Tag: Mackerel

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

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

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

Key takeaways

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

How much seafood does Korea import from Norway?

Korea bought US$458.4 million of seafood from Norway in Jan–Sep 2026, against US$436.5 million a year earlier. Norway’s share rose from 10.0% to 10.4%, while Korea’s total grew 0.7%. In this article, Korea’s seafood imports means HS chapter 03 plus prepared fish and crustaceans (HS 1603–1605); seaweed and salt are excluded.

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%
Norway	US$458.4 million	10.4%	US$436.5 million	10.0%
All origins	US$4,415.6 million	100%	US$4,383.0 million	100%

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

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

What does Korea buy from Norway?

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

HSK	Product	Value from Norway	Weight	US$/kg	Norway’s share of this code (Jan–Sep 2025)	Main rival
0302.14.0000	Atlantic salmon, fresh or chilled, whole	US$199.69 million	17,559 t	11.37	96.5% (97.9%)	Canada 2.2%
0304.41.0000	Salmon fillets, fresh or chilled	US$124.50 million	6,965 t	17.88	97.0% (98.3%)	Chile 3.0%
0303.54.0000	Mackerel, frozen, whole	US$84.46 million	16,598 t	5.09	78.6% (82.3%)	UK 12.3%
0304.89.5000	Mackerel fillets, frozen	US$31.07 million	3,609 t	8.61	75.5% (94.8%)	China 20.7%
0303.13.0000	Atlantic salmon, frozen, whole	US$5.23 million	611 t	8.56	56.8% (67.1%)	Chile 43.2%
0304.81.0000	Salmon fillets, frozen	US$2.21 million	121 t	18.25	15.6% (13.7%)	Chile 65.4%

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

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

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

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

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

2025, tonnes	Norway’s exports to Korea (NSC figures as reported by Real Foods, secondary source)	Korea’s imports from Norway (Korea Customs Service)
Salmon	32,603 (+11%)	32,649 (+12.0%)
Mackerel	32,496 (−25%)	48,269 (+21.0%)
All seafood	68,611	84,846

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

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

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

Is Chilean salmon catching up with Norway in Korea?

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

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

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

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

What happened to Norwegian mackerel in Korea in 2026?

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

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

What duty does Norwegian seafood pay in Korea?

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

HSK / product	Basic rate	Korea–EFTA FTA	Other route in 2026
0302.14 fresh whole Atlantic salmon	20%	0%	none needed
0304.41 fresh salmon fillets	20%	0%	none needed
0303.13 frozen whole Atlantic salmon	10%	0%	none needed
0304.81 frozen salmon fillets	10%	0%	none needed
0303.54 frozen whole mackerel	10%	0% within 500 tonnes a year for all EFTA origins combined	0% quota tariff, any origin, fish over 300 g and up to 600 g, up to 25,000 tonnes, February 12 to December 31, 2026
0304.89.5000 frozen mackerel fillets	10%	0%	none needed

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

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

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

What does a Norwegian exporter need before the first shipment?

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

Step	Who	Documents or tools	Timing
1. Confirm the 10-digit HSK code and the duty route; for whole mackerel, ask about the 500-tonne EFTA limit and the quota tariff	Exporter with the importer’s customs broker	2026 tariff schedule, UNIPASS	Before you quote
2. Be on the list of producers the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) has notified to Korea	Producer, through Mattilsynet	Government notification to MFDS (no online registration)	Before the first shipment
3. Get a health certificate for each shipment	Mattilsynet	Government health certificate	Each shipment
4. Make out the EFTA origin declaration	Exporter	Origin declaration on the invoice	With the shipping documents
5. Send label data for the Korean label	Exporter to importer	Korean label text or labeled packaging	Before the import declaration
6. For frozen mackerel, file traceability reports after clearance	Korean importer	Imported seafood distribution history reports	After clearance

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

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

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

Pre-shipment checklist

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

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

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

SEACHING’s price forecast models import unit prices by origin and product using Korea Customs Service prices, exchange-rate indices and sea-surface temperature data. See the forecast for fresh Atlantic salmon (free sign-up)

FAQ

Is Norwegian salmon duty-free in Korea?

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

Does Korea import Norwegian king crab?

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

Sources and method

SEACHING, Korea’s seafood imports by HSK code and origin, January 2024 to September 2026, built on Korea Customs Service data, retrieved October 15, 2026
Korea Customs Service, tariff schedule by HSK code, 2026 rates, file registered February 11, 2026
National Law Information Center, Enforcement Decree of the FTA Customs Act, Annex 3, amended December 30, 2024, checked October 14, 2026
National Law Information Center, quota tariff regulation, Annex 8, June 30, 2026 version, checked October 14, 2026
Act on Special Cases of the Customs Act for the Implementation of Free Trade Agreements, Article 8, checked October 14, 2026
EFTA–Korea rules of origin, Explanatory Notes to Annex I (Norwegian Customs), notes in effect May 3, 2017, amended June 23, 2020, checked October 15, 2026
MFDS, Korea–Norway seafood safety arrangement press release, October 7, 2020
MFDS foreign food facility registration guide, October 2024, checked October 14, 2026
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries press release on imported seafood traceability items, June 7, 2026
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries press release on the mackerel delegation, July 5, 2026
Stortinget, Innst. 276 S (2025–2026), Norway’s fisheries agreements for 2026, May 12, 2026
Norwegian Seafood Council, South Korea country page, 2025 estimates, checked October 15, 2026
Real Foods, report of Norwegian Seafood Council 2025 export figures to Korea, February 2, 2026 (secondary source)
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$100,000 in the 12 months to September 2026; market totals use all codes. Salmon means eight HS subheadings (0302.13, 0302.14, 0303.11, 0303.12, 0303.13, 0304.41, 0304.81, 0305.41); mackerel means HSK 0302.44, 0303.54 and 0304.89.5000. Values are CIF customs values; US$/kg is value divided by weight; months with no trade count as zero. Importer counts and record shares are SEACHING estimates for October 2025 to September 2026. Figures for 2026 may be revised when Korea Customs Service publishes final data.

2026-11-13

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

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

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

Key takeaways

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

How much seafood does the average South Korean eat?

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

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

Why do sources give different per-capita numbers?

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

Figure	Year	Publisher	Fish and shellfish basis	Seaweed
59.9 kg	2024, provisional	MOF, e-Narajipyo (from KREI)	Net of inedible parts	Included, full weight
35.1 kg	2024, provisional	KREI, Food Balance Sheet 2024	Net of inedible parts	Excluded
38.4 kg	2024, provisional	KREI (35.1 + 3.3)	Net of inedible parts	Included, net
60.9 kg	2023, preliminary	USDA, citing KREI 2023 edition	Same basis as MOF; MOF’s series now shows 60.7 kg	Included, full weight
66.8 kg	2025, estimate	KMI outlook, quoted in a January 2026 column	“Net edible supply”; method not given	Not stated
61 kg	Not stated	Norwegian Seafood Council	No definition or source given	Not stated
58.4 kg	2013–2015 average	MOF in 2017, citing FAO	FAO apparent consumption	Excluded (FAO basis)
20.7 kg	2022, world	FAO, SOFIA 2024	Aquatic animal foods, live weight equivalent	Excluded

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Is Korean seafood consumption rising or falling?

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

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

Is South Korea self-sufficient in seafood?

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

What does this mean for exporters selling to Korea?

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

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

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

Which figure should you cite?

Name the basis with the figure:

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

For country comparisons, use FAO data on both sides.

Look up Korea’s imports for your species

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

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

FAQ

Do Koreans eat a lot of seafood?

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

Where does the 60.9 kg figure come from?

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

Is South Korea self-sufficient in food?

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

Sources and method

e-Narajipyo, fishery products consumption (per person per year) and self-sufficiency, indicator 1317 (MOF), statistical table 1999–2024, updated October 13, 2026; checked October 15, 2026
KREI, Food Balance Sheet 2024 (E05-2025), published December 2025, attachment on e-Narajipyo; summary p.13, tables 3.1 and 3.4, self-sufficiency table p.251, refuse table note 77; 2024 values provisional; checked October 15, 2026
KREI, Food Balance Sheet 2023 (E05-2024), published December 2024; table 3.2 (2022); checked October 15, 2026
FAO, The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024, apparent consumption of aquatic foods, 2022 preliminary; checked October 15, 2026
USDA FAS GAIN, Korea Seafood Market Update 2025 (KS2025-0046), November 25, 2025
Korea Fisheries Economy, KMI Fisheries Outlook Center column, January 23, 2026
Norwegian Seafood Council, South Korea country page, checked October 15, 2026
Metro Seoul, MOF announcement citing FAO SOFIA 2016, February 12, 2017
Method: the 24.8 kg inside MOF’s total is the food supply in KREI’s seaweeds row (1,284.3 thousand tonnes in 2024) divided by KREI’s 2024 population of 51,805,547. Whole-weight fish and shellfish per person is KREI’s food supply before refuse (3,419.0 thousand tonnes in 2022) divided by that year’s population. Percentage changes and ratios are calculated by the author from the published tables.

2026-11-12

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

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

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

Key takeaways

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

Who does what, and when?

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

Step	Who	What	When
1. Agree the Korean label text	Importer writes it; exporter supplies product name, species, net weight, dates, storage, plant name	Draft Korean label	Before production
2. Print the origin mark	Exporter	“Product of [country]” or equivalent on each carton and retail pack	When packaging is printed
3. Apply the Korean label	Exporter at the plant, or importer in a Korean bonded warehouse with customs approval	Printed Korean text or a firmly attached sticker	Before the MFDS import declaration
4. Import declaration and inspection	Importer files; MFDS checks the label; customs checks the origin mark	Labeled packaging or label text, color photos	On arrival
5. Origin labeling in distribution and traceability reports	Importer and every distributor	Origin shown at sale; transfer reports for 27 listed items	After customs clearance

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

What must a Korean label on imported seafood include?

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

Item on the Korean label	Natural-state seafood (e.g., frozen whole mackerel)	Processed seafood (e.g., surimi, dried squid)	Data the exporter supplies
Product or content name	Yes	Yes	Species and product name
Food type	No	Yes	Process description
Business name	Importer’s name	Importer’s name and address, plus the manufacturer	Plant name
Date	Production (catch) date or packing date	Use-by date	Production or catch date, shelf life
Net content	Yes	Yes, with calories	Net weight without glaze
Ingredients	No	Yes, with nutrition facts	Full recipe and percentages
Storage method and cautions	Where relevant	Yes, including allergens	Storage temperature

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

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

Four detailed rules cause most of the rework.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How should country of origin appear on seafood cartons?

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

	Customs stage	Distribution stage
Law	Foreign Trade Act, Article 33; Foreign Trade Management Regulation	Act on the Origin Labeling of Agricultural and Fishery Products
Who enforces	Korea Customs Service at clearance	NFQS, local governments, KCS
Who must mark	The importer, on the goods or packaging	The importer, distributors and retailers selling or storing for sale
What it requires	HS 0301–0309, 1604 and 1605 carry an origin mark	Origin stays visible through sale; imported seafood uses the Foreign Trade Act origin
Penalty	Clearance refused; penalty surcharge of up to KRW 300 million	Up to 7 years or KRW 100 million for false labeling; fine of up to KRW 10 million for no label

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

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

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

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

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

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

Which seafood falls under Korea’s traceability reporting?

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

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

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

What labeling mistakes cause problems at the Korean border?

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

Mistake	What happens	Prevention
No origin on inner retail packs	Customs asks for correction before clearance	Print origin on every pack sold to consumers
Species name on label differs from the health certificate and invoice	Questions at document review or on-site inspection	One product name list shared with the importer
Net weight includes the glaze	Label breaches the net content rule	Declare glaze separately, state net weight without ice
Sticker covers the original name or date	Label breaches the sticker rule	Leave a blank panel on the carton for the sticker
Date format unclear (e.g., 03/04/26)	Inspector cannot read the date	Use year-month-day or print an example

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

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

Pre-shipment labeling checklist

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

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

Check which origins already supply your product to Korea

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

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

FAQ

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

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

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

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

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

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

Is a catch certificate required for seafood imports to Korea?

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

Sources and method

Act on Labeling and Advertising of Foods, Articles 2–4, version in force from September 19, 2025, checked October 14, 2026
Enforcement Rule of the Act on Labeling and Advertising of Foods, Article 4 and Annexes 1 and 3, version of December 30, 2024, checked October 14, 2026
MFDS Labeling Standards for Food, Notice No. 2026-37 (May 12, 2026), Chapters II.1 and III.1 and Annex 1, checked October 14, 2026
Enforcement Rule of the Special Act on Imported Food Safety Control, Article 27 and Form 25, version of September 30, 2026, checked October 14, 2026
Enforcement Rule of the Special Act on Imported Food Safety Control, Annex 9 (as amended June 9, 2023)
Act on the Origin Labeling of Agricultural and Fishery Products, Articles 5, 6, 14 and 18, and Enforcement Decree Annex 1, checked October 14, 2026
Foreign Trade Act, Articles 33 and 33-2, version of October 1, 2025, checked October 14, 2026
Foreign Trade Management Regulation, Notice No. 2024-43, Articles 75–85 and Annex 8, checked October 14, 2026
Customs Act, Articles 158, 230 and 230-2, version of October 2, 2026, checked October 14, 2026
Korea Customs Service, Notice on Bonded Cargo Management, Notice No. 2026-12, Articles 20–22, checked October 14, 2026
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, press release on imported seafood distribution history, June 7, 2026
NFQS, imported seafood distribution history guide, checked October 1, 2026
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, press release on the planned catch certification scheme, December 23, 2025
Method: Rules were read in the original Korean texts on the National Law Information Center (law.go.kr). English law names are descriptive translations. This article covers seafood imported into Korea; it is not legal advice. Confirm the final label with your Korean importer, a licensed Korean customs broker or MFDS.

2026-11-12

How to Verify a Korean Seafood Importer Before You Ship

Data as of: SEACHING importer estimates for October 2024–September 2026, queried October 15, 2026. Korean government lookups and laws checked October 15, 2026.

To verify a Korean seafood importer before you ship, check that the company is active, is registered with Korea’s food safety ministry to import food, and imports seafood now. Past activity is not proof: SEACHING estimates that 120 of 542 frozen squid importers active in October 2024–September 2026 had no import record in the last 12 months.

Key takeaways

Korea’s National Tax Service (NTS) shows whether a company is operating, suspended or closed from its 10-digit business registration number; as of October 15, 2026, the Korean-only Hometax page needed no login.
A Korean company that imports food for sale must register an import-sales business with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), which lists registered businesses online (Special Act on Imported Food Safety Control, checked October 15, 2026).
SEACHING estimates that 22.1% of the companies that imported frozen squid into Korea in October 2024–September 2026 had no import record in October 2025–September 2026.
KOTRA’s paid company checks serve firms with a Korean business registration and examine overseas companies, not Korean buyers (KOTRA service terms, January 2024).

What can you check about a Korean importer from abroad?

Three checks, each from a different source, show that the company is trading, may import food and really buys seafood.

Step	Where	What you look at	Red flag
1. Legal status	NTS Hometax, Internet Registry Office (IROS), DART	Operating, suspended or closed; registered name, representative, address	Suspended or closed; names or address differ from your contract
2. Food import registration	MFDS Imported Food Information Maru	Import-sales business registration, operating status	No registration and no named importer of record
3. Import behavior	SEACHING company data (estimates)	Which products, origins and months it imported	No seafood records, or records unrelated to your product

Sources: NTS, Supreme Court IROS, Financial Supervisory Service DART, MFDS, SEACHING; checked October 15, 2026.

First, ask the buyer for its business registration number, Korean company name, representative’s name and a copy of its registration certificate. Have your product’s 10-digit HS code ready.

Step 1: Does the company legally exist, and is it still trading?

Start with the tax status on Hometax, the NTS site. The page is 사업자등록상태조회 (business registration status inquiry), under 상담·불복·고충·제보·기타 > 사업자상태. As of October 15, 2026, it opened without logging in and was in Korean only. Enter the business registration number, and NTS returns whether the business is operating, suspended or closed, its tax type and any closure date.

Korean label	English meaning	What it tells you
사업자등록번호	Business registration number	The 10-digit number you enter
계속	Continuing	Business is operating
휴업	Suspended	Business temporarily stopped
폐업	Closed	Business shut down; a closure date appears
과세유형	Tax type	For example, general, simplified or tax-exempt
국세청에 등록되지 않은 사업자등록번호입니다	This number is not registered with NTS	The number does not exist in NTS records

Source: NTS business status service and Hometax screen, checked October 15, 2026.

The result appears in the table below the input field. The page notes that the result has no legal effect as proof.

Next, read the corporate register. Under the Commercial Registration Act, anyone may view it for a fee, and IROS charges KRW 700 for an online view (fee rules in force since August 1, 2025). It shows the registered name, head office and directors; compare them with the contract and the bank account holder.

Listed companies and companies above Korea’s external audit thresholds must publish audit reports. These appear on DART, run by the Financial Supervisory Service; its English filings are voluntary and have no legal effect. A small private importer may have nothing on DART, which alone is not a warning sign.

Step 2: Is it registered to import food into Korea?

A company that imports food for sale must register an import-sales business with MFDS, and a registered business files the food import declaration. If your buyer is not registered, someone else will be the importer of record.

Use the “Domestic businesses” (국내영업자) tab of the business lookup on MFDS Imported Food Information Maru. Set business type (영업의종류) to 수입식품등 수입판매업 (imported food import-sales business), enter the company name (업소명) and check operating status (운영상태). Results show the licence number, name, business type, representative, address and licensing office.

On October 15, 2026, this filter alone returned 50,443 operating import-sales businesses across all imported food. Registration shows a company may import food, not that it buys fish.

Confirm the business type and that the status is operating, not 휴/폐업 (suspended or closed). MFDS may cancel the registration of a company whose tax registration has closed, so Steps 1 and 2 should agree.

No registration is not always fraud. The law treats some food manufacturers as registered when they import raw material for their own products. Many buyers also do not import in their own name: LINKSUP estimates that only about 15% of Korean seafood importers buy directly from foreign suppliers (a LINKSUP estimate, not an official statistic). Ask in writing which company will file the declaration, and check it. See how Korean import agents work.

Step 3: Does it actually import seafood, and how often?

SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, estimates each company’s imports from customs and MFDS import declaration data.

On a company’s Trade tab, Trade Profile shows the main origin, main product and last trade date. Trade Timeline shows whether records continue into recent months, and Trade Flow links suppliers to origins and products.

Many past importers have no recent record:

Product (HSK)	Importers, Oct 2024–Sep 2026	Importers, Oct 2025–Sep 2026	No record in the last 12 months
Frozen mackerel (0303.54.0000)	150	75	75 (50.0%)
Frozen squid, other (0307.43.2090)	542	422	120 (22.1%)
Frozen webfoot octopus (0307.52.3000)	272	231	41 (15.1%)
Frozen peeled shrimp (0306.17.1090)	229	195	34 (14.8%)

Source: SEACHING estimates from Korea Customs Service and MFDS import records, queried October 15, 2026. Counts are estimates, not company accounts.

For frozen squid, SEACHING estimates that 93 of the 422 importers of October 2025–September 2026 had a single import record. Ask more questions of a buyer that imported once or not in the last year.

A missing record is not proof of risk. A new importer has no history, and a buyer importing through another company appears under that company’s name. See finding seafood buyers with Korean import data to read a product’s importer list.

What red flags should stop a shipment?

Stop and ask questions if:

Hometax shows the business as suspended (휴업) or closed (폐업).
The name, representative or address differs between the registration certificate, corporate register, contract and bank account.
The buyer has no import-sales registration and will not name the company that files the declaration.
SEACHING shows no seafood imports, and the buyer cannot explain why.
The email domain or phone number does not match the registered details.
The buyer pushes for open-account terms before you finish these checks.

Korean importers value face-to-face meetings with new partners, according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (2025), so a meeting is a further check. See what Korean importers check before a first order for the other side.

Which payment terms reduce your risk on a first shipment?

Keep control of the goods or money until you are paid. The U.S. International Trade Administration rates exporter risk this way:

Method	How it works	Risk to the exporter
Cash in advance	Buyer pays before shipment	Avoids credit risk
Letter of credit (L/C)	Buyer’s bank commits to pay against documents	One of the most secure instruments
Documentary collection (D/P, D/A)	Banks exchange documents for payment or acceptance	No verification, limited recourse
Open account	You ship, buyer pays later	One of the highest risks
Consignment	You are paid only after the buyer sells	Very risky

Source: International Trade Administration, Methods of Payment, checked October 15, 2026.

No public data shows which terms Korean seafood importers prefer. Agree L/C wording with your bank before signing.

Where can you get a credit report or insurance on a Korean buyer?

Start in your own country. KOTRA’s company checks serve firms with a Korean business registration and examine overseas companies. K-SURE’s import insurance is for Korean importers that prepay overseas exporters. For cover on a Korean buyer, ask your national export credit agency, a trade credit insurer or your bank.

Check an importer’s record on SEACHING

See who imports your product before you approve a buyer:

The overview of seafood importers in Korea explains the market, and lead times and container loads cover the first shipment.

Step 3 shows whether a buyer really buys seafood. SEACHING estimates which Korean companies import a given product and from where, based on customs and MFDS import declaration data. Company-level figures are statistical estimates, not confirmed contracts. Check an importer’s import history (free sign-up)

FAQ

Can a foreigner look up a Korean business registration number online?

The NTS status check needs only the 10-digit number and returns operating, suspended or closed status. As of October 15, 2026, the Hometax page opened without logging in but was in Korean only. If you cannot use it, ask a Korean customs broker or partner to run the check and send the result screen.

Is it normal for a Korean buyer to use another company’s name on the import declaration?

It can be legitimate. As of October 2026, Korean law lets a registered business file a food import declaration for others, and import declaration agency is a business type of its own. Ask which company will file, and check it in Steps 1 and 2.

What should I get in writing before the first container?

Get the buyer’s registered name and number, the importer of record, the payment terms and the bank account holder, matching Steps 1 and 2. Confirm import rules for your product with a licensed customs broker or the relevant agency.

Sources and method

National Tax Service, business registration status and authenticity service (data.go.kr), checked October 15, 2026
National Tax Service Hometax, business registration status inquiry (사업자등록상태조회), screen checked October 15, 2026
National Law Information Center: Commercial Registration Act, Article 15, in force January 31, 2025
National Law Information Center: Rules on Fees for Registration Certificates, Articles 2–3, in force August 1, 2025
National Law Information Center: Special Act on Imported Food Safety Control, Articles 14, 15 and 20, in force October 8, 2026
National Law Information Center: Act on External Audit of Stock Companies, Articles 4 and 23, in force April 1, 2025
Easy Law (Ministry of Government Legislation), import-sales business registration, law as of September 15, 2026
MFDS Imported Food Information Maru, business lookup, checked October 15, 2026 (count of operating import-sales businesses from the same screen)
Financial Supervisory Service, English DART, checked October 15, 2026
KOTRA, overseas market research service guide and terms, January 2024
K-SURE, import insurance for importers, checked October 15, 2026
International Trade Administration, Methods of Payment, checked October 15, 2026
USDA FAS, Exporter Guide Annual, Korea (KS2025-0023), August 5, 2025
SEACHING, frozen squid (HSK 0307.43.2090), with frozen mackerel (0303.54.0000), frozen webfoot octopus (0307.52.3000) and frozen peeled shrimp (0306.17.1090): importer estimates for October 2024–September 2026 and October 2025–September 2026, queried October 15, 2026
Method: “No record in the last 12 months” is the 24-month importer count minus the 12-month count; both windows end in September 2026. Importer counts are SEACHING estimates from import records, not company accounts. The LINKSUP 15% figure is a LINKSUP estimate, not an official statistic.

2026-11-04

Korea Seafood Import Duty: Tariff Rates by Species and FTA

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

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

Key takeaways

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

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

What import duty does Korea charge on seafood?

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

HS heading	Product form	2026 base rate
0301	Live fish	10%
0302	Fresh or chilled fish	20%
0303	Frozen fish	10%
0304	Fillets: fresh or chilled / frozen	20% / 10%
0305	Dried, salted or smoked fish	20%
0306	Crustaceans (shrimp, crab, lobster)	20%
0307	Molluscs (squid, octopus, clams)	20% (some frozen squid 10%)
1604, 1605	Prepared fish and shellfish	20%

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

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

Which rate applies when one code has several?

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

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

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

What is the duty on my species from my country?

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

Origins in the Americas and Europe (%, 2026)

Product (HSK)	No FTA (e.g., Russia, Ecuador)	Peru	EU, UK (Jan–Jun)	EFTA (Norway)
Fresh or chilled Atlantic salmon (0302.14.0000)	20	0	0	0
Frozen shrimp meat (0306.17.1090)	20	0	0	0
Frozen whiteleg shrimp (0306.17.9091)	20	0	0	–
Breaded shrimp, not airtight (1605.21.1000)	20	0	0	0
Frozen Alaska pollock (0303.67.0000)	22	30 → 22	30 → 22	–
Frozen pollock surimi (0304.94.1000)	10	0	0	0
Frozen mackerel (0303.54.0000)	10 (quota 0)	0	0	0 up to 500 t/yr
Frozen squid, other (0307.43.2090)	22	0	0	0
Frozen webfoot octopus (0307.52.3000)	20	0	0	0
Snow crab, live or chilled (0306.33.2000)	20	0	0	0
Live or chilled lobster, Homarus (0306.32.0000)	20	0	0	0

Origins in Asia (%, 2026)

Product (HSK)	China	Vietnam	ASEAN	India	Indonesia (CEPA)	Japan (RCEP)
Fresh or chilled Atlantic salmon	8	0	0	0	0	–
Frozen shrimp meat	8	0 up to 15,000 t, then 20	0 up to 5,000 t/yr	–	–	–
Frozen whiteleg shrimp	8	0 up to 15,000 t, then 20	0 up to 5,000 t/yr	–	–	–
Breaded shrimp, not airtight	8	0	0	10	0	–
Frozen Alaska pollock	25 → 22	25 → 22	–	0	–	–
Frozen pollock surimi	0	0	0	0	0	5
Frozen mackerel	10	8	8	–	–	–
Frozen squid, other	8	0	5	–	–	–
Frozen webfoot octopus	8	0	0	10	0	–
Snow crab, live or chilled	20	16	16	–	9.6	–
Live or chilled lobster, Homarus	4	0	0	10	0	10

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

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

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

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

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

Product	HSK	Base rate	2026 adjustment tariff
Frozen Alaska pollock	0303.67	10%	22%
Frozen Pacific saury, over 22 cm	0303.59.2000	10%	24%
Frozen squid (excluding some small species)	0307.43.2010, .2090	10% / 20%	22%
Salted or brined shrimp	0306.95	20%	32%
Live sea bream	0301.99.4091, .4099	10%	28% or KRW 2,052/kg, whichever is higher
Live sea bass	0301.99.9059	10%	28%
Live eel (not glass eel)	0301.92.9090	10%	20%

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

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

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

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

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

Common misconceptions about Korean seafood tariffs

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

How do I check the current rate myself?

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

Code	Official name
A	Base rate
C	WTO bound rate
L	Adjustment tariff
P1	Quota tariff (within volume, on recommendation)
FUS1, FVN1, FAS1 and similar	FTA rate (option 1) of the named agreement
FVN4, FAS4, FEF4	FTA rate (option 4) of the Korea–Vietnam, Korea–ASEAN and Korea–EFTA FTAs; for shrimp and mackerel these lines match the FTA quotas above
E1, E2, E3	Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement rate: general, Bangladesh, Laos
R	Least-developed country preferential rate

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

Check what Korea already pays for your product

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

SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, shows Korea’s imports by 10-digit HS code, origin and month. Start with SEACHING’s product data (free sign-up)

FAQ

Who pays import duty on seafood shipped to Korea?

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

Is VAT charged on seafood imported into Korea?

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

Sources and method

Korea Customs Service, tariff rates by item 2026 (data.go.kr), file dated February 11, 2026; rates for 11 HSK codes extracted from the file
KCS UNIPASS CLIP, tariff rate search and rate-type code list, October 14, 2026
KCS FTA portal, FTAs in force, October 14, 2026
National Law Information Center: Customs Act, Articles 19, 30, 50, 69 and 71, in force October 2, 2026
National Law Information Center: FTA Customs Special Cases Act, Articles 5 and 8, and its Enforcement Decree, Article 3 and Annexes 3, 4 and 16, decree in force January 6, 2026
National Law Information Center: adjustment tariff decree (January 1–December 31, 2026) and quota tariff decree, Annex 8, October 14, 2026
National Law Information Center: Value-Added Tax Act, Articles 27, 29 and 30, and its Enforcement Decree and Rule, October 14, 2026
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries press release on the mackerel quota tariff, July 13, 2026
USDA FAS GAIN KS2025-0046, Korea Seafood Market Update 2025, November 25, 2025
Aju News on the Korea–Ecuador SECA, April 15, 2026
No SEACHING figures are quoted in this article.

2026-11-04

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

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

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

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

Key takeaways

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

When does Korea import the most seafood?

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

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

Month	Above average (index 115 or more)	Below average (index 85 or less)
Jan	Surimi 177, other live crab 131, pollock 119	Long-arm octopus 71, bluefin tuna fillets 82, squid 83
Feb	Bluefin tuna fillets 135, pollock 118	Squid 59, webfoot octopus 82, long-arm octopus 83, peeled shrimp 84
Mar	Pollock 176, other frozen crab 131	Webfoot octopus 75, squid 76, peeled shrimp 84
Apr	Bluefin tuna fillets 191, other live crab 142, other frozen crab 142, pollock 121	None
May	Bluefin tuna fillets 117, squid 115	Pollock 60, surimi 74
Jun	Bluefin tuna fillets 143, squid 126	Pollock 17, other live crab 54, surimi 65
Jul	Snow crab 145, squid 119	Other live crab 23, pollock 53, surimi 76
Aug	Squid 119	Other live crab 23, bluefin tuna fillets 46, surimi 77, long-arm octopus 83
Sep	Pollock 137, peeled shrimp 119, salmon fillets 116, squid 116	Other live crab 70, long-arm octopus 82
Oct	Other live crab 128	Bluefin tuna fillets 57, snow crab 80
Nov	Other live crab 146, long-arm octopus 140, surimi 133	Bluefin tuna fillets 38, other frozen crab 68
Dec	Long-arm octopus 168, other live crab 162, surimi 137	None

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

Do imports really rise before Seollal and Chuseok?

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

Product (HS)	Seollal 2024	Seollal 2025	Seollal 2026	Chuseok 2024	Chuseok 2025	Chuseok 2026
Frozen large yellow croaker (0303.89-5020)	227	279	239	73	49	59
Frozen small yellow croaker (0303.89-5010)	215	111	204	23	47	32
Frozen mackerel (0303.54)	191	114	148	40	70	72
Frozen surimi (0304.99-1000)	170	128	145	81	82	78
Frozen long-arm octopus, nakji (0307.52-2000)	128	147	114	99	89	78
Frozen hairtail (0303.89-2000)	87	111	137	120	124	84
Frozen peeled shrimp (0306.17-1090)	110	103	101	111	112	102
Frozen pollock (0303.67)	102	79	130	90	129	38
All seafood in scope	118	102	115	94	101	87

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

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

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

Why do some species not follow the holidays?

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

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

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

Is there a summer peak too?

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

When should you ship for Seollal and Chuseok 2027?

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

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

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

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

How these figures were compiled

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

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

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

Check your product’s monthly pattern before you plan shipments

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

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

FAQ

When are Seollal and Chuseok in 2027?

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

Does Korea import more seafood before Chuseok?

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

Does the Korean government release seafood stock before holidays?

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

Sources and method

SEACHING, Korea’s seafood imports by 10-digit HS code and origin, Korea Customs Service data, October 2023 to September 2026, queried October 15, 2026
Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI), calendar data 2024, 2025 and 2026, checked October 15, 2026
Segye Ilbo, report on the Korea AeroSpace Administration’s 2027 calendar, June 29, 2026, checked October 14, 2026
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, press release on the pre-Chuseok stockpile supply, August 23, 2026
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries release as posted by the KDI Economic Information and Education Center, August 2026, checked October 15, 2026
LINKSUP, written answers to the SEACHING blog team, October 13, 2026 (lead-time estimate). A LINKSUP estimate, not a public statistic.
Codes: the 12 codes in the calendar plus frozen large and small yellow croaker, frozen mackerel, frozen hairtail, frozen king crab (0306.14-2000) and live eel, 18 in all.
Method: index = a month’s import weight ÷ the average month of the same October–September period × 100, averaged over Oct 2023–Sep 2024, Oct 2024–Sep 2025 and Oct 2025–Sep 2026. Each HS code is summed across origins with at least US$100,000 of imports in the 12 months to September 2026 (about 99.85% of the total); months with no trade count as zero. Scope: HS chapter 03 plus HS 1603–1605, excluding seaweed and salt.
Holiday windows (two calendar months before the holiday month): Dec–Jan before Seollal 2024 (February 10) and 2026 (February 17); Nov–Dec before Seollal 2025 (January 29); Jul–Aug before Chuseok 2024 (September 17) and 2026 (September 25); Aug–Sep before Chuseok 2025 (October 6). Dates from KASI.

2026-11-03

Why Mackerel Prices Rose in Korea: Norwegian Import Data

Data as of: Korean import data through September 2026, queried October 15, 2026; tariff rules checked October 14, 2026.

Korea’s mackerel import price rose sharply in 2026 in dollars, and only a few points more in won. Frozen Norwegian mackerel cleared Korean customs at an average US$5.09/kg in Jan–Sep 2026, up 82% from US$2.79/kg a year earlier, while volume fell 46%, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data.

The number that matters: US$5.41/kg
Norwegian frozen mackerel at Korean customs, September 2026: up 89% year on year and the highest since October 2023. In won terms the Jan–Sep rise was 87%, under five points more than in dollars.

Key takeaways

Korea imported 23,584 tonnes of frozen mackerel (HS 0303.54) in Jan–Sep 2026, 42% less than a year earlier, at an average US$4.55/kg, up 76% (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
Norway, the UK, the Faroe Islands and Iceland set their joint 2026 mackerel catch limit at 299,010 tonnes, 48% below 2025 (Norwegian parliament committee report, May 2026).
UK frozen mackerel took 12.3% of Korea’s frozen mackerel import value in Jan–Sep 2026, up from 4.7%, at US$5.38/kg, above Norway’s US$5.09/kg (SEACHING).
Despite a 0% quota tariff on up to 25,000 tonnes of fish over 300 g and up to 600 g from February 12, 2026, Korea’s frozen mackerel imports in Feb–Sep 2026 were 36% below Feb–Sep 2025 (SEACHING).

How much have mackerel import prices risen in Korea?

Korea spent 2.2% more on frozen mackerel in Jan–Sep 2026, US$107.4 million, for 42% less fish, so the average customs price rose 76%.

Origin	Volume, Jan–Sep 2026 (t)	Volume change	US$/kg 2026	US$/kg 2025	Price change	Value share 2026
All origins	23,584	-41.9%	4.55	2.59	+75.8%	100%
Norway	16,598	-46.4%	5.09	2.79	+82.1%	78.6%
United Kingdom	2,451	+42.1%	5.38	2.86	+87.7%	12.3%
China	2,700	-48.7%	1.98	1.54	+28.5%	5.0%
Netherlands	389	-65.5%	4.90	2.76	+77.7%	1.8%
Faroe Islands	95	-31.3%	3.48	2.81	+23.6%	0.3%

Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, HS 0303.54.0000, imports, Jan–Sep 2026 vs Jan–Sep 2025.

The rise began in late 2025. Norwegian mackerel cleared at US$2.91/kg in October 2025, US$4.25/kg in December, US$5.14/kg in March 2026 and US$5.41/kg in September.

Why did Norwegian mackerel get more expensive?

The rise lines up with a smaller catch, not the exchange rate.

The 2026 catch limit was cut almost in half

On December 15, 2025, Norway, the UK, the Faroe Islands and Iceland agreed a 2026 total allowable catch of 299,010 tonnes, 48% below 2025. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) had advised a cut of about 70%, citing weak recruitment and high fishing pressure. Norway’s December 2025 price at Korean customs was 46% above October’s. The timing matches; customs data cannot prove the cause.

Less Norwegian fish reached Korea

Norway shipped 46% less frozen whole mackerel to Korea in Jan–Sep 2026 and was paid 2.4% less in total. Norwegian frozen fillets (HS 0304.89.5000) fell 40% in volume and rose 40% in price, to US$8.61/kg.

The won added under five points

A dollar cost an average of 1,462 won in Jan–Sep 2026, 3.5% more than a year earlier (Bank of Korea).

Norwegian frozen mackerel	Jan–Sep 2025	Jan–Sep 2026	Change
US$ per kg	2.79	5.09	+82.1%
KRW per kg	3,979	7,427	+86.6%

Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data (HS 0303.54.0000, Norway); Bank of Korea ECOS monthly KRW/USD average. Won price = each month’s US$ value × that month’s rate, summed, ÷ volume.

The rise in won was only a few points larger than the rise in dollars. See how the won exchange rate affects seafood export prices.

How has Korea responded?

Korea cut the duty and sent officials to find fish, but volume stayed low. From February 12 to December 31, 2026, frozen mackerel over 300 g and up to 600 g enters at a 0% quota tariff instead of the 10% base rate, up to 25,000 tonnes.

Korea still imported 36% less frozen mackerel in Feb–Sep 2026 (21,994 tonnes) than in Feb–Sep 2025 (34,586 tonnes). In July 2026, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) sent a delegation to secure about 2,000 more tonnes from Norway and new supply from the UK and the Faroe Islands.

Which other origins are filling the gap?

The UK is the only large origin that shipped more: 2,451 tonnes, up 42%, at US$5.38/kg, above Norway’s US$5.09/kg.

Netherlands volume fell 66% and the Faroe Islands 31%. Chinese whole mackerel fell 49% to 2,700 tonnes, at US$1.98/kg. Chinese frozen mackerel fillets grew from 247 to 1,310 tonnes, at US$6.49/kg against Norway’s US$8.61/kg.

What does this mean for mackerel exporters?

Your duty depends on origin and fish size (as of October 2026).

Origin	Duty on frozen mackerel (HS 0303.54), 2026
Any origin, fish over 300 g and up to 600 g	0% quota tariff, up to 25,000 tonnes, February 12 to December 31, 2026
Norway and other EFTA countries	0% within a 500-tonne annual limit for all EFTA-origin frozen mackerel (HS 0303.54 and mackerel under 0303.99 counted together); above it, 10%
UK, EU	0% in the KCS schedule for Jan–Jun 2026; the Jul–Dec 2026 rate was not in that file and is unconfirmed
Vietnam, ASEAN	8%
China, origins without an FTA	10%

Source: KCS 2026 tariff schedule; FTA customs act Enforcement Decree, Annex 3; quota tariff regulation, Annex 8. Checked October 14, 2026.

The EFTA limit is small: 500 tonnes a year for all EFTA origins combined, against 16,598 tonnes from Norway in Jan–Sep 2026.
The quota tariff ends December 31, 2026. Check for an extension before quoting 2027 shipments, and plan around typical lead times for shipping seafood to Korea.

The Korean importer obtains the quota recommendation and, since June 29, 2026, files traceability reports for frozen mackerel. Confirm the final rate with a Korean customs broker; the Korea seafood import duty guide covers other origins and codes.

Where are prices heading?

SEACHING’s price model projected Norwegian frozen mackerel at US$5.17/kg for October 2026 and US$5.18/kg for February 2027, as of October 15, 2026, slightly below September’s actual US$5.41/kg. SEACHING’s Norway page plots the March–September 2026 customs price and the model’s dashed line to February 2027.

Watch the 2027 catch limit and any quota tariff extension. Related reading: Norwegian seafood exports to Korea, the 2025 import review and the Q3 2026 import report.

Check mackerel prices for your origin

Open frozen mackerel import prices by month and origin (free sign-up), frozen mackerel fillet imports (free sign-up) and Norway’s seafood exports to Korea (free sign-up).

SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, models Korea’s import unit prices by origin and product using Korea Customs Service prices, exchange-rate indices and sea-surface temperature data. See the forecast for frozen mackerel (free sign-up)

FAQ

Is Norwegian mackerel duty-free in Korea?

Partly. Under the Korea–EFTA FTA, frozen mackerel from Norway and other EFTA countries pays 0% within a 500-tonne annual limit shared by all EFTA origins. Until December 31, 2026, fish over 300 g and up to 600 g from any origin can also enter at 0% within a 25,000-tonne quota tariff. Otherwise the base rate is 10% (as of October 2026).

Does Korea import fresh mackerel?

Almost none. Korea imported no fresh or chilled mackerel (HS 0302.44) in Jan–Sep 2026, against 819 kg in Jan–Sep 2025, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data.

How much mackerel does Korea import from Norway each year?

Korea imported 40,391 tonnes of frozen whole mackerel (HS 0303.54) from Norway in 2025, worth US$122.4 million, 77% of its frozen mackerel imports by volume, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data.

Sources and method

SEACHING, frozen mackerel HS 0303.54.0000 by origin, Korea Customs Service data; also HS 0304.89.5000 (fillets) and 0302.44.0000 (fresh); monthly imports through September 2026, queried October 15, 2026
Bank of Korea ECOS, KRW/USD monthly average (731Y004), Jan 2025–Sep 2026, retrieved October 15, 2026
Stortinget, Innst. 276 S (2025–2026), Norway’s fisheries agreements for 2026, May 12, 2026
Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries, proposal for mackerel regulation 2026, November 2025
Quota tariff regulation, Annex 8 (law.go.kr), June 30, 2026 version, checked October 14, 2026
FTA customs act Enforcement Decree, Annex 3 (law.go.kr), amended December 30, 2024, checked October 14, 2026
KCS tariff schedule by HSK, 2026 (data.go.kr), registered February 11, 2026
MOF press release on the mackerel quota tariff volume, July 13, 2026
MOF press release on the mackerel delegation, July 5, 2026
MOF press release on imported seafood traceability items, June 7, 2026
Method: unit price is customs value (US$, CIF) divided by weight. It is not a market quote and mixes sizes and grades. Months with no trade from an origin count as zero. Forecast values are SEACHING model output as of October 15, 2026.

2026-10-29