SCOTTISH SALMON ACCELERATES ENTRY INTO KOREAN MARKET

Scottish salmon accelerates entry into Korean market following UK–Korea free trade agreement. The market environment for Scottish salmon exports to South Korea is expected to improve significantly following the conclusion of a new free trade agreement (FTA) between the United Kingdom and South Korea.

According to the UK government and the salmon industry, the newly concluded UK–Korea FTA is an upgraded agreement that replaces the post-Brexit trade arrangement. The agreement strengthens tariff elimination and enhances institutional stability across overall goods trade. In the seafood sector, reduced tariff burdens on UK-origin products have positioned Scottish salmon as a direct beneficiary of the agreement.

Scottish salmon is a key export item within the UK seafood industry and has seen expanding exports to Asian markets in recent years. While China and Taiwan have emerged as major growth markets, South Korea is also being evaluated as an important mid- to long-term strategic market. Industry participants note that the agreement provides a solid institutional foundation for expanding exports by improving Scottish salmon’s access to the Korean market.

With a more stable tariff environment under the new agreement, Scottish salmon’s price competitiveness is expected to improve to some extent. This may broaden origin choices in South Korea’s salmon import market, which is currently dominated by Norwegian salmon. In particular, market penetration is expected to strengthen through foodservice, hotel, and premium retail channels, leveraging Scottish salmon’s differentiated quality and strong brand image.

However, industry observers emphasize gradual, long-term market share expansion rather than immediate changes in market structure. Logistics conditions, exchange rate movements, and global salmon supply trends are expected to interact, with actual import growth largely dependent on pricing levels and supply stability.

According to Union Forsea Corp., analysis, the UK–Korea free trade agreement could serve as a catalyst for the gradual diversification of South Korea’s salmon import market, which has been heavily centred on Norwegian-origin products. Attention is expected to focus on whether domestic distribution channels and consumer demand for Scottish salmon expand going forward.

For reference, the main UK-origin seafood products currently imported into South Korea include whelk, mackerel, and herring roe.
As of the end of November 2025, approximately 3,000 tons of frozen cooked whelk meat and around 1,820 tons of frozen mackerel had been imported, bringing total UK seafood imports to approximately 5,000 tons.

Source : Union Forsea Corp.

Photo by Caroline Attwood on Unsplash