

Origin	Jan–Sep 2026 value	Share	Weight	Share, Jan–Sep 2025
China	US$48.15 million	89.6%	34,119 t	92.6%
Vietnam	US$1.88 million	3.5%	795 t	3.1%
Canada	US$1.06 million	2.0%	82 t	1.6%
Japan	US$0.89 million	1.6%	214 t	1.4%
Thailand	US$0.77 million	1.4%	398 t	0.5%
Russia	US$0.47 million	0.9%	148 t	0.4%
All origins	US$53.71 million	100%	35,953 t	100%

Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, retrieved October 15, 2026. Scope: HSK 0307.71, 0307.72, 0307.79 and 1605.56.

Clams were 1.2% of the US$4,415.6 million of seafood Korea imported in Jan–Sep 2026 (HS chapter 03 plus HS 1603–1605; seaweed and salt excluded). China’s sales fell faster than the market, so its share fell 3 points. For China overall, see the guide to exporting Chinese seafood to Korea.

Manila clam: live, frozen or prepared?

Half of Korea’s Manila clam imports arrive live. Korea’s tariff calls the Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) “baby clams” (bajirak). Its six HSK codes added up to US$31.3 million, 58.3% of Korea’s clam imports, in Jan–Sep 2026.

HSK	Form	Value	Weight	Share of Manila clam	US$/kg	China’s share
0307.71.4000	Live, fresh or chilled	US$15.63 million	12,383 t	49.9%	1.26	100%
1605.56.1090	Prepared or preserved, other	US$10.22 million	5,153 t	32.6%	1.98	99.3%
0307.72.3000	Frozen	US$3.65 million	2,756 t	11.6%	1.32	97.2%
0307.79.3020	Salted or in brine	US$1.43 million	267 t	4.6%	5.35	100%
1605.56.1010	Prepared, airtight containers	US$0.21 million	76 t	0.7%	2.68	73.6%
0307.79.2020	Dried	US$0.18 million	23 t	0.6%	7.84	100%

Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, Jan–Sep 2026, retrieved October 15, 2026. US$/kg is customs value divided by weight, not a market price.

The code names do not say whether frozen or prepared clam is shelled, so the other 50.1% may not be “clam meat”. Live Manila clam fell 27.8%, from US$21.7 million in Jan–Sep 2025 to US$15.6 million. Monthly volume peaked in November in both years shown (4,857 tonnes in November 2025) and bottomed in August.

Why does China supply almost all of it?

The customs data show a low-value, high-volume product: live Manila clam cleared at US$1.26 per kg and frozen at US$1.32. Hard clams (baekhap, HSK 0307.71.1000) look the same: US$12.7 million, 99.2% from China, at US$1.06 per kg. The data do not show why; one untested reading is that values this low leave little room for long-distance freight.

SEACHING’s page for live Manila clam from China charts its monthly customs value per kg, with the model forecast dashed.

Which clams do other origins already sell to Korea?

Other origins sell in small “other” and prepared codes.

HSK / product	Jan–Sep 2026 value	Origins other than China (share, US$/kg)	China’s share
0307.72.9000 Frozen other clams, cockles and ark shells	US$3.73 million	Canada 28.0% (13.03), Vietnam 27.3% (1.77), Thailand 19.1% (1.80), Senegal 6.8% (5.27)	12.7%
0307.71.9000 Live or chilled other clams	US$2.77 million	Japan 31.1% (4.21), Russia 14.0% (3.90)	54.9%
1605.56.9090 Other prepared bivalves	US$1.13 million	Vietnam 60.0% (3.69)	39.9%
1605.56.1010 Manila clam in airtight containers	US$0.21 million	Thailand 26.2%	73.6%

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

The frozen “other clams” code grew 29.5%, while Vietnam’s share fell from 46.4% to 27.3% and Thailand’s rose from 10.4% to 19.1%. Canada’s US$13.03 per kg suggests a different product; the code does not name the species. In prepared bivalves, Vietnam’s share rose from 34.6% to 60.0%. See also the Thailand and Indonesia export guide.

See live Manila clam import data on SEACHING (free sign-up), prepared clam imports by origin (free sign-up) and Vietnam’s seafood trade with Korea (free sign-up).

Scallops: the bivalve market where Japan leads

Korea imported US$46.3 million of scallops in Jan–Sep 2026, 12.1% less than a year earlier. Japan held 62.1% and China 34.5%, up from 27.8%. Japan supplied 91.4% of live scallops and China 94.5% of prepared scallops. Korea has banned all seafood from eight Japanese prefectures since September 9, 2013 (as of October 2026). The 2026 tariff file has no RCEP rate for Japan in the live and frozen “other scallops” codes.

What duty do clams pay in Korea by origin?

Live and frozen Manila clam from China pay 20% under the Korea–China FTA; the other codes below pay 8% from China and 0% from Vietnam.

HSK / product	Basic rate	Korea–China FTA	Korea–Vietnam FTA	Korea–ASEAN FTA (e.g. Thailand)	Korea–Indonesia CEPA	Korea–Canada and KORUS FTAs
0307.71.4000 Live Manila clam	20%	20% (separate 0% line)	5%	5%	3%	0%
0307.72.3000 Frozen Manila clam	20%	20% (separate 0% line)	0%	5%	3%	0%
1605.56.1090 Prepared Manila clam	20%	8%	0%	5%	3%	0%
0307.71.9000 Live other clams	20%	8%	0%	0%	0%	0%
0307.72.9000 Frozen other clams	20%	8%	0%	5%	4.5%	0%
1605.56.9090 Other prepared bivalves	20%	8%	0%	5%	3%	0%

Source: Korea Customs Service, tariff schedule by HSK code, 2026 rates (January 1 to December 31, 2026).

The separate 0% line is coded FCN6, named only as an optional Korea–China FTA rate. The file does not state its conditions; confirm them with a licensed Korean customs broker before you price on it. The importer claims the FTA rate with proof of origin. Rates are as of October 2026; check yours on Korea Customs Service UNIPASS. See the Korea seafood import duty guide.

What to check before shipping clams to Korea

The National Fishery Products Quality Management Service (NFQS) quarantines live shellfish for food, as of October 2026. Exporting governments may add limits: the Canadian Food Inspection Agency lists live bivalve molluscs as ineligible for Korea (page updated November 4, 2025).

The foreign facility must be registered with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) before the import declaration, as of October 2026. In the 11 countries with a seafood safety arrangement with Korea, such as Vietnam and Thailand, facilities register through their government (MFDS guide, October 2024). Under these arrangements, each shipment also needs a health certificate. See the step-by-step export guide and confirm final requirements with your importer or customs broker.

Find your clam code in Korea’s data

SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, supplied these figures and those in the quarterly seafood imports report. For matching species names to codes, see why Korean buyers search by species, not HS code. Related reports cover octopus, squid and hairtail and yellow croaker.

Before you offer clams to a Korean buyer, check which clam codes Korea imports from origins like yours and at what customs value per kg. SEACHING shows Korea’s seafood imports by 10-digit HS code and month, built on Korea Customs Service data. Look up your clam product on SEACHING (free sign-up)

FAQ

What is the HS code for frozen clam meat in Korea?

Korea’s tariff has no code named “clam meat”. Frozen Manila clam is HSK 0307.72.3000, other frozen clams 0307.72.9000, and prepared Manila clam 1605.56.1090. Confirm your code with the importer’s customs broker.

Does Korea test imported clams for shellfish toxins?

Korea sets shellfish biotoxin criteria in the MFDS Food Code; Canada’s export guidance for Korea points to its chapters 2 and 5. Ask your importer which tests may apply.

Sources and method

SEACHING, Korea’s clam imports by HSK code and origin, Jan–Sep 2026 and Jan–Sep 2025, built on Korea Customs Service data, retrieved October 15, 2026
Korea Customs Service, tariff schedule by HSK code, 2026 rates, file registered February 11, 2026
Korea Customs Service CLIP, tariff rate type codes, checked October 14, 2026
Korea Customs Service FTA portal, agreements in force, checked October 1, 2026
National Law Information Center, FTA Customs Act Article 8, checked October 14, 2026
NFQS import quarantine guide, checked October 1, 2026
MFDS foreign food facility registration guide, October 2024, checked October 14, 2026
MFDS imported food radiation safety information, checked October 1, 2026
Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Korea fish and seafood export requirements, updated November 4, 2025, checked October 15, 2026
Method: clams means HSK 0307.71, 0307.72, 0307.79 and 1605.56; scallops means 0307.21, 0307.22, 0307.29 and 1605.52. Manila clam means the six HSK codes named “baby clams”. Code totals use all origins; origin values sum origins with at least US$100,000 in a code in the 12 months to September 2026, which covered all but US$0.02 million of clam imports. Values are CIF customs values; US$/kg is value divided by weight.

2026-11-05

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

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

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

Key takeaways

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

How much seafood does Korea import from China?

China sold Korea US$1,024.2 million of seafood in Jan–Sep 2026, 23.2% of the total and more than any other origin. The volume was 293,024 tonnes. In this article, Korea’s seafood imports means HS chapter 03 plus prepared fish and crustaceans (HS 1603–1605); seaweed and salt are excluded.

Origin	Jan–Sep 2026	Share	Jan–Sep 2025	Share
China	US$1,024.2 million	23.2%	US$1,038.3 million	23.7%
Russia	US$747.5 million	16.9%	US$686.9 million	15.7%
Vietnam	US$631.8 million	14.3%	US$602.8 million	13.8%
All origins	US$4,415.6 million	100%	US$4,383.0 million	100%

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

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

What does Korea buy from China?

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

HSK	Product	Value from China	Weight	US$/kg	China’s share of this HSK	Next origin
0306.17.1090	Frozen peeled shrimp	US$127.67 million	17,788 t	7.18	40.7%	Vietnam 42.4%
0307.43.2090	Frozen squid, other	US$82.51 million	29,882 t	2.76	35.1%	Peru 24.7%
0307.51.1000	Live or chilled long-arm octopus	US$78.74 million	3,668 t	21.46	99.4%	Thailand 0.6%
0307.52.2000	Frozen long-arm octopus	US$73.74 million	10,927 t	6.75	72.0%	Vietnam 25.0%
1605.54.2091	Seasoned squid	US$48.89 million	9,769 t	5.01	80.1%	Vietnam 17.8%
0304.99.1000	Frozen surimi, other	US$48.02 million	37,196 t	1.29	40.9%	Vietnam 45.4%
0303.89.9060	Frozen monkfish	US$40.97 million	18,327 t	2.24	97.6%	USA 2.2%
1604.19.9090	Other prepared fish	US$35.47 million	8,183 t	4.33	80.1%	Vietnam 14.0%
0303.89.5020	Frozen large yellow croaker	US$34.14 million	5,744 t	5.94	100%	none
1604.17.9000	Prepared eel	US$23.48 million	2,118 t	11.08	98.2%	Vietnam 0.8%

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

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

Where does China dominate, and where is it contested?

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

China holds 90% or more (Jan–Sep 2026)	China’s share	Contested lines (Jan–Sep 2026)	China / main rival
Live or chilled long-arm octopus	99.4%	Frozen peeled shrimp	40.7% / Vietnam 42.4%
Frozen monkfish	97.6%	Frozen surimi, other	40.9% / Vietnam 45.4%
Frozen large yellow croaker	100%	Frozen squid, other	35.1% / Peru 24.7%
Frozen blue crab	95.7%	Frozen long-arm octopus	72.0% / Vietnam 25.0%
Live or chilled Manila clam	100%	Frozen webfoot octopus	2.7% / Vietnam 82.4%
Live croaker and live loach	100% each	Seasoned squid	80.1% / Vietnam 17.8%

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

HSK / product	Basic rate	Korea–China FTA	Korea–Vietnam FTA	RCEP (China)
0306.17.1090 frozen peeled shrimp	20%	8%	0% within quota, 20% above	no line
0307.43.2090 frozen squid, other	20% (22% adjustment tariff)	8%	0%	no line
0307.52.2000 frozen long-arm octopus	20%	20%	0%	no line
0307.52.3000 frozen webfoot octopus	20%	8%	0%	13.3%
0304.99.1000 frozen surimi, other	10%	4%	0%	no line
1604.19.9090 other prepared fish	20%	8%	0%	no line
1604.17.9000 prepared eel	20%	20%	0%	no line
0303.89.9060 frozen monkfish	10%	10%	10%	no line
0306.14.3090 frozen blue crab	20% (WTO 14%)	13.8%	11.2%	no line

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

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

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

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

What does a Chinese plant need before the first shipment?

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

Step	Who	Documents or tools	Timing
1. Check whether your HSK code is China-dominated or contested	Exporter	Korea’s import data by HSK and origin	Before you quote
2. Choose the Korea–China FTA or RCEP rate	Exporter with the importer’s customs broker	Certificate of origin for that agreement	Before the import declaration is accepted
3. Get your plant registered with MFDS through the Chinese authorities	Plant, via China’s competent authority	Government notification to Korea	Before the import declaration; valid 2 years
4. Get a health certificate for each shipment	China’s competent authority	Government health certificate	Each shipment
5. Check whether NFQS quarantine applies	Exporter with importer	Ask NFQS which documents apply to live animals and raw shrimp	Before shipment
6. File traceability reports after customs	Korean importer	Korea’s traceability system	Within 5 days of each transfer

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

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

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

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

Pre-shipment checklist

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

Why can China’s import weight figures mislead?

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

How can Chinese suppliers win in contested lines?

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

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

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

Compare China with Vietnam and Peru, product by product

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

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

FAQ

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

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

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

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

Who files Korea’s traceability reports for Chinese seafood?

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

Sources and method

SEACHING, Korea’s seafood imports by HSK code and origin, Jan–Sep 2026 and Jan–Sep 2025, built on Korea Customs Service data, retrieved October 15, 2026
Korea Customs Service, tariff schedule by HSK code, 2026 rates, file registered February 11, 2026
Korea Customs Service CLIP, tariff rate type codes, checked October 14, 2026
National Law Information Center, Enforcement Decree of the FTA Customs Act, Annex 16, amended December 30, 2024, checked October 14, 2026
Korea Customs Service FTA portal, agreements in force, checked October 1, 2026
MFDS foreign food facility registration guide, October 2024, checked October 14, 2026
MFDS English press release on seafood safety arrangements, September 2020, checked October 14, 2026
NFQS import quarantine guide, checked October 14, 2026
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries press release on Korea–China electronic certificates, August 20, 2026
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries press release on traceability expansion, June 7, 2026
Method: Korea’s seafood imports means HS chapter 03 plus HS 1603–1605, excluding seaweed, salt and non-edible items. Origin totals sum each origin’s HSK codes with at least US$100,000 in the 12 months to September 2026; market totals use all codes. Values are CIF customs values; US$/kg is value divided by weight. Shares within an HSK code use all origins in that code.

2026-11-03

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.

Rank	Origin	Value, Jan–Sep 2026 (US$ million)	Share	Volume (tonnes)	Value vs Jan–Sep 2025	Volume vs Jan–Sep 2025
1	China	1,024.2	23.2%	293,024	-1.4%	+5.7%
2	Russia	747.5	16.9%	184,267	+8.8%	-11.8%
3	Vietnam	631.8	14.3%	115,332	+4.8%	-4.7%
4	Norway	458.4	10.4%	47,496	+5.0%	-25.8%
5	Peru	181.4	4.1%	48,596	-8.8%	+41.7%
6	Japan	161.6	3.7%	23,375	+13.2%	-39.9%
7	United States	137.3	3.1%	38,763	+7.3%	+0.8%
8	Chile	115.1	2.6%	28,943	-12.7%	+13.7%
9	Thailand	96.3	2.2%	13,064	-7.5%	-6.6%
10	Canada	79.7	1.8%	7,194	+17.0%	+82.1%
11	Taiwan	72.9	1.7%	17,690	-0.8%	-3.4%
12	Türkiye	66.4	1.5%	3,134	+18.7%	+9.1%
13	Argentina	49.9	1.1%	7,640	-9.0%	-17.2%
14	United Kingdom	45.4	1.0%	5,001	+1.6%	+4.6%
15	Indonesia	38.8	0.9%	7,797	-12.1%	-23.7%
	All origins	4,415.6	100%	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.

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.

Origin	2024 rank	2025 rank	Jan–Sep 2026 rank
Peru	7	5	5
Japan	5	6	6
United States	6	7	7
Chile	10	8	8
Canada	9	11	10
Türkiye	22	14	12
United Kingdom	18	16	14
Hong Kong	12	12	29

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.

Origin	Largest product (US$ million, origin’s share of Korea’s imports of the code)	Second	Third
China	Frozen 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%)
Russia	Live, 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%)
Vietnam	Frozen 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%)
Norway	Fresh 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%)
Peru	Frozen 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%)
Japan	Live 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 States	Frozen 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%)
Chile	Frozen 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%)
Thailand	Frozen 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%)
Canada	Frozen 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%)
Türkiye	Frozen 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.

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

SEACHING, Korea seafood imports by HS code and origin, Korea Customs Service data, monthly imports through September 2026, queried October 15, 2026
USDA FAS GAIN KS2025-0046, Korea Seafood Market Update 2025, November 25, 2025, page 9
Korea Customs Service FTA portal, FTAs in force, May 2026 list, checked October 15, 2026
KCS tariff schedule by HSK, 2026 (data.go.kr), registered February 11, 2026
MFDS imported food radiation safety information, checked October 15, 2026
Method: scope is HS chapter 03 plus HS 1603, 1604 and 1605, imports only; HS 1212, salt and non-edible products are excluded. Origin totals add up 10-digit HS lines worth at least US$100,000 a year from that origin; smaller lines (US$6.4 million in Jan–Sep 2026, 0.15% of the total) are not assigned to an origin but are in the “All origins” row. Shares use that total. The 2024 and 2025 ranks use the same method; 2023 by origin is not in the dataset. Values are customs values in US dollars (CIF).

2026-11-03

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 imports	Q3 2025	Q3 2026	Change
Value (US$ million)	1,503.4	1,467.6	−2.4%
Weight (tonnes)	354,366	300,529	−15.2%
Average unit price (US$/kg)	4.24	4.88	+15.1%
Jan–Sep value (US$ million)	4,383.0	4,415.6	+0.7%
Jan–Sep weight (tonnes)	1,005,656	959,847	−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.

Month	2025 (US$ million)	2026 (US$ million)	Value change	Weight change
July	503.4	452.1	−10.2%	−26.4%
August	442.4	472.0	+6.7%	−4.4%
September	557.6	543.5	−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%.

Rank	Origin	Q3 2025 (US$ million)	Q3 2026 (US$ million)	Share, Q3 2026	Change	Rank, Q3 2025
1	China	334.5	337.9	23.0%	+1.0%	1
2	Russia	251.9	256.1	17.4%	+1.6%	2
3	Vietnam	225.8	224.2	15.3%	−0.7%	3
4	Norway	140.8	154.2	10.5%	+9.5%	4
5	Peru	82.5	58.3	4.0%	−29.3%	5
6	Japan	44.0	45.8	3.1%	+4.0%	7
7	United States	49.3	45.6	3.1%	−7.5%	6
8	Canada	39.1	39.2	2.7%	+0.4%	8
9	Thailand	34.9	29.7	2.0%	−14.8%	9
10	Chile	24.5	28.4	1.9%	+16.0%	12
	All other origins	276.2	248.2	16.9%	−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.

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 group	Value (US$ million)	Weight (tonnes)	US$/kg	Value change	Leading origin (share)
Shrimp	205.5	29,760	6.91	−0.3%	Vietnam (42.3%)
Squid and cuttlefish	158.3	45,285	3.50	−31.5%	China (33.5%)
Salmon	122.5	10,144	12.07	+12.7%	Norway (90.3%)
Long-arm octopus (nakji)	67.0	5,580	12.02	−4.8%	China (88.4%)
Alaska pollock fillets, surimi and roe	57.2	15,988	3.58	−3.5%	Russia (74.0%)
Webfoot octopus (jukkumi)	55.9	7,637	7.32	+1.3%	Vietnam (85.7%)
Tuna	47.7	5,622	8.48	+44.5%	Türkiye (38.2%)
Mackerel	46.6	8,043	5.79	+19.2%	Norway (86.0%)
Snow crab, live and fresh	45.0	2,097	21.47	+15.0%	Russia (99.8%)
Other crab, frozen	38.4	3,903	9.83	+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.

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).

2026-11-02

Korea Import Inspection for Seafood: Why Shipments Fail

Data as of: MFDS inspection results for calendar 2025; rules checked October 14, 2026.

Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) checks every seafood import declaration by document review, on-site inspection or laboratory test. In 2025 it ruled 51 unprocessed seafood declarations non-compliant, 0.06% of 87,818. Most failed on bacteria in sashimi-grade frozen fish or veterinary drug residues in farmed species (MFDS Imported Food Inspection Yearbook 2026).

What “Korean import inspection” means for seafood
Two separate checks happen at the Korean border. MFDS inspects seafood as food, against Korea’s food safety standards. The National Fishery Products Quality Management Service (NFQS) runs quarantine on live aquatic animals and on raw frozen or chilled shrimp, abalone and oysters, looking for aquatic animal diseases.

Key takeaways

MFDS ruled 51 of Korea’s 87,818 unprocessed seafood import declarations non-compliant in 2025, a rate of 0.06% (MFDS Imported Food Inspection Yearbook 2026).
Microbial standards caused 33 of Korea’s 51 seafood import failures in 2025, all on frozen seafood declared for raw consumption (MFDS, 2025 data).
Veterinary drug residues caused 19 of Korea’s 45 seafood import failures in 2024, led by ethoxyquin (MFDS Yearbook 2025).
Heavy metals caused no failures of unprocessed seafood at Korean import inspection in 2024 or 2025 (MFDS yearbooks).

How does Korean import inspection work for seafood?

The Korean importer files an import declaration, and MFDS assigns one of four inspection types set in Annex 9 of the Enforcement Rule of the Special Act on Imported Food Safety Control (as amended June 9, 2023). The exporter’s job is to send a product, documents and label that will pass.

Inspection type	What MFDS checks	Share of Korea’s seafood declarations, 2025
Document review	The declaration and supporting papers	39.7%
On-site inspection	Condition, smell, color, labeling, packaging and past test history; includes a sensory check	43.0%
Laboratory (precise) inspection	Physical, chemical and microbiological tests	13.3%
Random sampling	Lab tests under the MFDS sampling plan	4.0%

Source: MFDS Imported Food Inspection Yearbook 2026, Table 5 (unprocessed seafood, 2025, by number of declarations).

Two rules matter most for a new exporter. MFDS sends a product to laboratory inspection the first time it is declared, and later shipments of the same product from the same company can clear on document review. Your plant must also be registered with MFDS as a foreign food facility before the declaration is filed, and the registration lasts two years (how to register).

NFQS quarantine applies to live aquatic animals and to frozen or chilled abalone, oysters and shrimp that have not been heat-treated or cut. These shipments need an original quarantine certificate from your government.

Why do seafood shipments fail Korean import inspection?

In 2025 most failures came from bacteria in sashimi-grade fish; in 2024, from drug residues in farmed fish. The leading cause changes from year to year, so plan for both.

Reason for non-compliance (unprocessed seafood)	2024	2025
Microbial standards	10	33
Veterinary drug residues	19	8
Spoilage, poor packaging, loss of freshness	2	5
Other general food standards (e.g., toxins, histamine)	11	3
Foreign matter	3	2
Heavy metals	0	0
Total	45	51

Source: MFDS Imported Food Inspection Yearbooks 2025 and 2026, Table 49.

Microbes in raw-consumption seafood. In 2025 Listeria monocytogenes failed 23 tests, Vibrio cholerae 4 and Salmonella 3. All 33 microbial test failures were on frozen seafood declared for raw consumption, led by sashimi-grade swordfish fillets (7 cases), bluefin tuna fillets (6) and bigeye tuna fillets (5).

Drug residues in farmed species. Ethoxyquin, an antioxidant used in fish feed, failed 17 tests in 2024. In 2025 residues of ethoxyquin, nitrofurans, sulfadiazine, ofloxacin, trimethoprim and florfenicol were found in eel, snakehead, catfish, yellow croaker and whiteleg shrimp meat. Since January 1, 2024, Korea has applied a Positive List System (PLS) to fish: a drug with no Korean residue limit is held to 0.01 mg/kg. MFDS plans to extend it to crustaceans.

Natural toxins. Paralytic shellfish poison failed 7 tests in 2024, and histamine failed in dried anchovy and dried yellowfin tuna in 2025.

By origin, 2025 failures came most often from Taiwan (10 cases), China (9), Vietnam (7) and Japan (5); in 2024 China (21) and Japan (11) led. Processed seafood is counted separately: “other processed fishery products” had 47 failures in 2025, mostly on total bacterial count (18 tests) and metallic foreign matter (9).

What should exporters check before shipping?

Match your pre-shipment checks to the reasons above.

What fails in Korea	What to do before shipment
Listeria, Vibrio, Salmonella in fish for raw consumption	Agree with the buyer whether the product will be declared for raw consumption. Test each lot for these pathogens. Review hygiene in thawing, cutting and packing.
Veterinary drug residues in farmed fish and shrimp	Keep treatment and withdrawal records per pond or cage. Ask your feed supplier about ethoxyquin. Test against Korean limits, and remember the 0.01 mg/kg default for fish.
Spoilage and damaged packaging	Keep cold-chain temperature logs from plant to port. Use cartons that survive reefer transit.
Toxins and histamine	Send shellfish toxin results with bivalves. Test histamine in tuna, mackerel and dried anchovy.
Foreign matter in processed products	Run metal detection on the final pack.
Unregistered or expired facility	Check your MFDS foreign facility registration and its expiry date.
Labeling problems found on site	Agree with the importer who applies the Korean label and what it says (labeling rules).
No quarantine certificate (live, raw frozen or chilled shrimp, abalone, oysters)	Get the original government quarantine certificate before loading.

Under Annex 9, MFDS can accept a report from an overseas laboratory it has designated in place of its own lab test, or narrow the test items. Ask your importer to confirm the lab is on the MFDS list before you pay for testing.

What is an MFDS inspection order, and is my product on it?

An inspection order requires the importer to have a specific product tested, at a designated or accredited overseas laboratory, before filing the import declaration. MFDS issues one when a product has a failure history or a known hazard.

Product	Origin	Test	Period
Bluefin tuna for raw consumption	Japan (1 manufacturer)	Salmonella	Mar 31, 2021 – Mar 30, 2027
Frozen yellow croaker (buse)	China	Ethoxyquin	Dec 30, 2024 – Dec 29, 2026
Processed seafood with 30% or more shrimp	Vietnam (4 manufacturers)	Doxycycline	Jun 30, 2025 – Jun 29, 2027

Source: MFDS Imported Food Information Maru, inspection order list, checked October 14, 2026.

MFDS can lift an order early after 300 or more tests with no violation, or after two years with no violation. Check the MFDS inspection order page before you quote, because the list changes.

What happens after a shipment fails?

A shipment that fails MFDS inspection must be returned to the exporting country, sent to a third country, converted to animal feed with approval, or destroyed. A shipment that fails NFQS quarantine is returned or destroyed.

The cost does not end with one container. Under Annex 9 (2023 text), a product with a failure record goes back to laboratory inspection on later imports, up to five times in total. MFDS proposed in April 2026 to replace this with up to 20 times depending on risk, and Korean media reported the amendment as promulgated on September 30, 2026. Ask your importer which count applies when you ship.

A failure record also follows you to the buyer. Korean importers check a supplier’s reputation before a first order (what importers check).

Common misconceptions

“Heavy metals are the main risk.” Heavy metals caused no failures of unprocessed seafood in 2024 or 2025. Microbes and drug residues caused most.

“Once my product passes, it is cleared for good.” One later failure sends the product back to repeated lab tests, and a pattern can lead to an inspection order.

“MFDS inspection and NFQS quarantine are the same check.” They are separate. Raw frozen shrimp goes through both.

“A 0.06% failure rate means my product is safe.” Failures cluster. Three products, sashimi-grade frozen swordfish, bluefin and bigeye tuna fillets, made up 18 of the 51 failures in 2025.

Check what Korea already buys in your category

Inspection risk differs by product and origin, so look at your own category before you quote. SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, shows Korea’s imports of frozen bluefin tuna fillets, frozen shrimp meat import data, and origin pages such as Vietnam’s seafood trade with Korea and China’s seafood trade with Korea (free sign-up). For the full export sequence, start with how to export seafood to Korea; for one species in depth, see Korea’s shrimp imports.

Paperwork gets you through customs; data gets you the order. Check which Korean importers already buy your product category and at what price range. Start with SEACHING’s product data (free sign-up)

FAQ

How long does Korean import inspection take for seafood?

NFQS lists 2 days for quarantine document checks, 3 days for clinical checks and 15 days for laboratory quarantine tests, as of October 2026. MFDS does not publish an equivalent processing-time table on its English pages. Ask your importer or customs broker for current timing at the port of entry.

Can a lab report from my country replace the Korean test?

Yes, if the laboratory is one MFDS has designated as an overseas testing institution. MFDS can then replace its lab test with the report or reduce the test items, under Annex 9 of the Enforcement Rule (as amended June 9, 2023). A report from a non-designated lab does not count.

Who pays when a seafood shipment fails in Korea?

Korean law sets what happens to the goods, not who pays. Return freight, third-country sale or destruction costs follow your sales contract. Write the allocation into the contract before the first shipment.

Sources and method

Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), 2026 Imported Food Inspection Yearbook (2025 results), published June 30, 2026, Tables 4, 5, 11, 42, 44, 45, 49 and 54
MFDS, 2025 Imported Food Inspection Yearbook (2024 results), published July 3, 2025, Table 49 and failed test items
Enforcement Rule of the Special Act on Imported Food Safety Control, Annex 9 (as amended June 9, 2023)
MFDS legislative notice No. 2026-194 (April 20, 2026) on repeat laboratory inspection; promulgation reported September 30, 2026
MFDS Imported Food Information Maru, inspection order list, checked October 14, 2026
MFDS, import inspection procedure (English), checked October 14, 2026
MFDS, card news on the veterinary drug Positive List System, June 2025
NFQS, import quarantine guide, checked October 14, 2026
Korea Ministry of Government Legislation, Easy Law guide on imported food non-compliance handling, as of September 15, 2026
Method: “Unprocessed seafood” is the MFDS product group 수산물 (fresh, chilled, frozen, live and dried fishery products). Processed seafood is counted under processed foods and is reported separately above. Failures are counted per import declaration; one declaration can fail several test items. NFQS quarantine results are not in the MFDS yearbook. Rules can change; confirm with MFDS, NFQS or a licensed Korean customs broker before shipping.

2026-10-27

Tag: China

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