Photo: Union Forsea Corp.

South Korea's Frozen Mackerel Imports Surge by 54%

SOUTH KOREA
Tuesday, August 05, 2025, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

Norway continues to dominate the market, but the total import volume soars, leading the country to diversify its suppliers.

South Korea's frozen mackerel imports have surged, showing a 54% increase between January and July 2025 compared to the same period the previous year. According to import statistics, the total volume of frozen mackerel imported reached 39,292 tons, up from 25,554 tons last year.

Photo: Union Forsea Corp.

The increase was particularly notable in July, when 792 tons were imported, representing a 539% surge from the 124 tons imported in July 2024. As of July, frozen mackerel accounted for approximately 7% of South Korea's total seafood imports, which amounted to 549,690 tons

Supplier Diversification and Price Increases

Norway remains the main supplier, with its mackerel accounting for 80% of the total imports, at 31,530 tons. It is followed by China with 3,596 tons (9%), the United Kingdom with 1,557 tons, and the Netherlands with 1,167 tons.

However, one of the most significant trends is the growing diversification of suppliers. While imports in 2024 came from only five countries, this year the list has expanded to 12, with the addition of new markets such as the United Kingdom, Taiwan, the Faroe Islands, France, Germany, and Russia.

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The increase in demand has also led to a rise in prices. The overall average import price for frozen mackerel stood at $2.67 per kg, a 19% increase from the $2.26 per kg of the previous year. Prices varied by origin, with Norwegian mackerel at $2.81/kg, Chinese at $1.85/kg, and British at $2.84/kg.

In terms of value, imports also experienced significant growth. The cumulative import value from January to July reached $105.05 million, an 82% increase from the $57.67 million in the same period of 2024. In July alone, the import value amounted to $1.86 million, a spectacular 550% increase from the $280,000 in July 2024.

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Given Norway's continued market dominance and the upward price trend, both import volume and unit prices are expected to remain high during the second half of the year.

Source: Union Forsea Corp.

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