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Tag: Vietnam

  • Korea’s Surimi Imports: Origins and Prices for Fish Cake Makers

    Korea’s Surimi Imports: Origins and Prices for Fish Cake Makers

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

    Korea imported US$184.0 million of frozen surimi in Jan–Sep 2026, up 3.4% from Jan–Sep 2025, according to SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data. Vietnam (29.2%), China (26.1%), the United States (20.8%) and Russia (15.2%) led by value. Pollock surimi averaged US$2.89 per kg and other surimi US$1.60.

    The number that matters: US$2.89 vs US$1.60 per kg
    Korea’s average customs price, pollock surimi against other surimi, Jan–Sep 2026. In pollock surimi, US suppliers shipped more tonnes than Russia again, after Russia led in Jan–Sep 2025.

    Key takeaways

    • Korea imported US$184.0 million and 96,383 tonnes of frozen surimi in Jan–Sep 2026, 4.2% of its seafood imports (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • US suppliers shipped 11,888 tonnes of pollock surimi to Korea in Jan–Sep 2026 against Russia’s 11,007, reversing Russia’s lead in Jan–Sep 2025 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • China’s share of Korea’s other surimi imports (HSK 0304.99.1000) rose from 34.9% in Jan–Sep 2025 to 40.9% in Jan–Sep 2026; Vietnam’s fell from 50.7% to 45.4% (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).

    Where does Korea import surimi from?

    Vietnam was the largest supplier of surimi to Korea in Jan–Sep 2026 by value, and China the largest by weight. Two HSK codes carry almost all the trade: pollock surimi (0304.94.1000) and other surimi (0304.99.1000).

    OriginJan–Sep 2026 (US$ million)ShareTonnesUS$/kgShare, Jan–Sep 2025
    Vietnam53.6429.2%28,9911.8533.0%
    China48.0226.1%37,1961.2922.8%
    United States38.2220.8%11,8883.2117.6%
    Russia27.9815.2%11,0072.5417.3%
    India12.026.5%5,4882.195.1%
    Pakistan1.640.9%8162.011.3%
    Thailand1.090.6%4082.670.8%
    Indonesia0.750.4%3262.311.6%
    All origins183.9896,3831.91

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports, HSK 0304.94.1000, 0304.99.1000, 0304.93.1000 and 0304.95.1000, Jan–Sep 2025 and Jan–Sep 2026, queried October 15, 2026.

    Surimi was 4.2% of Korea’s US$4,415.6 million seafood imports in Jan–Sep 2026. Korea’s seafood imports here means HS chapter 03 plus prepared fish and crustaceans (HS 1603–1605); seaweed and salt are excluded.

    Value rose 3.4% and weight fell 2.8%, lifting the average price 6.3% to US$1.91 per kg.

    Why is pollock surimi a different market from other surimi?

    Pollock surimi cost 1.8 times as much per kg as other surimi in Jan–Sep 2026, and only two countries, the US and Russia, supplied it.

    Pollock surimi (0304.94.1000)Other surimi (0304.99.1000)
    Value, Jan–Sep 2026US$66.20 million (+6.7%)US$117.43 million (+1.4%)
    Tonnes22,896 (−3.2%)73,346 (−2.8%)
    Average price (Jan–Sep 2025)US$2.89/kg (US$2.62)US$1.60/kg (US$1.54)
    Origins and value shareUS 57.7%, Russia 42.3%Vietnam 45.4%, China 40.9%, India 10.2%, Pakistan 1.4%, Thailand 0.9%, Indonesia 0.6%

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

    Other surimi prices ranged from US$1.29 per kg (China) to US$2.67 (Thailand) in Jan–Sep 2026. Korea’s customs statistics do not split 0304.99.1000 by species or grade, so a price gap can reflect either.

    Bar chart, Pollock surimi costs Korea far more per kg than other-fish surimi: Korea's surimi import price by origin, Jan–Sep 2026, US$/kg. Pollock: US 3.21, Russia 2.54. Other fish: Thailand 2.67, Indonesia 2.31, India 2.19, Pakistan 2.01, Vietnam 1.85, China 1.29

    China gained most between Jan–Sep 2025 and Jan–Sep 2026: its surimi tonnes rose 15.6% while Vietnam’s fell 17.9%. Indonesia fell from US$2.90 million to US$0.75 million.

    Is Russian pollock surimi overtaking US surimi in Korea?

    Not in 2026. US suppliers shipped 11,888 tonnes of pollock surimi to Korea in Jan–Sep 2026 and Russia 11,007, after Russia led in Jan–Sep 2025 (12,364 against 11,291).

    Bar chart, US pollock surimi took back the lead in 2026: Korea's pollock surimi imports in tonnes, Jan–Sep 2024, 2025 and 2026. US 12,356, 11,291, 11,888; Russia 7,811, 12,364, 11,007

    By weight, the US held 60.3% of Korea’s pollock surimi imports in full-year 2024 (17,605 of 29,181 tonnes); in 2025 the two were level at 50.1% and 49.9%.

    The price gap widened in 2026. US surimi averaged US$3.21 per kg in Jan–Sep 2026, up from US$2.77, while Russian surimi moved from US$2.49 to US$2.54. Russian product also pays a 10% duty that US product does not. The Korea pollock imports guide covers whole pollock, fillets and roe.

    What duty does Korea charge on surimi from each origin?

    Korea’s basic duty on frozen surimi is 10%, and as of October 2026 US, Vietnamese and ASEAN surimi pays 0% under free trade agreements (FTAs). The 2026 schedule has no agreement rate for Russia or Pakistan, so both pay the basic 10%.

    OriginPollock surimi 0304.94.1000Other surimi 0304.99.1000Agreement
    Basic rate10%10%
    United States0%0%Korea–US FTA
    Vietnam0%0%Korea–Vietnam FTA
    Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar0%0%Korea–ASEAN FTA
    Indonesia0%0%Korea–ASEAN FTA, Korea–Indonesia CEPA
    China0%4%Korea–China FTA
    India0%5%Korea–India CEPA
    Russia, Pakistan10%10%No agreement rate

    Source: Korea Customs Service, tariff rates by item 2026, rates for January 1–December 31, 2026, checked October 15, 2026.

    The 2026 schedule has no adjustment-tariff or quota line for either surimi code. The Korean importer claims the FTA rate before clearance, so send origin documents with the shipping papers. Confirm the rate for your shipment on UNIPASS or with a Korean customs broker, especially for India. See the guide to Korea’s seafood import duties.

    Does Korea import finished fish cake too?

    Yes, but far less than surimi: Korea imported US$14.15 million of fish cake and crab sticks (HSK 1604.20.40) in Jan–Sep 2026, down 10.3% from Jan–Sep 2025. Korea’s surimi imports were 13.0 times larger by value in the same period.

    Thailand led Korea’s fish cake imports with 39.9% of value in Jan–Sep 2026, ahead of China (19.4%) and Japan (12.2%). The basic duty on fish cake is 20%; Thai product pays 5% and Vietnamese 0% (2026 schedule, checked October 15, 2026).

    Is there room for a new surimi origin in Korea?

    India’s surimi sales to Korea grew 31.4% in value to US$12.02 million in Jan–Sep 2026, at US$2.19 per kg, above Vietnam (US$1.85) and China (US$1.29). Pakistan, Thailand and Indonesia together held under 2% of Korea’s surimi imports by value.

    • Count the duty in the landed price. Vietnamese, Thai and Indonesian surimi enters duty-free, while Chinese pays 4%, Indian 5% and Pakistani 10% (2026 schedule).
    • Plan around January. Over October 2023–September 2026, January volume of other surimi averaged 177% of an average month, June 65%. The Korea seafood demand calendar shows other peaks.

    Country guides: exporting Vietnamese seafood to Korea, exporting from Thailand and Indonesia, exporting Chinese seafood to Korea and US and Canadian seafood in Korea.

    Check your surimi’s competition in Korea

    SEACHING, a Korea seafood trade data platform operated by LINKSUP, Inc. in Busan, shows Korea’s imports by 10-digit HS code, origin and month. Its “By Country” table for HS 0304991000 (“Frozen fish surimi”) ranks the origins of other surimi by value, with price per kg and volume for the latest twelve months.

    SEACHING By Country table for Frozen fish surimi (HS 0304991000): Korea's imports from 9 origins, led by Vietnam, China and India, with value, unit price, volume and trend for October 2025 to September 2026

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

    FAQ

    Why is Chinese surimi so much cheaper per kg than US surimi in Korea’s customs data?

    In Jan–Sep 2026, Chinese surimi (US$1.29 per kg) was other surimi and US surimi (US$3.21) was pollock surimi, a separate code; customs data does not record the species or grade of Chinese product (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).

    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.

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

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

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

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

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

    Key takeaways

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

    Where does Korea import clams from?

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

    OriginJan–Sep 2026 valueShareWeightShare, Jan–Sep 2025
    ChinaUS$48.15 million89.6%34,119 t92.6%
    VietnamUS$1.88 million3.5%795 t3.1%
    CanadaUS$1.06 million2.0%82 t1.6%
    JapanUS$0.89 million1.6%214 t1.4%
    ThailandUS$0.77 million1.4%398 t0.5%
    RussiaUS$0.47 million0.9%148 t0.4%
    All originsUS$53.71 million100%35,953 t100%

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

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

    Manila clam: live, frozen or prepared?

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

    HSKFormValueWeightShare of Manila clamUS$/kgChina’s share
    0307.71.4000Live, fresh or chilledUS$15.63 million12,383 t49.9%1.26100%
    1605.56.1090Prepared or preserved, otherUS$10.22 million5,153 t32.6%1.9899.3%
    0307.72.3000FrozenUS$3.65 million2,756 t11.6%1.3297.2%
    0307.79.3020Salted or in brineUS$1.43 million267 t4.6%5.35100%
    1605.56.1010Prepared, airtight containersUS$0.21 million76 t0.7%2.6873.6%
    0307.79.2020DriedUS$0.18 million23 t0.6%7.84100%

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

    Bar chart of Korea's Manila clam imports by form, Jan–Sep 2026: live US$15.6 million, prepared US$10.2 million

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

    Line chart of Korea's monthly live Manila clam imports, Oct 2024 to Sep 2026, peaking at 4,857 tonnes in November 2025

    Why does China supply almost all of it?

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

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

    SEACHING page for live Manila clam (HS 0307714000, "Baby clams") from China, showing Korea's monthly import unit price and the model forecast to February 2027

    Which clams do other origins already sell to Korea?

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

    HSK / productJan–Sep 2026 valueOrigins other than China (share, US$/kg)China’s share
    0307.72.9000 Frozen other clams, cockles and ark shellsUS$3.73 millionCanada 28.0% (13.03), Vietnam 27.3% (1.77), Thailand 19.1% (1.80), Senegal 6.8% (5.27)12.7%
    0307.71.9000 Live or chilled other clamsUS$2.77 millionJapan 31.1% (4.21), Russia 14.0% (3.90)54.9%
    1605.56.9090 Other prepared bivalvesUS$1.13 millionVietnam 60.0% (3.69)39.9%
    1605.56.1010 Manila clam in airtight containersUS$0.21 millionThailand 26.2%73.6%

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

    Stacked bar chart of origin shares in three Korean clam codes, Jan–Sep 2026, led by Canada, Vietnam and Thailand in frozen other clams

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

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

    Scallops: the bivalve market where Japan leads

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

    What duty do clams pay in Korea by origin?

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

    HSK / productBasic rateKorea–China FTAKorea–Vietnam FTAKorea–ASEAN FTA (e.g. Thailand)Korea–Indonesia CEPAKorea–Canada and KORUS FTAs
    0307.71.4000 Live Manila clam20%20% (separate 0% line)5%5%3%0%
    0307.72.3000 Frozen Manila clam20%20% (separate 0% line)0%5%3%0%
    1605.56.1090 Prepared Manila clam20%8%0%5%3%0%
    0307.71.9000 Live other clams20%8%0%0%0%0%
    0307.72.9000 Frozen other clams20%8%0%5%4.5%0%
    1605.56.9090 Other prepared bivalves20%8%0%5%3%0%

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

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

    What to check before shipping clams to Korea

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

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

    Find your clam code in Korea’s data

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

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

    FAQ

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

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

    Does Korea test imported clams for shellfish toxins?

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

    Sources and method

  • 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

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

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

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

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

    Key takeaways

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

    How much seafood does Korea import from China?

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

    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.

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

    What does Korea buy from China?

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

    HSKProductValue from ChinaWeightUS$/kgChina’s share of this HSKNext origin
    0306.17.1090Frozen peeled shrimpUS$127.67 million17,788 t7.1840.7%Vietnam 42.4%
    0307.43.2090Frozen squid, otherUS$82.51 million29,882 t2.7635.1%Peru 24.7%
    0307.51.1000Live or chilled long-arm octopusUS$78.74 million3,668 t21.4699.4%Thailand 0.6%
    0307.52.2000Frozen long-arm octopusUS$73.74 million10,927 t6.7572.0%Vietnam 25.0%
    1605.54.2091Seasoned squidUS$48.89 million9,769 t5.0180.1%Vietnam 17.8%
    0304.99.1000Frozen surimi, otherUS$48.02 million37,196 t1.2940.9%Vietnam 45.4%
    0303.89.9060Frozen monkfishUS$40.97 million18,327 t2.2497.6%USA 2.2%
    1604.19.9090Other prepared fishUS$35.47 million8,183 t4.3380.1%Vietnam 14.0%
    0303.89.5020Frozen large yellow croakerUS$34.14 million5,744 t5.94100%none
    1604.17.9000Prepared eelUS$23.48 million2,118 t11.0898.2%Vietnam 0.8%

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

    Horizontal bar chart of Korea's top 10 imports from China by HSK code, Jan–Sep 2026, led by frozen peeled shrimp at US$127.7 million and frozen squid at US$82.5 million

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

    Where does China dominate, and where is it contested?

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

    China holds 90% or more (Jan–Sep 2026)China’s shareContested lines (Jan–Sep 2026)China / main rival
    Live or chilled long-arm octopus99.4%Frozen peeled shrimp40.7% / Vietnam 42.4%
    Frozen monkfish97.6%Frozen surimi, other40.9% / Vietnam 45.4%
    Frozen large yellow croaker100%Frozen squid, other35.1% / Peru 24.7%
    Frozen blue crab95.7%Frozen long-arm octopus72.0% / Vietnam 25.0%
    Live or chilled Manila clam100%Frozen webfoot octopus2.7% / Vietnam 82.4%
    Live croaker and live loach100% eachSeasoned squid80.1% / Vietnam 17.8%

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

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

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

    Dumbbell chart of China's and Vietnam's shares of Korea's imports in frozen peeled shrimp, frozen surimi and frozen webfoot octopus, Jan–Sep 2025 against Jan–Sep 2026; China rose to 40.7% in shrimp and 40.9% in surimi

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

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

    SEACHING page for frozen peeled shrimp (HS 0306171090) from China, showing Korea's monthly import unit price and the model forecast to February 2027

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

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

    HSK / productBasic rateKorea–China FTAKorea–Vietnam FTARCEP (China)
    0306.17.1090 frozen peeled shrimp20%8%0% within quota, 20% aboveno line
    0307.43.2090 frozen squid, other20% (22% adjustment tariff)8%0%no line
    0307.52.2000 frozen long-arm octopus20%20%0%no line
    0307.52.3000 frozen webfoot octopus20%8%0%13.3%
    0304.99.1000 frozen surimi, other10%4%0%no line
    1604.19.9090 other prepared fish20%8%0%no line
    1604.17.9000 prepared eel20%20%0%no line
    0303.89.9060 frozen monkfish10%10%10%no line
    0306.14.3090 frozen blue crab20% (WTO 14%)13.8%11.2%no line

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

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

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

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

    What does a Chinese plant need before the first shipment?

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

    StepWhoDocuments or toolsTiming
    1. Check whether your HSK code is China-dominated or contestedExporterKorea’s import data by HSK and originBefore you quote
    2. Choose the Korea–China FTA or RCEP rateExporter with the importer’s customs brokerCertificate of origin for that agreementBefore the import declaration is accepted
    3. Get your plant registered with MFDS through the Chinese authoritiesPlant, via China’s competent authorityGovernment notification to KoreaBefore the import declaration; valid 2 years
    4. Get a health certificate for each shipmentChina’s competent authorityGovernment health certificateEach shipment
    5. Check whether NFQS quarantine appliesExporter with importerAsk NFQS which documents apply to live animals and raw shrimpBefore shipment
    6. File traceability reports after customsKorean importerKorea’s traceability systemWithin 5 days of each transfer

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

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

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

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

    Pre-shipment checklist

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

    Why can China’s import weight figures mislead?

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

    How can Chinese suppliers win in contested lines?

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

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

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

    Compare China with Vietnam and Peru, product by product

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

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

    FAQ

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

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

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

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

    Who files Korea’s traceability reports for Chinese seafood?

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

    Sources and method

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

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

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

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

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

    Key takeaways

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

    Which countries does South Korea import the most seafood from?

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

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

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

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

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

    How has the ranking changed since 2024?

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

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

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

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

    What does each country sell to Korea?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    What does China sell to Korea?

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

    Why do other sources rank some countries differently?

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

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

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

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

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

    See your country’s numbers

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

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

    FAQ

    How many countries export seafood to South Korea?

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

    Does South Korea have a free trade agreement with Russia?

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

    Does South Korea import seafood from Japan?

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

    Sources and method

  • Which Seafood Should You Export to Korea First? A 5-Step Data Check

    Which Seafood Should You Export to Korea First? A 5-Step Data Check

    Data as of: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data through September 2026, queried October 15, 2026. Tariffs and MFDS inspection lists checked October 14, 2026.

    The best seafood to export to Korea first passes five checks in Korea’s import data: growing import volume, room among origins, a price you can match, few inspection failures and enough importers. The value of Korea’s frozen webfoot octopus imports rose 9.0% to US$145.1 million in Jan–Sep 2026, but volume fell 1.7% (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).

    Key takeaways

    • Korea imported US$145.1 million and 20,583 tonnes of frozen webfoot octopus (HSK 0307.52.3000) in Jan–Sep 2026: value up 9.0%, volume down 1.7% on Jan–Sep 2025 (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Vietnam supplied 82.4% of Korea’s frozen webfoot octopus imports by value in Jan–Sep 2026 at US$6.98/kg; Thailand supplied 13.2% at US$7.96/kg (SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data).
    • Korea’s 2026 duty on frozen webfoot octopus is 0% from Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, 8% from China and 20% without an FTA (Korea Customs Service 2026 tariff schedule).
    • SEACHING estimates that 231 Korean companies imported frozen webfoot octopus in October 2025–September 2026, with the top five holding 17.0% of import records (estimate, query of October 15, 2026).

    What does Korea import the most right now?

    Shrimp, squid and salmon led Korea’s seafood imports by value in Jan–Sep 2026. The table groups HS codes by species, within HS chapter 03 and HS 1603–1605 (seaweed and salt excluded).

    Species groupKorea’s imports, Jan–Sep 2026 (US$ million)
    Shrimp587.1
    Squid and cuttlefish449.7
    Salmon420.2
    Crab399.0
    Octopus, including webfoot and small octopus377.0
    Alaska pollock (whole, fillets, surimi, roe)266.7
    Tuna204.5
    Mackerel148.6
    Surimi, other than pollock117.8

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, imports, Jan–Sep 2026, queried October 15, 2026. Species groups follow the ranking linked below.

    A big import line shows that buyers exist, not that your offer can win orders. The ranking of Korea’s top seafood imports by species has the full list.

    Before you start, have your product’s 10-digit Korean HS code (HSK), your CIF price per kg and your country’s FTA with Korea. Korean customs values imports at CIF, so compare your CIF price, not FOB. The worked example is frozen webfoot octopus (jukkumi).

    Step 1: Is Korea buying more of it?

    Compare value and volume for the same months of two years; value can rise on price alone. The table covers only 12 sample HS codes pulled from SEACHING for this article, each with at least US$5 million of imports in Jan–Sep 2025. It is not a ranking of all Korean seafood imports.

    Product (HSK)Jan–Sep 2026 (US$ million)Value changeVolume changeUS$/kg, 2025 → 2026
    Frozen Pacific salmon, other than sockeye (0303.12.0000)59.5+72.3%+82.7%6.73 → 6.34
    Fresh Atlantic salmon (0302.14.0000)207.0+18.2%+9.4%10.47 → 11.31
    Frozen webfoot octopus (0307.52.3000)145.1+9.0%−1.7%6.36 → 7.05
    Fresh salmon fillets (0304.41.0000)128.3+8.6%+5.3%17.20 → 17.74
    Frozen mackerel fillets (0304.89.5000)41.2+5.0%−20.4%5.99 → 7.91
    Frozen peeled shrimp (0306.17.1090)313.9+4.9%+6.8%8.22 → 8.08
    Frozen mackerel (0303.54.0000)107.4+2.2%−41.9%2.59 → 4.55
    Frozen Atlantic salmon (0303.13.0000)9.2−4.1%+3.6%8.19 → 7.58
    Frozen Alaska pollock (0303.67.0000)93.9−7.6%−22.5%1.08 → 1.28
    Live and fresh webfoot octopus (0307.51.2000)12.4−9.0%−8.2%6.48 → 6.42
    Frozen squid, other (0307.43.2090)235.3−26.2%+4.5%3.53 → 2.49
    Frozen salmon fillets (0304.81.0000)14.1−45.5%−40.1%9.41 → 8.55

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

    Bar chart of the change in Korea's import value (bars) and volume (dots) for 12 sample seafood HS codes, Jan–Sep 2026 vs Jan–Sep 2025, with frozen webfoot octopus at +9.0% in value and volume down

    Frozen webfoot octopus gets a mixed result. Korea spent 9.0% more but bought 1.7% less by weight, because the average customs value rose 10.9% to US$7.05/kg. The monthly unit price climbed from US$6.44/kg in January 2026 to US$7.40/kg in August, then eased to US$7.21/kg in September.

    Step 2: Who supplies it now, and is there room for another origin?

    Check each origin’s share and its direction. A dominant origin is the benchmark your offer will be read against.

    OriginShare of value, Jan–Sep 2025Share of value, Jan–Sep 2026Value changeVolume, Jan–Sep 2026
    Vietnam79.3%82.4%+13.3%17,124 t
    Thailand17.1%13.2%−16.1%2,402 t
    China1.7%2.7%+77.4%648 t
    Indonesia1.5%1.2%−7.7%296 t

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, frozen webfoot octopus (HSK 0307.52.3000), imports, queried October 15, 2026. Shares are of all origins combined.

    SEACHING country table for Korea's frozen webfoot octopus imports (HS 0307523000), with value, unit price and volume by origin for October 2025 to September 2026

    The “By Country” tab shows these measures by origin for October 2025–September 2026, a different window from the table above. Four origins supplied 99.5% of the value in Jan–Sep 2026, and Vietnam’s share rose while Thailand’s fell. See the guides for Vietnamese exporters and Thai and Indonesian exporters.

    Step 3: What price does Korea pay, and can you compete?

    Divide customs value by weight per origin, then add the buyer’s duty. This is a customs average across sizes and grades, not a market price.

    OriginCustoms value, Jan–Sep 2026 (US$/kg)2026 dutyValue plus duty, simple calculation (US$/kg)
    Vietnam6.980% (Korea–Vietnam FTA)6.98
    Thailand7.960% (Korea–ASEAN FTA)7.96
    Indonesia6.110% (Korea–Indonesia CEPA)6.11
    China6.058% (Korea–China FTA)6.53

    Source: SEACHING analysis of Korea Customs Service data, HSK 0307.52.3000, Jan–Sep 2026; Korea Customs Service 2026 tariff schedule. Rate without an FTA: 20%. Value plus duty is a simple calculation, customs value × (1 + duty), without VAT or other costs.

    SEACHING Trends tab for Korea's frozen webfoot octopus imports (HS 0307523000), showing monthly import value and unit price from October 2025 to September 2026

    The Trends tab plots monthly import value and unit price for October 2025–September 2026, so you see the price direction before you quote. In Jan–Sep 2026, Thailand’s customs value was about US$1/kg above Vietnam’s, and Thailand still supplied 13.2% of value, down from 17.1%. On the simple calculation above, China’s US$6.05/kg plus 8% duty comes to US$6.53/kg, below Vietnam’s US$6.98/kg. To set your own offer against these numbers, see benchmarking a seafood price against Korean customs prices.

    Step 4: Do shipments of it fail Korean inspection?

    Check the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) records for your product and country. Failures are rare: MFDS rejected 51 of 87,818 unprocessed seafood import declarations in 2025, or 0.06%.

    MFDS publishes two lists on its Imported Food Information Maru portal. The inspection order list names products tested at every shipment. On October 14, 2026 it had three seafood entries: Japanese bluefin tuna, Chinese frozen yellow croaker and Vietnamese processed shrimp. None covered webfoot octopus. The rejection list, in Korean, shows each rejected product with origin, exporter and failed test. Search it for your own product and origin. The guide to Korean import inspection for seafood explains what happens after a failure.

    Step 5: How many Korean companies import it?

    Count the importers and their concentration. A short, concentrated list means few buyers to approach; a long, spread-out list means more potential buyers.

    SEACHING estimates that 231 companies imported frozen webfoot octopus in October 2025–September 2026: 192 bought from Vietnam, 46 from Thailand, 21 from China and 9 from Indonesia, some from more than one. The top five held 17.0% of import records and the top ten 28.7%.

    SEACHING Companies tab for Korea's frozen webfoot octopus imports (HS 0307523000), listing estimated importers and their origins, with company names blurred

    The Companies tab shows the same estimate, Importers (231), with origin filters; company names are blurred here. The article on who imports seafood into Korea compares importer counts across products.

    How do you read the five results together?

    No single number makes a product “best”; weigh the five together.

    CheckFrozen webfoot octopusSignal
    1. GrowthValue +9.0%, volume −1.7%, Jan–Sep 2026Mixed: price-led
    2. OriginsVietnam 82.4% and gainingGood for Vietnam, harder for others
    3. PriceCustoms value US$6.05–7.96/kg; 0% duty for Vietnam, Thailand, IndonesiaGood if your CIF price fits
    4. InspectionNo seafood inspection order on it (October 14, 2026)Good; check the rejection list
    5. Importers231 estimated, top five 17.0% of recordsMany estimated buyers

    Source: Steps 1–5 above.

    Three common mistakes. First, mixing product forms: live and fresh webfoot octopus is a seasonal trade, with 94.7% of its Jan–Sep 2026 value arriving in February to May, while frozen was 92.2% of the two codes combined. Second, comparing nine months of 2026 with a full year of 2025. Third, reading importer counts as exact; they are estimates. The article on octopus imports by HS code separates the octopus codes.

    Run the five checks on your own product

    When a product passes, the step-by-step guide to exporting seafood to Korea covers registration, labels and shipping. The data above is here:

    Before you pick a product for Korea, look up how much of it Korea already imports, from which origins and at what customs value per kg. 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. Run the five checks on your product (free sign-up)

    FAQ

    Which seafood has zero import duty in Korea?

    It depends on the 10-digit HS code and your country’s FTA. Frozen webfoot octopus (HSK 0307.52.3000) pays 0% from Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia in 2026, 8% from China and 20% without an FTA (Korea Customs Service 2026 tariff schedule). Other species are in Korea’s seafood import duty by species and FTA. Confirm the rate with a licensed customs broker.

    How much import data should I look at before choosing a product?

    Compare the same months in at least two years, so seasonal swings do not look like growth, and read monthly figures for seasonal products.

    Where can I check Korean import inspection failures for free?

    MFDS lists rejected imports on its Imported Food Information Maru portal (impfood.mfds.go.kr). The list is in Korean, can be filtered to seafood and shows the product, origin, exporter and failed test (checked October 14, 2026).

    Sources and method

  • Korea Import Inspection for Seafood: Why Shipments Fail

    Korea Import Inspection for Seafood: Why Shipments Fail

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

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

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

    Key takeaways

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

    How does Korean import inspection work for seafood?

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

    Inspection typeWhat MFDS checksShare of Korea’s seafood declarations, 2025
    Document reviewThe declaration and supporting papers39.7%
    On-site inspectionCondition, smell, color, labeling, packaging and past test history; includes a sensory check43.0%
    Laboratory (precise) inspectionPhysical, chemical and microbiological tests13.3%
    Random samplingLab tests under the MFDS sampling plan4.0%

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

    Bar chart of Korea's 87,818 unprocessed seafood import declarations in 2025 by inspection type: 43.0% on-site inspection, 39.7% document review, 13.3% laboratory inspection and 4.0% random sampling. Source: MFDS Yearbook 2026

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

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

    Why do seafood shipments fail Korean import inspection?

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

    Reason for non-compliance (unprocessed seafood)20242025
    Microbial standards1033
    Veterinary drug residues198
    Spoilage, poor packaging, loss of freshness25
    Other general food standards (e.g., toxins, histamine)113
    Foreign matter32
    Heavy metals00
    Total4551

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

    Grouped bar chart of Korea's unprocessed seafood import failures by reason, 2024 vs 2025: microbial 10 to 33, veterinary drug residues 19 to 8, other general standards 11 to 3, heavy metals 0 in both years. Source: MFDS yearbooks

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

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

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

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

    What should exporters check before shipping?

    Match your pre-shipment checks to the reasons above.

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

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

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

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

    ProductOriginTestPeriod
    Bluefin tuna for raw consumptionJapan (1 manufacturer)SalmonellaMar 31, 2021 – Mar 30, 2027
    Frozen yellow croaker (buse)ChinaEthoxyquinDec 30, 2024 – Dec 29, 2026
    Processed seafood with 30% or more shrimpVietnam (4 manufacturers)DoxycyclineJun 30, 2025 – Jun 29, 2027

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

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

    What happens after a shipment fails?

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

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

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

    Common misconceptions

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

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

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

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

    Check what Korea already buys in your category

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

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

    FAQ

    How long does Korean import inspection take for seafood?

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

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

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

    Who pays when a seafood shipment fails in Korea?

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

    Sources and method

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