SOUTH KOREA’S SEAFOOD IMPORT VOLUME FALLS

South Korea’s seafood import volume falls 4% in first half of 2026, while import value jumps 15.8%. South Korea’s cumulative seafood import volume declined in the first half of 2026, while import value increased sharply, reflecting higher global seafood prices and a shift toward higher-value products.

According to seafood import statistics compiled, South Korea imported a total of 442,181 tons of seafood from January to June 2026, down 4.0% from 460,405 tons recorded during the same period in 2025.

In contrast, the cumulative import value reached USD 2.43387 billion, up 15.8% from USD 2.10256 billion a year earlier. The figures highlight the significant impact of rising unit prices despite the drop in import volume.

By import volume, the top 10 supplier countries were Russia, China, Norway, Peru, Vietnam, Chile, the United States, Japan, Mexico, and Taiwan.

Among them, imports from Peru, Vietnam, the United States, Japan, and Taiwan increased, while imports from Russia, China, Norway, Chile, and Mexico declined.

Russia remained South Korea’s largest seafood supplier, with imports totalling 111,933 tons, down 7.4% year-on-year. Russia accounted for approximately 25% of total seafood imports.

China ranked second with 95,938 tons, down 16.5% from the previous year, accounting for about 22% of total imports. Together, Russia and China continued to represent nearly half of South Korea’s seafood import volume.

Norway also saw a sharp decline, with imports falling 27.7% year-on-year. The reduced shipments from these traditional major suppliers contributed to the overall drop in import volume.

The most notable surge came from Peru. South Korea imported 30,361 tons from Peru in the first half of 2026, a significant 118.7% increase from 13,883 tons a year earlier. Peru accounted for about 7% of total seafood imports and has rapidly emerged as a key supplier.

Imports from Vietnam rose 11.7%, the United States increased 12.0%, Japan grew 6.9%, and Taiwan climbed 13.4%, indicating a broader diversification in South Korea’s seafood supply sources.

A Union Forsea Corp. official noted that the rise in import value despite lower volume has been a consistent trend throughout 2026, primarily driven by higher seafood prices. The official added that the growing presence of emerging suppliers such as Peru and Vietnam is becoming increasingly prominent in the Korean import market.

Union Forsea Corp. expects international raw material prices, exchange rate fluctuations, and production/export conditions in major supplier countries to remain key variables influencing South Korea’s seafood import market in the second half of 2026.

Image: Union Forsea Corp.