SEACHING｜Bridging Korea and the global seafood market.

Tag: Shrimp

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

    South Korea Seafood Market Size: What the Trade Statistics Show

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

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

    Key takeaways

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

    How big is the South Korean seafood market?

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

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

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

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

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

    Why do market size estimates disagree?

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

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

    Even official import figures differ by product list:

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

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

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

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

    What do official statistics measure?

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

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

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

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

    How do you read market size from trade statistics?

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Is Korea a net seafood importer?

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

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

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

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

    Which number should you cite?

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

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

    Sources: see Sources and method.

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

    Quote these figures, then check your own product

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

    FAQ

    How much seafood does South Korea import each year?

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

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

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

    Are Korea’s seafood imports growing in 2026?

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

    Sources and method

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

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

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

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

    Key takeaways

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Which channels in Korea ask for certified seafood?

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Before you pitch certification, ask your Korean buyer:

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

    Is certification a differentiator or a baseline for your species?

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

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

    Common misconceptions about MSC and ASC in Korea

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

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

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

    Check who is certified for your species

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

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

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

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

    FAQ

    What is the difference between MSC and ASC?

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

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

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

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

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

    Sources and method

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

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

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

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

    Key takeaways

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

    Is the Korea-Ecuador SECA in force?

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

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

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

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

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

    What tariff does Ecuadorian shrimp pay in Korea today?

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

    How does Ecuador compare with competing shrimp origins?

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

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

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

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

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

    What would the SECA change for Ecuadorian shrimp?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Common misconceptions about the SECA and Ecuador’s shrimp share

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

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

    What can Ecuadorian exporters do before the SECA applies?

    Prepare origin paperwork and ask buyers about quota bids.

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

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

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

    Track Ecuador’s shrimp in Korea’s import data

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

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

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

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

    FAQ

    When will the Korea-Ecuador SECA enter into force?

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

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

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

    Does the SECA change sanitary rules for Ecuadorian shrimp?

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

    Sources and method

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

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

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

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

    Key takeaways

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

    How much seafood does Korea import from Vietnam?

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

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

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

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

    What does Korea buy from Vietnam?

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

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

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

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

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

    Who does Vietnam compete with in each product?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Which FTA gives Vietnamese seafood the lower duty?

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

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

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

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

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

    Does your product qualify as Vietnamese under the FTA?

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

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

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

    What does a Vietnamese plant need before the first shipment?

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

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

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

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

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

    Pre-shipment checklist

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

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

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

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

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

    See where Vietnam ranks for your product in Korea

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

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

    FAQ

    Is Vietnamese shrimp duty-free in Korea?

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

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

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

    Do Vietnamese seafood plants register with MFDS themselves?

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

    Sources and method

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

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

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

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

    Korea’s shrimp imports at a glanceJan–Sep 2026
    SizeUS$587.1 million, 82,169 tonnes, 13.3% of Korea’s seafood imports
    Top origins (share of value)Vietnam 43.1% · China 24.8% · Peru 9.3% · Thailand 7.4% · Malaysia 4.1%
    Customs price per kgFrozen peeled US$8.08 · frozen whole whiteleg US$6.39 · breaded US$6.19 · other prepared US$11.51
    Main HS codes0306.17.1090 · 1605.21.1000 · 0306.17.9091 · 1605.21.9000 · 0306.17.9099
    Duty, 2026Basic 20% · Peru, Chile, Colombia, US, Canada 0% · Vietnam 0% within a 15,000-tonne quota · ASEAN 0% within a 5,000-tonne yearly quota · China 8%
    Also noteFrozen or chilled shrimp that is not heat-treated or cut needs NFQS quarantine as well as MFDS inspection
    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

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

    Where does South Korea import its shrimp from?

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

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

    OriginValue, Jan–Sep 2026Share of valueVolumeUS$/kgValue vs Jan–Sep 2025
    VietnamUS$253.3M43.1%40,073 t6.32−0.3%
    ChinaUS$145.4M24.8%19,670 t7.39+17.3%
    PeruUS$54.8M9.3%7,500 t7.30+26.1%
    ThailandUS$43.7M7.4%3,729 t11.71−5.8%
    MalaysiaUS$24.2M4.1%2,549 t9.51−3.8%
    ArgentinaUS$22.7M3.9%1,788 t12.71+1.1%
    IndiaUS$18.2M3.1%2,794 t6.51+13.0%
    EcuadorUS$10.3M1.8%2,018 t5.11−18.0%
    CanadaUS$5.8M1.0%336 t17.15+30.2%
    United StatesUS$2.5M0.4%808 t3.11+5.9%
    All originsUS$587.1M100%82,169 t7.15+2.2%

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

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

    How have the origins changed over three years?

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

    Share of Korea’s shrimp import value20242025Jan–Sep 2025Jan–Sep 2026
    Vietnam49.3%45.1%44.2%43.1%
    China14.8%20.9%21.6%24.8%
    Peru8.6%7.6%7.6%9.3%
    Thailand8.8%7.9%8.1%7.4%
    Malaysia5.1%4.7%4.4%4.1%
    Argentina3.7%3.9%3.9%3.9%
    India4.0%2.8%2.8%3.1%
    Ecuador2.8%1.9%2.2%1.8%

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

    Stacked bar chart titled China's share of Korea's shrimp imports keeps rising: share of import value in 2024, 2025 and Jan–Sep 2026, Vietnam 49.3%, 45.1% and 43.1%; China 14.8%, 20.9% and 24.8%; Peru, Thailand and other origins make up the rest

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

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

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

    HSK codeProductValue, Jan–Sep 2026Share of shrimpVolumeUS$/kgValue vs Jan–Sep 2025Main origin (share of value)
    0306.17.1090Shrimp meat (peeled), frozenUS$313.9M53.5%38,864 t8.08+4.9%Vietnam 42.4%
    1605.21.1000Prepared shrimp, breaded or battered, not airtightUS$75.9M12.9%12,276 t6.19−3.6%Vietnam 82.2%
    0306.17.9091Whiteleg shrimp (L. vannamei), frozen, shell-onUS$66.8M11.4%10,452 t6.39−10.1%Peru 59.4%
    1605.21.9000Other prepared shrimp, not airtightUS$63.5M10.8%5,518 t11.51+16.6%Vietnam 69.4%
    0306.17.9099Other shrimp, frozen, shell-onUS$34.4M5.9%3,563 t9.65−5.1%Malaysia 53.7%
    0306.95.9020Dried shrimpUS$15.7M2.7%1,365 t11.46+5.8%China 98.5%
    0306.95.9030Salted or brined shrimpUS$7.3M1.2%8,828 t0.83+6.2%Vietnam 98.7%
    0306.16.1090Cold-water shrimp meat, frozenUS$4.9M0.8%182 t26.65+16.4%Canada 98.8%
    0306.16.9090Other cold-water shrimp, frozenUS$3.3M0.6%968 t3.40−21.9%United States 63.1%

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

    Bar chart titled Peeled frozen shrimp is over half of Korea's shrimp imports: top 7 HSK codes by value, Jan–Sep 2026, frozen peeled US$313.9 million, breaded US$75.9 million, frozen whole whiteleg US$66.8 million, other prepared US$63.5 million, other frozen shell-on US$34.4 million, dried US$15.7 million and salted US$7.3 million

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

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

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

    How do shrimp import prices compare by origin?

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

    OriginFrozen peeled, 0306.17.1090Frozen whole whiteleg, 0306.17.9091Breaded, 1605.21.1000Other prepared, 1605.21.9000
    Vietnam8.457.375.8710.88
    China7.18n/an/a4.84
    India7.236.93n/a7.41
    Peru10.176.59n/an/a
    Thailand12.968.008.5216.01
    Argentina15.79n/an/an/a
    Ecuadorn/a5.11n/an/a
    Malaysian/a7.07n/an/a
    Colombian/a5.63n/an/a
    All origins8.086.396.1911.51

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

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

    Dot chart titled Ecuador is the lowest-priced origin of frozen whiteleg shrimp: Korea's import price for HSK 0306.17.9091 by origin, Jan–Sep 2026 as filled dots against Jan–Sep 2025 as hollow dots; Ecuador US$5.11/kg, Colombia US$5.63, Saudi Arabia US$5.86, Peru US$6.59, India US$6.93, Malaysia US$7.07, Vietnam US$7.37, Thailand US$8.00, all-origin average US$6.39

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

    SEACHING Compare tab for Korea's white leg shrimp imports (HS 0306179091), October 2025 to September 2026: unit price by origin, lowest first from Ecuador to Thailand, and import volume by origin, highest first, led by Peru

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

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

    Origin (agreement)Frozen peeled, 0306.17.1090Frozen shell-on, 0306.17.9091 and 9099Breaded, 1605.21.1000Other prepared, 1605.21.9000
    Vietnam (Korea–Vietnam FTA)0% within 15,000 t, then 20%0% within 15,000 t, then 20%0%0% within 15,000 t, then 20%
    China (Korea–China FTA)8%8%8%8%
    Peru, Chile, Colombia, US, Canada0%0%0%0%
    Thailand, Malaysia, other ASEAN (Korea–ASEAN FTA)0% within 5,000 t a year0% within 5,000 t a year0%0% within 2,000 t, then 16%
    Indonesia (Korea–Indonesia CEPA)no CEPA line; ASEAN quota or 20%no CEPA line; ASEAN quota or 20%0%ASEAN rate
    India (Korea–India CEPA)no CEPA line; 20%no CEPA line; 20%10%no CEPA line; 20%
    Ecuador, Argentina, Saudi Arabia (no FTA in force)20%20%20%20%

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

    Two points change the real rate:

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

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

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

    What does a shrimp exporter need before shipping to Korea?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Who imports shrimp in Korea?

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

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

    More on shrimp and Korea

    Check Korea’s shrimp imports in your form

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

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

    FAQ

    How much shrimp does Korea import per year?

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

    Does Korea import live or fresh shrimp?

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

    What is the price of vannamei shrimp in Korea?

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

    Is breaded shrimp from Thailand duty-free in Korea?

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

    Sources and method

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Key takeaways

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

    What seafood does South Korea import the most?

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

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

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

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

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

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

    What changed from 2025?

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

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

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

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

    Other moves:

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

    Why rank by species instead of HS code?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    How is the single-HS-code ranking different?

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

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

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

    Is this the same as what Koreans eat most?

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

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

    Look up your species in Korea’s import data

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

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

    FAQ

    What is the most imported fish in South Korea?

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

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

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

    Which country supplies most of Korea’s shrimp?

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

    Sources and method

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

    How to Find Seafood Buyers in Korea Using Import Data

    Data as of October 15, 2026: Korea Customs Service import values for January–September 2026 and 2025, and SEACHING company estimates for October 2025–September 2026 (October 2024–September 2026 where noted).

    How to find seafood buyers in Korea: start from your product’s 10-digit Korean HS code, not a buyer list, then shortlist the importers that buy it often and from your country. The worked example is frozen peeled shrimp (HS 0306.17.1090), Korea’s largest single seafood import code in Jan–Sep 2026 at US$313.9 million (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).

    Key takeaways

    • Frozen peeled shrimp (HS 0306.17.1090) was Korea’s largest single seafood import code in Jan–Sep 2026, at US$313.9 million or 7.1% of the total, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data.
    • Vietnam (42.4%) and China (40.7%) supplied most of Korea’s frozen peeled shrimp imports by value in Jan–Sep 2026; India, Peru, Thailand and Argentina each held 2.8–5.1% (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • SEACHING estimates that 195 Korean companies imported frozen peeled shrimp from October 2025 to September 2026, and that 22 of them bought from India.
    • Of 229 estimated Korean importers of frozen peeled shrimp in October 2024–September 2026, 34 had no import record in October 2025–September 2026 (SEACHING estimates).

    What will you have at the end of this guide?

    A shortlist of 5–10 Korean importers that already buy your product, with a reason to contact each one. You need a product description, its 6-digit HS code and a free account on SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan.

    Korea’s public import statistics report products and countries, not companies, so the method starts from the product code.

    Step 1: Which 10-digit Korean HS code is your product?

    Your 6-digit HS code is not enough. The Harmonized System uses six-digit codes, and more than 200 countries and economies use it as the basis for their customs tariffs, according to the World Customs Organization. Korea’s tariff schedule and trade statistics add four national digits, making a 10-digit code called HSK.

    Subheading 0306.17 (other frozen shrimp and prawns) splits into five Korean codes with very different import values.

    Korean HS code (HSK)ProductKorea’s imports, Jan–Sep 2026 (US$ million)
    0306.17.1090Frozen peeled shrimp and prawns, not smoked313.9
    0306.17.9091Frozen whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)66.8
    0306.17.9099Other frozen shrimp and prawns, not smoked34.4
    0306.17.1010 and 0306.17.9010Smokedless than 0.01

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

    Peeled shrimp took 75.6% of Korea’s 0306.17 imports in Jan–Sep 2026. Shell-on whiteleg and peeled shrimp sit in different codes with different origins. If unsure which fits, read how Korean buyers describe the product they want.

    On SEACHING, each product page shows its 10-digit code, and the Related menu lists the other codes at the same level.

    SEACHING product page for HS 0306171090 (peeled shrimps and prawns, frozen) with the Related menu open, listing the five 10-digit codes under subheading 0306.17

    Step 2: Does Korea already buy it, and from which origins?

    Yes: Korea imported US$313.9 million of frozen peeled shrimp in Jan–Sep 2026, up 4.9% on the same months of 2025, at an average customs value of US$8.08 per kg. The origin table shows who you would compete with.

    OriginShare of value, Jan–Sep 2026Share, Jan–Sep 2025Customs value, Jan–Sep 2026 (US$/kg)Estimated importers buying from this origin, Oct 2025–Sep 2026
    Vietnam42.4%47.5%8.45134
    China40.7%36.0%7.1869
    India5.1%4.7%7.2322
    Peru4.8%3.9%10.1712
    Thailand3.7%4.9%12.9611
    Argentina2.8%1.9%15.79not listed

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data (values and prices); SEACHING estimates (importer counts; an importer can buy from several origins).

    Customs value per kg is import value divided by weight, not a market price. The data does not show size or glazing, so compare like with like. From October 2025 to September 2026, Vietnam, China, India, Peru, Thailand and Argentina each shipped frozen peeled shrimp to Korea in every month.

    A single-origin page shows that origin’s monthly customs value per kg, with SEACHING’s price model projection as a dashed line.

    SEACHING page for frozen peeled shrimp (HS 0306171090) from Vietnam, showing Korea's monthly import unit price and the model forecast as a dashed line

    For the wider picture, see Korea’s shrimp imports by origin.

    Step 3: How many Korean companies import it?

    SEACHING estimates that 195 Korean companies imported frozen peeled shrimp from October 2025 to September 2026. The top 10 held 33.3% of import records (not value), and the median importer filed 6 records. SEACHING derives these from Korea Customs Service and Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) import declarations; they are estimates, not confirmed contracts.

    The number varies widely by product; the overview of seafood importers in Korea compares six products.

    The product page’s Companies tab lists estimated importers with their number of trades (import records), industry and main origins. Filter chips above the list narrow it to one origin.

    SEACHING Companies tab for Korea's frozen peeled shrimp imports (HS 0306171090), listing estimated importers with their trades, industry and main origins, with origin filters and company names blurred

    Step 4: How do you shortlist importers worth contacting?

    Keep the companies that import your product from your origin, often and recently.

    CheckKeep the importer if…Frozen peeled shrimp, SEACHING estimates
    OriginIt imported from your country in the last 12 months22 importers bought from India, 12 from Peru, 11 from Thailand
    FrequencyIt has more records than the medianMedian importer: 6 records in 12 months
    RecencyIt still imports34 of 229 importers in the 24-month window had no record in the latest 12 months
    One-off buyersTreat a single record as a test, not a customer24 of 195 importers filed one record
    Product fitIt imports your species and formThe company page lists its top product groups; confirm the form (peeled, whole, cooked) when you write

    Source: SEACHING estimates, October 2025–September 2026 (12 months) and October 2024–September 2026 (24 months). Records count import declarations, not value.

    An Indian exporter would start with the 22 importers that already buy Indian product, rank them by records and recency, and open each company’s page. The Overview shows the company’s main origin and product, its last trade, its top product groups and its distribution by origin country.

    SEACHING company page Overview for one Korean shrimp importer, showing its trade profile, top products and country distribution, with the company name blurred

    From LINKSUP’s trading desk
    LINKSUP estimates that only about 15% of Korean seafood importers buy directly from foreign suppliers; this is not an official statistic. When an importer considers a new supplier, price matters most. Importers also check quality certification such as HACCP or FSSC 22000, supply history (including supply to major buyers) and reputation.

    So a company that buys your origin through an agent is still a lead; see why most Korean seafood imports go through agents. Before you sign a contract, run the checks in how to verify a Korean seafood importer.

    Step 5: How should you make first contact?

    Meet in person where you can: Korean importers value face-to-face meetings with new partners, according to USDA (August 2025). The Busan International Seafood & Fisheries Expo (BISFE) runs November 4–6, 2026 at BEXCO; see how to meet Korean buyers at the Busan seafood expo.

    If you write first, name the 10-digit HSK, your origin, specification and certification, and refer to what the company already imports. Why Korean buyers ignore cold emails explains the usual failures, and what Korean seafood importers look for covers the buyer’s checklist.

    Know who does what. As of October 2026, the Korean importer, registered with MFDS as an importer-seller, files the import declaration and is responsible for the food’s safety and quality. Your plant must be registered with MFDS before the declaration, by you or the importer. See the guide to exporting seafood to Korea, and confirm current rules with a licensed customs broker or MFDS.

    What can go wrong when you read importer data?

    Treating estimates as facts. Company counts and records are SEACHING estimates. Use them to rank leads, not to quote a buyer’s volume to them.

    Confusing the importer of record with the end buyer. The company in the data filed the import declaration. It may resell the product or import for another buyer; the overview of seafood importers in Korea explains the types.

    Reading one month as a trend. Korea’s frozen peeled shrimp imports by weight peak in September and are lowest in February and March, averaged over October 2023–September 2026 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data). Judge a company on 12 months of records.

    Run the same search for your product

    The same steps work for any species. Start with frozen peeled shrimp import data, frozen whiteleg shrimp import data or other frozen shrimp import data (free sign-up).

    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. Find importers of your product (free sign-up)

    FAQ

    Can I see the names of Korean seafood importers?

    Not in Korea’s public statistics, which report imports by product and country only. SEACHING lists estimated importers of each product by company after a free sign-up.

    How often is Korean seafood import data updated?

    The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries publishes a monthly file of Korea’s seafood imports built from Korea Customs Service data. SEACHING updates customs statistics monthly and MFDS import declaration data daily.

    What if no Korean company imports my exact product yet?

    Check the other 10-digit codes under the same 6-digit subheading. In Jan–Sep 2026, Korea imported less than US$100 of smoked frozen shrimp under 0306.17, but US$66.8 million of frozen whiteleg shrimp. Importers of a close product are the first people to ask.

    Sources and method

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

    Korea Seafood Import Duty: Tariff Rates by Species and FTA

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

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

    Key takeaways

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

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

    What import duty does Korea charge on seafood?

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

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

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

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

    Which rate applies when one code has several?

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

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

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

    What is the duty on my species from my country?

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

    Origins in the Americas and Europe (%, 2026)

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

    Origins in Asia (%, 2026)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Common misconceptions about Korean seafood tariffs

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

    How do I check the current rate myself?

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

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

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

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

    Check what Korea already pays for your product

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

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

    FAQ

    Who pays import duty on seafood shipped to Korea?

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

    Is VAT charged on seafood imported into Korea?

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

    Sources and method

  • Why Korean Seafood Buyers Search by Species, State and Form, Not HS Code

    Why Korean Seafood Buyers Search by Species, State and Form, Not HS Code

    Data as of October 2026: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data through September 2026; Codex and other definitions checked October 15, 2026.

    A Korean seafood product specification names the species, state, processing, form and size, and Korean buyers compare offers on those terms. The HS code is for customs. One code, “other frozen squid”, covered US$235.3 million of Korea’s imports in Jan–Sep 2026, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data.

    Key takeaways

    • Korea’s “other frozen squid” code (HSK 0307.43.2090) was the second-largest seafood import code in Jan–Sep 2026, at US$235.3 million or 5.3% of Korea’s seafood imports (HS chapter 03 and 1603–1605), according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data.
    • Korea’s Alaska pollock imports split across five main HS codes in Jan–Sep 2026, priced from US$1.28/kg for frozen whole fish to US$4.36/kg for frozen roe (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Codex standards for quick frozen fillets and shrimp declare net content without the glaze; agree the net weight basis with your Korean buyer in writing.

    Definition: HS code vs buyer specification
    An HS code classifies a product for customs duty and trade statistics. A buyer specification describes what the buyer will receive: species, state (live, fresh or frozen), processing, form, size and packing. The buyer prices the specification; the importer needs the code for the import declaration.

    Why isn’t an HS code enough for a Korean buyer?

    An HS code is too coarse to price a product. LINKSUP, the Busan importer that built SEACHING, describes HS codes as an administrative classification with many “other” lines.

    Squid shows the gap. In Jan–Sep 2026, the “other frozen squid” code held 95.0% of the US$247.7 million Korea paid under its two frozen squid codes. The code that names its genera took only US$12.4 million. Inside the “other” line, the average price fell from US$3.53/kg in Jan–Sep 2025 to US$2.49/kg in Jan–Sep 2026 while volume rose 4.5%. The code cannot tell a buyer whether squid got cheaper or the mix of species and sizes changed.

    The reverse also happens: one species sits in several codes. Alaska pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus; Korea’s tariff schedule still uses Theragra chalcogramma) is myeongtae in Korean, and frozen pollock is often called dongtae.

    Pollock productHSK codeKorea’s imports, Jan–Sep 2026VolumeUS$/kg
    Frozen whole or headed and gutted0303.67.0000US$93.9M73,204 t1.28
    Frozen surimi (yeonyuk)0304.94.1000US$66.2M22,896 t2.89
    Frozen roe (myeongnan)0303.91.2010US$57.2M13,131 t4.36
    Frozen fillets0304.75.0000US$46.9M14,838 t3.16
    Fresh or chilled0302.55.0000US$2.3M643 t3.56

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports, Jan–Sep 2026. Unit price is declared customs value divided by weight.

    Frozen roe cleared at 3.4 times the price per kg of frozen whole fish in Jan–Sep 2026. On this data, the species name alone does not set the price; the product form does. Frozen pollock import data on SEACHING (free sign-up) shows each line by month and origin, and the page header shows where the code sits in the tariff tree, so you can check the neighbouring codes.

    SEACHING page header for HS 0303670000, titled Alaska Pollock (Theragra chalcogramma), with the classification path Ch. 03, Hdg. 03, Sub. 67, 0000 and the data period 2025-10 to 2026-09

    How do Korean buyers describe a seafood product?

    LINKSUP’s product classification, described below, sorts Korea’s seafood imports by species, state, processing and form, among other attributes. An offer needs those four plus a size grade. The pollock table above shows how much processing alone moves the customs value per kg.

    Diagram of five attributes for describing a seafood product: species, state, processing, form and size, with frozen Alaska pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus), headed and gutted, block frozen, graded by fish weight as the example

    AxisWhat the buyer wants to knowExample (pollock)
    SpeciesCommon, scientific and Korean nameAlaska pollock, Gadus chalcogrammus, myeongtae
    StateLive, fresh or chilled, frozenFrozen
    ProcessingWhole, headed and gutted, filleted, minced, roeHeaded and gutted
    FormIQF pieces, block, retail packBlock
    SizeWeight or length grade, or count per kgGrade by fish weight

    Example layout. Values are illustrative, not a buyer requirement.

    The species line matters most when your product falls into an “other” code. Whiteleg shrimp has its own frozen code, which cleared US$66.8 million at US$6.39/kg in Jan–Sep 2026. The “other frozen shrimp” code cleared US$34.4 million at US$9.65/kg, and its name does not say which species is inside.

    What do HG, HGT, block, IQF and glaze mean on a Korean request?

    If your offer uses English trade abbreviations, define them on the sheet.

    TermMeaningReference
    WR (whole round)The whole fish, not headed or guttedUS 50 CFR 679 product code 01
    HGHeaded and gutted. Western cut: head removed just in front of the collar bone; Eastern cut: just behind it50 CFR 679 codes 07, 08
    HGTHeaded, gutted, tail removed50 CFR 679 code 10
    Fillet, bonelessMeat from the sides of the body; “boneless” only if pin bones are removedCodex CXS 190, 2.3
    BlockA uniformly shaped mass of fillets, minced flesh or both, frozen together, usually for further processingCodex CXS 165, 2.1
    IQFIndividually quick frozen: pieces frozen separately, not as one block. Codex does not define IQF as a termCodex quick frozen standards
    GlazeA thin ice layer that protects frozen product. Codex net content excludes itCodex CXS 190 and CXS 92, 6.2
    CountPieces per unit of weight or per packageCodex CXS 92, 2.3
    PD, PUD (shrimp)Trade shorthand; write “peeled, deveined” or “peeled, undeveined” in fullNot defined in Codex

    Sources: US eCFR 50 CFR Part 679 Table 1a (October 1, 2026 edition); Codex CXS 165, CXS 190 and CXS 92 (2014 amendments), checked October 15, 2026.

    Glaze changes the weight the buyer pays for. Codex declares net content without the glaze, and the UK’s Seafish guidance adds that size grades should also exclude it. Put the glaze percentage, net weight basis and size basis in writing before you quote. The label itself is covered in Korean food labeling for seafood.

    What should an offer sheet for a Korean buyer include?

    An offer sheet should answer the five axes first, then the trade terms. Every value below is an example.

    FieldExample entry
    SpeciesAlaska pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus), Korean: myeongtae
    StateFrozen at sea
    Processing and formHG, Western cut, block frozen
    Size gradeLength or weight per fish, in cm or g
    Glaze and weight basisGlaze % stated; price per kg net weight, glaze excluded
    PackingCarton weight, blocks per carton, inner bag
    DatesCatch or production month; shelf life
    OriginCatch area, vessel flag or plant country, plant registration number
    HSK code (10-digit)0303.67.0000
    Price and IncotermUS$ per kg, CFR Busan
    Payment termsAs agreed, e.g. L/C at sight or T/T
    Quantity and shipmentContainers or tonnes; shipment month

    Example layout. Values are illustrative and are not a quote or a buyer requirement.

    Keep the HSK code on the sheet for duty, as the guide to Korea’s seafood import duty explains. Before your first offer, read what Korean seafood importers check before a first order. If the sheet goes with your first email, read why Korean buyers ignore cold emails too. SEACHING Quote Check (free sign-up) compares a priced commercial invoice with Korean customs prices; a price list without amounts is not analyzed.

    Common misconceptions

    “The HS code is not needed on an offer.” It is. Put it next to the buyer terms, not instead of them.

    “The English species name is enough.” Add the scientific name, as the pollock example shows, and ask the buyer which Korean name they use.

    “Product specification means the Korean food standard.” Korea’s Food Code (Sikpum Gongjeon) sets legal food standards, a separate layer. This article covers the commercial specification a buyer uses to compare offers.

    How SEACHING maps HS codes to the products buyers trade

    SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, shows Korea’s seafood imports by 10-digit HS code, origin and month from Korea Customs Service data. Because many HS lines are “other” lines, SEACHING matches Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) import declarations (product name, type, country of manufacture, exporter) to the customs data by HS code. It then reclassifies products by species, representative product, item, state, processing and form, using a patented classification system.

    Start with what sits inside Korea’s “other frozen squid” code (free sign-up), then read how Korea’s seafood importers are structured, how to find seafood buyers in Korea and why octopus, long-arm and webfoot octopus have separate codes.

    Check Korea’s imports of your product

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

    FAQ

    Should I put the HS code on my offer sheet to a Korean buyer?

    Yes. Put the 10-digit Korean HSK code next to the product description. The importer needs it for duty and the import declaration. Confirm the code with the importer or a licensed Korean customs broker.

    Do Korean buyers quote prices on net weight or gross weight with glaze?

    Agree it in writing for each contract. Codex standards for quick frozen fillets and shrimp declare net content without the glaze, so price per kg net weight, glaze excluded, is the clearest basis.

    Do Korean buyers prefer IQF or block frozen seafood?

    It depends on the use. Codex describes blocks as usually intended for further processing. Ask the buyer what their customer does with the product before you choose a freezing form.

    Sources and method

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

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

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

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

    Key takeaways

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

    What is Korea’s seafood self-sufficiency rate?

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

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

    The 2023 figures are preliminary and may be revised.

    How has the rate changed since 1995?

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

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

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

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

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

    Why do other sources say 77%?

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

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

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

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

    Why has self-sufficiency risen since 2019?

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

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

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

    Common misreadings of the 57% figure

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

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

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

    Which species does Korea depend on imports for?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Check Korea’s import trend for your species

    SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, shows Korea’s seafood imports by 10-digit HS code and month, built on Korea Customs Service data. The figures above come from these pages:

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

    FAQ

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

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

    Will Korea’s seafood self-sufficiency keep rising?

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

    Sources and method