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Tag: Norway

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

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

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

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

    Key takeaways

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

    How much seafood does Korea import from Norway?

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

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

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

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

    What does Korea buy from Norway?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Is Chilean salmon catching up with Norway in Korea?

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

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

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

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

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

    What happened to Norwegian mackerel in Korea in 2026?

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

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

    What duty does Norwegian seafood pay in Korea?

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

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

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

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

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

    What does a Norwegian exporter need before the first shipment?

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

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

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

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

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

    Pre-shipment checklist

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

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

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

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

    FAQ

    Is Norwegian salmon duty-free in Korea?

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

    Does Korea import Norwegian king crab?

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

    Sources and method

  • Korea Salmon Imports: Origins, HS Codes and Prices

    Korea Salmon Imports: Origins, HS Codes and Prices

    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 salmon imports reached US$420.2 million in Jan–Sep 2026, up 14.8% from Jan–Sep 2025, according to SEACHING’s analysis of Korea Customs Service data. Norway supplied 79.0% of the value, almost all of it fresh. Chile supplied 17.6%, mostly frozen. Salmon from both countries enters Korea at 0% duty under free trade agreements.

    Korea’s salmon imports at a glanceJan–Sep 2026
    SizeUS$420.2 million, 37,947 tonnes, up 14.8% in value
    Top origins (share of value)Norway 79.0% · Chile 17.6% · Russia 1.2% · Canada 1.1% · United States 0.8%
    Customs price per kgFresh whole US$11.31 · fresh fillet US$17.74 · frozen Pacific US$6.34 · frozen fillet US$8.55
    Main HS codes0302.14 · 0304.41 · 0303.12 · 0304.81 · 0303.13
    Duty, 2026Basic 20% fresh, 10% frozen; 0% from Norway, Chile, the US and Canada; 8% on fresh salmon from China
    SourceSEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data; Korea Customs Service 2026 tariff schedule

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

    Key takeaways

    • Korea’s salmon imports were worth US$420.2 million in Jan–Sep 2026, 9.5% of Korea’s seafood imports, according to SEACHING’s analysis of Korea Customs Service data.
    • Chile’s share of Korea’s salmon imports by value rose from 12.2% in 2024 to 17.6% in Jan–Sep 2026, while Norway’s fell from 82.9% to 79.0% (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Fresh whole Atlantic salmon (HS 0302.14) was the third-largest 10-digit HS code in Korea’s seafood imports by value in Jan–Sep 2026, at US$207.0 million (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Korea’s imports of frozen Pacific salmon (HS 0303.12) rose 72.3% in value in Jan–Sep 2026 from a year earlier, and Chile supplied 90.9% of them (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Under Korea’s 2026 tariff schedule, salmon from Norway, Chile, the United States and Canada enters at 0% under the main salmon codes, against basic rates of 20% for fresh and 10% for frozen whole fish (checked October 15, 2026).

    Where does South Korea get its salmon from?

    Norway and Chile supply about 97% of Korea’s salmon imports by value. In Jan–Sep 2026, Korea imported US$332.0 million of salmon from Norway and US$73.8 million from Chile. 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, salmon means eight HS subheadings: fresh, frozen and smoked Atlantic and Pacific salmon, and their fillets. Trout and canned or prepared salmon are not included. Korea’s seafood imports here means HS chapter 03 plus prepared fish and crustaceans (HS 1603–1605); seaweed and salt are excluded.

    OriginValue, Jan–Sep 2026Share of valueVolumeUS$/kgValue vs Jan–Sep 2025
    NorwayUS$332.0M79.0%25,271 t13.14+11.5%
    ChileUS$73.8M17.6%10,166 t7.26+23.8%
    RussiaUS$5.1M1.2%1,082 t4.72+183.9%
    CanadaUS$4.7M1.1%490 t9.50+67.1%
    United StatesUS$3.4M0.8%815 t4.18+79.3%
    All originsUS$420.2M100%37,947 t11.07+14.8%

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

    The price gap between Norway and Chile is mostly a gap in product form. Norway’s average of US$13.14 per kg reflects fresh fish and fillets, which made up 97.6% of its value. Chile’s US$7.26 reflects frozen salmon, which made up 91.2% of its value.

    Smaller origins are growing from a low base. Russia’s sales rose 183.9% to US$5.1 million, all of it frozen. In Jan–Sep 2026, Canada sold only fresh whole fish to Korea, at US$9.50 per kg. Korea’s salmon imports from China were US$0.05 million in Jan–Sep 2026, and there were none from Japan.

    How have the origins changed over three years?

    Norway still dominates, but Chile has gained share for two years running. Chile’s value share rose from 12.2% in 2024 to 13.9% in 2025 and 17.6% in Jan–Sep 2026. Norway’s moved from 82.9% to 83.0%, then 79.0%.

    Share of Korea’s salmon import value20242025Jan–Sep 2025Jan–Sep 2026
    Norway82.9%83.0%81.3%79.0%
    Chile12.2%13.9%16.3%17.6%
    All other origins4.9%3.0%2.4%3.4%

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

    Stacked bar chart of Korea's salmon imports by origin, share of value: Norway 82.9% in 2024, 83.0% in 2025 and 79.0% in Jan–Sep 2026; Chile 12.2%, 13.9% and 17.6%

    Norway did not shrink. Its salmon sales to Korea rose 11.5% in Jan–Sep 2026. Chile grew faster: its volume rose 36.4%, mostly in frozen Pacific salmon.

    Norway supplied 96.5% of Korea’s fresh whole salmon imports (HS 0302.14) by value in Jan–Sep 2026. Read from that share, a Norwegian exporter of fresh salmon competes in Korea mainly with other Norwegian suppliers. This is an interpretation of customs data, not a buyer survey. For a Chilean, Russian or North American exporter, frozen salmon is where the growth is: Korea’s frozen salmon imports rose 34.8% by volume in Jan–Sep 2026.

    Why does Norway claim 89% when customs data shows 79%?

    The two figures measure different things. The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) estimates Korea’s salmon market at 45,800 tonnes in 2025, with Norway holding 89%. It is NSC’s own estimate, by volume, not a customs total.

    Customs data for 2025 gives different shares depending on the measure. Across all eight salmon codes, Norway held 83.0% of Korea’s import value and 74.4% of the volume. Across the four HS codes that can hold Atlantic salmon, Norway supplied 88.5% of the 36,872 tonnes Korea imported, close to NSC’s figure. The two fillet codes in that set also include Pacific salmon, so this is an approximation.

    The 79.0% figure is a value share for Jan–Sep 2026 across all salmon, including Chile’s frozen Pacific salmon. Neither figure is wrong. Quote the one that matches your product and period.

    What forms of salmon does Korea import, and under which HS codes?

    Korea mostly imports fresh salmon. Fresh whole fish and fresh fillets made up 79.8% of Korea’s salmon import value in Jan–Sep 2026. The NSC reports that Koreans eat salmon largely raw, that retail accounts for around 40% of sales and that a significant portion is sold through restaurants.

    HSK codeProductValue, Jan–Sep 2026VolumeUS$/kgValue vs Jan–Sep 2025Main origin (share of value)
    0302.14.0000Atlantic salmon, fresh or chilled, wholeUS$207.0M18,304 t11.31+18.2%Norway 96.5%
    0304.41.0000Salmon fillets, fresh or chilledUS$128.3M7,234 t17.74+8.6%Norway 97.0%
    0303.12.0000Other Pacific salmon, frozenUS$59.5M9,384 t6.34+72.3%Chile 90.9%
    0304.81.0000Salmon fillets, frozenUS$14.2M1,654 t8.55−45.5%Chile 65.4%
    0303.13.0000Atlantic salmon, frozen, wholeUS$9.2M1,215 t7.58−4.1%Norway 56.8%
    0305.41.0000Smoked salmon, including filletsUS$1.2M59 t20.67−40.2%Chile 43.5%
    0303.11.0000Sockeye (red) salmon, frozenUS$0.7M97 t7.59+9.4%Russia 74.6%
    0302.13.0000Pacific salmon, fresh or chillednonenonen/an/an/a

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

    Four points matter when you classify your product:

    • Whole fish and fillets have separate codes. A fresh fillet goes under 0304.41, not 0302.14. In Jan–Sep 2026 it cleared at US$17.74 per kg, against US$11.31 for fresh whole fish.
    • The frozen fillet code mixes species. HS 0304.81 covers frozen fillets of Pacific, Atlantic and Danube salmon in one line, so its US$8.55 average hides a wide spread by origin. The guide to benchmarking against Korean customs prices breaks it down.
    • Frozen Pacific salmon is the fastest-growing line. Korea imported 9,384 tonnes under 0303.12 in Jan–Sep 2026, up 82.7%.
    • Frozen fillets fell. Korea’s imports under 0304.81 fell 45.5% in value.

    The full 10-digit code decides your duty rate and the statistics your buyer compares you with. If you are unsure of the code, ask your Korean buyer’s customs broker before you ship. Korea’s seafood import duty guide explains how HSK codes and rates fit together.

    How much does imported salmon cost in Korea?

    Korea’s customs data shows what Korean importers declared per kg, on a CIF basis. Under Article 30 of Korea’s Customs Act, the customs value includes freight and insurance to the Korean port, so these are not wholesale or retail prices (Customs Act, in force October 2, 2026).

    Bar chart of Korea's salmon import prices by form, Jan–Sep 2026: fresh fillets US$17.74/kg, fresh whole Atlantic salmon US$11.31/kg, frozen fillets US$8.55/kg, frozen whole Atlantic salmon US$7.58/kg, frozen Pacific salmon US$6.34/kg

    In each of the four main codes Norway ships to Korea (0302.14, 0304.41, 0303.13 and 0304.81), Norway’s price was the highest in Jan–Sep 2026. Fresh whole Norwegian salmon cleared at US$11.37 per kg, against US$10.62 from Chile and US$9.50 from Canada. In frozen Pacific salmon, where Norway does not compete, Chile’s price was US$6.62 per kg, Russia’s US$4.76 and the US’s US$3.81. The full price table by origin and form, and how to convert your own offer to CIF before you compare, are in the guide to benchmarking your price against Korean customs import prices.

    Fresh Norwegian salmon has been steadier in 2026 than in earlier years, without a January spike. The monthly trend, the effect of the won and SEACHING’s price model are covered in the salmon import price trend and forecast for Korea.

    For frozen Pacific salmon, Chile is the reference origin. The top of SEACHING’s page for Chilean frozen Pacific salmon shows summary cards and Korea’s monthly import unit price for that product and origin, with the model forecast as a dashed line.

    SEACHING page for frozen Pacific salmon (HS 0303120000) from Chile, with summary cards and Korea's monthly import unit price, plus a dashed model forecast to February 2027

    As of October 15, 2026, SEACHING’s price model projected US$6.53 per kg for Chilean frozen Pacific salmon in January 2027.

    What import duty does Korea charge on salmon?

    Most salmon enters Korea at 0% under a free trade agreement (FTA). The basic rate is 20% for fresh salmon and fresh fillets and 10% for frozen whole salmon and frozen fillets.

    HSK codeBasic rateNorway (Korea–EFTA)ChileUnited StatesCanadaChina (Korea–China FTA)EU, UK
    0302.14 fresh whole20%0%0%0%0%8%0%*
    0304.41 fresh fillets20%0%0%0%0%8%0%*
    0303.12 frozen Pacific10%0%0%0%0%0%0%*
    0303.13 frozen Atlantic10%0%0%0%0%0%0%*
    0304.81 frozen fillets10%0%0%0%0%4%0%*
    0305.41 smoked20%0%0%0%0%4%0%*

    Source: Korea Customs Service, 2026 tariff schedule (Public Data Portal), rates for 2026, checked October 15, 2026. *The file lists EU and UK rates only through June 30, 2026; check the current rate.

    The schedule lists no FTA rate for Russia, so Russian salmon pays the basic rate, for example 10% on frozen Pacific salmon. Under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), fresh salmon from China is listed at 13.3%, higher than the 8% under the Korea–China FTA.

    An FTA rate is not automatic. The importer must apply for it before the import declaration is accepted and must hold proof of origin. Send your buyer the origin document with the shipping papers. Rates can change during the year; the EU and UK rows in the 2026 file run only to June 30. Check the rate on KCS UNIPASS for the date of import, and confirm it with a licensed Korean customs broker. All seafood rates are in Korea’s seafood import duty guide.

    What does a salmon exporter need before shipping to Korea?

    Most of the work is registration and documents, and it starts before the first shipment. As of October 2026, the main steps are these:

    • 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. Registration is valid for two years. See the guide to MFDS foreign facility registration.
    • Go through your government if you are in Norway or Chile. MFDS lists 11 countries with seafood sanitary arrangements, including Norway and Chile. For these countries, the exporting government registers the facility; online registration is not possible. Under the Norway arrangement, only producers notified by the Norwegian authority can export, and each shipment needs a health certificate.
    • Check quarantine. The National Fishery Products Quality Management Service (NFQS) quarantines live fish. Its list of chilled or frozen products that need quarantine names abalone, oysters and shrimp; salmon is not on it (checked October 15, 2026). Confirm with NFQS for your product.
    • Prepare the Korean label. The importer submits Korean label content with the import declaration. The rules are in the guide to Korean labeling for seafood.

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

    Do certification and origin labeling matter for salmon in Korea?

    They matter to part of the market. ASC Korea listed 69 sites with ASC chain-of-custody certification as of October 17, 2025, and 27 of them named salmon among the products they handle. That is a count of certified handlers, not a share of buyers. Read the guide to ASC and MSC certified seafood in Korea before you decide whether to certify.

    Origin is visible to consumers. The NSC reports that 78% of Korean salmon consumers recognize Norway as the origin of their salmon. A Chilean or Canadian exporter is selling against a known name, and the prices above show that Korean importers paid less for other origins in Jan–Sep 2026.

    To find ASC-certified salmon suppliers by country, search SEACHING BlueCert, which is built on ASC and MSC Find a Supplier data.

    More on salmon and Korea

    Check Korea’s salmon imports in your form

    The same monthly data by origin exists for fresh salmon fillet imports by origin (free sign-up) and frozen Pacific salmon import data (free sign-up).

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

    FAQ

    What is the HS code for frozen salmon fillet in Korea?

    Korea classifies frozen salmon fillets under HSK 0304.81.0000, which covers Pacific, Atlantic and Danube salmon. Fresh or chilled fillets go under 0304.41.0000. Korea imported US$14.2 million under 0304.81 in Jan–Sep 2026 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).

    Is smoked salmon imported under a different HS code?

    Yes. Smoked salmon, including fillets, goes under HSK 0305.41.0000. Korea imported US$1.2 million of it in Jan–Sep 2026, at US$20.67 per kg (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data). The basic duty is 20%, with 0% for Norway, Chile, the US and Canada in 2026 (tariff schedule checked October 15, 2026).

    How much salmon does Korea consume a year?

    The Norwegian Seafood Council estimates Korea’s salmon market at 45,800 tonnes in 2025. Korea’s customs data shows imports of 43,867 tonnes of salmon products in 2025 under eight salmon codes (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data). The two are different measures and should not be compared directly.

    Sources and method

    Method: salmon = HS subheadings 0302.13, 0302.14, 0303.11, 0303.12, 0303.13, 0304.41, 0304.81 and 0305.41 (eight 10-digit HSK codes). The salmon price trend and forecast uses the five largest of these codes, which made up 99.5% of the value in Jan–Sep 2026. 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, 99.98% of the value in Jan–Sep 2026. 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.

  • Salmon Import Prices in Korea: 2026 Trend and Forecast

    Salmon Import Prices in Korea: 2026 Trend and Forecast

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

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

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

    Key takeaways

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

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

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

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

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

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

    How have salmon import prices moved in 2026?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Why is salmon so expensive in Korea?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Where are salmon import prices heading?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Check the next month’s salmon prices before you quote

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

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

    FAQ

    Is Korea’s salmon import price the same as the wholesale price?

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

    Do Norwegian and Chilean salmon pay import duty in Korea?

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

    How big is Korea’s salmon market?

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

    Sources and method

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

  • Why Mackerel Prices Rose in Korea: Norwegian Import Data

    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%.

    OriginVolume, Jan–Sep 2026 (t)Volume changeUS$/kg 2026US$/kg 2025Price changeValue share 2026
    All origins23,584-41.9%4.552.59+75.8%100%
    Norway16,598-46.4%5.092.79+82.1%78.6%
    United Kingdom2,451+42.1%5.382.86+87.7%12.3%
    China2,700-48.7%1.981.54+28.5%5.0%
    Netherlands389-65.5%4.902.76+77.7%1.8%
    Faroe Islands95-31.3%3.482.81+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.

    Korea's import price for Norwegian frozen mackerel climbed from late 2025: monthly customs price, October 2023 to September 2026, rising from US$2.91/kg in October 2025 to US$5.41/kg in September 2026, with UK months as dots

    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 mackerelJan–Sep 2025Jan–Sep 2026Change
    US$ per kg2.795.09+82.1%
    KRW per kg3,9797,427+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.

    Less mackerel arrived even with a 0% quota tariff: Korea's monthly frozen mackerel imports, all origins, 34,586 tonnes in Feb–Sep 2025 against 21,994 tonnes in Feb–Sep 2026, down 36.4%

    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).

    OriginDuty on frozen mackerel (HS 0303.54), 2026
    Any origin, fish over 300 g and up to 600 g0% quota tariff, up to 25,000 tonnes, February 12 to December 31, 2026
    Norway and other EFTA countries0% 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, EU0% in the KCS schedule for Jan–Jun 2026; the Jul–Dec 2026 rate was not in that file and is unconfirmed
    Vietnam, ASEAN8%
    China, origins without an FTA10%

    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.

    SEACHING page for frozen mackerel (HS 0303540000) from Norway, showing Korea's monthly import unit price and the model forecast 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

  • How to Benchmark Your Seafood Price Against Korean Customs Import Prices

    How to Benchmark Your Seafood Price Against Korean Customs Import Prices

    Data as of October 15, 2026: Korea Customs Service import data through September 2026, via SEACHING. Customs Act checked October 15, 2026.

    Korea’s seafood import price in customs data is the declared CIF value divided by net weight, for one 10-digit HS code, one origin and one period. It is not a retail or wholesale price. In Jan–Sep 2026, Korea’s fresh Norwegian Atlantic salmon imports cleared at US$11.37/kg and fresh fillets at US$17.88/kg (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).

    Key takeaways

    • Korea Customs Service records import value on a CIF basis in US dollars and weight as net kilograms, so a Korean customs import price compares with a CIF offer, not an FOB offer (KCS open data description, checked October 15, 2026).
    • Inside one code, Korea’s frozen salmon fillet imports (HS 0304.81.0000) ranged from US$3.36/kg from Russia to US$18.25/kg from Norway in Jan–Sep 2026, a 5.4-fold gap that one average hides; the Norway price rests on only about 121 tonnes (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • The single-month price of Korea’s fresh Norwegian salmon imports moved between US$10.44/kg (July 2026) and US$12.17/kg (March 2026), so a benchmark must use the same period as the offer it tests (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).

    What is a Korean customs import price, and what is it not?

    Definition: customs import unit price
    The import value Korea Customs Service (KCS) records for one 10-digit HSK code, origin and period, divided by net weight. It is a declared value, not a market price.

    The value is CIF. Under Article 30 of Korea’s Customs Act (version in force October 2, 2026), the customs value is the price the buyer paid plus freight and insurance to the port of import. It leaves out Korean duties and transport inside Korea. KCS publishes import value in US dollars on that basis.

    Where can you find Korea’s import price for your product?

    Three routes lead to the same numbers.

    SourceWhat you getUpdateEffort
    KCS trade statistics API on the Public Data PortalValue (USD, CIF) and net weight by HS code at 2 to 10 digits, origin and monthMonthly, around the 15th, for the previous monthAPI key and your own calculation
    Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries file on the Public Data PortalWeight and value by 10-digit HSK code and country, month and year to date, CSVMonthlyDownload and filter
    SEACHING product pagesValue, weight and unit price by 10-digit HSK code and origin, as tables and chartsMonthly, from KCS dataFree sign-up

    Sources: Public Data Portal dataset pages, checked October 14–15, 2026; SEACHING, checked October 1, 2026.

    For the limits of each source, read the comparison of Korea seafood import data sources.

    SEACHING, a data platform run by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, shows a “By Country” table on its fresh Atlantic salmon page (below): value, unit price and volume by origin for October 2025 to September 2026, a different window from the Jan–Sep 2026 figures here.

    SEACHING country table for Korea's fresh Atlantic salmon imports (HS 0302140000), with value, unit price and volume by origin for October 2025 to September 2026

    Salmon price Korea: what does Korea pay per kg, by origin and form?

    Every line uses the same nine months.

    HSK codeProductOriginUS$/kg, Jan–Sep 2026Share of the code’s value
    0302.14.0000Fresh or chilled Atlantic salmon, wholeNorway11.3796.5%
    0302.14.0000Fresh or chilled Atlantic salmon, wholeChile10.621.0%
    0302.14.0000Fresh or chilled Atlantic salmon, wholeCanada9.502.2%
    0304.41.0000Fresh or chilled salmon filletsNorway17.8897.0%
    0304.41.0000Fresh or chilled salmon filletsChile14.253.0%
    0303.13.0000Frozen Atlantic salmon, wholeNorway8.5656.8%
    0303.13.0000Frozen Atlantic salmon, wholeChile6.5943.2%

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, Jan–Sep 2026, imports. Unit price is total value divided by total weight for the nine months.

    Korea’s imports of fresh Norwegian fillets cleared at 1.57 times the price of fresh Norwegian whole salmon in Jan–Sep 2026. Compare a fillet offer with code 0304.41, never with the whole-fish line. For the species overview, see Korea’s salmon imports by origin and form; for all species, see Korea’s seafood imports in Q3 2026.

    Korea's monthly import price of fresh Norwegian salmon, January 2024 to September 2026: fillets (HS 0304.41) averaged US$17.88/kg and whole fish (HS 0302.14) US$11.37/kg in Jan–Sep 2026

    Why does the period of the benchmark matter?

    A single month can sit far from the year-to-date average. Korea’s fresh Norwegian salmon imports cleared at US$12.17/kg in March 2026 and US$10.44/kg in July 2026, a 16.6% difference. The Jan–Sep 2026 figure was US$11.37/kg.

    Thin months are worse. Korea imported 13,340 kg of Chilean frozen salmon fillets in September 2026 at US$14.66/kg. Over Jan–Sep 2026 the volume was 890,025 kg, about 98,900 kg a month, at US$10.40/kg. The September price describes a few shipments, not the market.

    For a November shipment, compare recent months and the same months last year, not a nine-month average alone. For the trend and SEACHING’s forecast, see the salmon import price trend and forecast for Korea.

    Why can one HS code hide a five-fold price gap?

    HS 0304.81 covers frozen fillets of Pacific salmon (seven Oncorhynchus species), Atlantic salmon and Danube salmon in one line.

    OriginUS$/kg, Jan–Sep 2026Share of the code’s value
    Norway18.2515.6%
    Chile10.4065.4%
    United States4.2213.2%
    Russia3.363.5%
    All origins8.55100%

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

    The US$8.55/kg average fits no real product. The low Russian and US prices may reflect Pacific salmon (an interpretation, not data). The top of the range is thin: Korea imported only about 121 tonnes of Norwegian frozen fillets in Jan–Sep 2026, so a few shipments can move the US$18.25/kg figure. The monthly average also swings, likely with the origin mix: the all-origin price for 0304.81 was US$5.89/kg in February 2026 and US$10.13/kg in March 2026.

    The same check works for hairtail and croaker prices by origin.

    Korea's frozen salmon fillet import prices (HS 0304.81) by origin, Jan–Sep 2026: Norway US$18.25/kg (15.6% of value), Chile US$10.40 (65.4%), United States US$4.22 (13.2%), Russia US$3.36 (3.5%), all origins US$8.55

    How do you compare your offer like-for-like?

    Work through five matches.

    StepMatchHow
    1Product codeFind the 10-digit HSK code for your exact form: whole or fillet, fresh or frozen
    2OriginUse your own country’s line, then the line of the origin you compete with
    3PeriodUse the same months as your offer, plus the same months a year earlier
    4IncotermConvert your offer to CIF at a Korean port: FOB price + freight per kg + insurance per kg
    5SpecificationNote size grade, trim and pack. The customs line averages all of them

    Sources: Customs Act Article 30 (CIF basis), checked October 15, 2026; ICC Incoterms 2020.

    Step 4 is easy to miss: under Incoterms 2020, only CIF includes the freight and insurance in the Korean customs value. An FOB offer set against a CIF customs price looks cheaper than it is. For step 5, see what Korean buyers put in a seafood specification.

    To run steps 1 to 3 for salmon, open fresh Atlantic salmon import prices on SEACHING (free sign-up), fresh salmon fillet import data (free sign-up) or frozen salmon fillet prices by origin (free sign-up).

    What explains a gap between your price and the customs average?

    Before cutting your price, check four causes. Grade: a trim, size band or pack unlike the volume leader’s moves the price. Transport: CIF includes freight, so a costlier shipping mode raises the customs price. Timing: goods clearing this month may carry prices agreed earlier. Exchange rate: the data is in dollars, while your buyer resells in won; see how the won exchange rate affects your export price to Korea.

    Duty is not part of the customs price, and here it does not change the comparison: the free trade agreement rate is 0% for all four salmon codes from Norway and Chile, against a basic 10% or 20% (2026 tariff schedule, checked October 15, 2026). For other species and origins it can; check Korea’s seafood import duty rates and confirm with a licensed Korean customs broker.

    If your price is higher for a clear reason, say so in the offer. See also what Korean seafood importers check before a first order.

    Test your offer before you quote

    SEACHING Quote Check runs part of this check from a document. You upload a PDF or image; it normalizes the items, compares each price with KCS reference unit prices and shows a percentile and unit prices by country. It has an English interface; analysis needs a log-in. It shows where your price sits, not whether your price is right.

    In an October 15, 2026 test, it rejected a price list without line amounts and asked for a commercial invoice. With a sample invoice from a fictional Norwegian exporter, it read the second line as frozen Atlantic salmon fillet, HS 0304.81, Norway, CIF, US$17.90/kg (below). Compare that with the Norway line for the same code, US$18.25/kg in Jan–Sep 2026. With no other quotes on file for the code, it showed no percentile.

    SEACHING Quote Check result for a sample invoice line: frozen Atlantic salmon fillet, HS 0304-81-0000, Norway, CIF, 5,000 kg at US$17.90/kg

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

    FAQ

    Is the Korean customs import price CIF or FOB?

    CIF. Korea Customs Service compiles import statistics on a CIF basis in US dollars, following the Customs Act (checked October 15, 2026). Convert an FOB offer before you compare.

    How often is Korea’s import price data updated?

    Korea Customs Service updates its trade statistics once a month, around the 15th, for the previous month.

    Can a Korean buyer see the same customs prices I see?

    Yes. The KCS and Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) files are free on Korea’s Public Data Portal, so a Korean importer can check your offer against the same lines.

    Sources and method