FROZEN COOKED WHELK MEAT IMPORTS INTO SOUTH KOREA DECLINE

Frozen cooked whelk meat imports into South Korea decline, Canadian supply resumes. South Korea’s imports of frozen cooked whelk meat declined sharply during the January to June 2026 period, while Canadian-origin supply resumed during the year.

According to seafood trade statistics, South Korea imported 670 tons of frozen cooked whelk meat from January to June 2026. This represents a 58.4% decrease from 1,591 tons recorded during the same period last year. In June alone, imports totalled 129 tons, down 76.5% from 548 tons in June 2025. However, compared with May 2026, when imports totalled 65 tons, June imports increased by 98.5%, showing a recovery from the previous month. The recent three-year average import volume for June was 277 tons, while June 2026 imports stood at 129 tons, 53.4% below the average level.

Major supplier countries included the United Kingdom, Canada, and Ireland. From January to June 2026, imports from the United Kingdom totalled 463 tons, accounting for 69.1% of total frozen cooked whelk meat imports. Canada supplied 114 tons, representing 17.0%, while Ireland supplied 85 tons, or 12.7%. Other countries accounted for 8 tons. Compared with the previous year, imports from the United Kingdom decreased by 61.1%, while imports from Ireland fell by 60.5%. Canadian-origin frozen cooked whelk meat resumed imports this year, accounting for 17.0% of total imports during the period.

Import prices increased among major suppliers. In June 2026, the average import price of UK-origin frozen cooked whelk meat stood at USD 14.68/kg, up 18.6% from USD 12.38/kg a year earlier. Compared with May 2026, the UK-origin import price remained unchanged at USD 14.68/kg. The average import price of Canada-origin frozen cooked whelk meat was USD 16.56/kg, up slightly by 0.2% from USD 16.52/kg in the previous month. Overall, frozen cooked whelk meat imports declined sharply on a cumulative basis, although June imports increased compared with the previous month.

Union Forsea Corp. analysed that although the United Kingdom remains the largest supplier, lower overall import volume and rising unit prices from major suppliers may put upward pressure on domestic distribution prices of frozen cooked whelk meat in South Korea.

Source and image: Union Forsea Corp