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K-Seafood Exports in 2025 to Exceed USD 3.3 Billion...

  • Date

    2026.01.29.

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    10

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K-Seafood Exports in 2025 to Exceed USD 3.3 Billion...
- The top export item, gim (dried laver), recorded USD 1.13 billion in exports, marking a 13.7% year-on-year increase and a new all-time high
 
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) announced that seafood exports in 2025 reached USD 3.33 billion (preliminary), representing a 9.7% increase from the previous year and the highest level on record.
 
* Seafood exports (USD billion): 30.3 in 2024 → 33.3 in 2025 (+9.7%)
 
Exports of the top export item, gim (dried laver), stood at USD 1.13 billion, marking a 13.7% increase year-on-year and a new all-time high. Gim has continuously strengthened its international competitiveness by developing a range of products tailored to overseas consumers' tastes and expanding overseas demand driven by the popularity of the Korean Wave. Toothfish, flounder, and crab meat also recorded growth.
 
* Toothfish (USD 80 million, +6.4%), flounder (USD 60 million, +9.0%), and crab meat (USD 30 million, +7.5%)

The export base was further strengthened by steady growth across major markets such as Japan, China, the United States, and the EU. Japan maintained its position as the largest export market with a 3.1% year-on-year increase, while China, the second-largest market, posted notable growth of 18.0% despite a slowdown in domestic demand.
 
In particular, exports to the United States increased by 9.0% despite reciprocal tariffs imposed from April 2025. *The country maintained its position as the third-largest export market, with exports rising for items such as high value-added products including seasoned seaweed, tuna, and oysters.
 
* Seafood exports to the United States (USD billion): 4.8 in 2024 → 5.2 in 2025 (+9.0%)
 
To promote continued export growth in 2026, the MOF will support export companies with policy funds and export vouchers and promote the development of promising products and acquisition of international certifications to enhance the competitiveness of Korean seafood products in overseas markets.
 
In addition, as part of new business, the Ministry plans to promote and implement local promotional marketing, by linking with international sports events to promote the Sea Sports Project*, operating a gim promotion center in airport duty-free shops, and carrying out "Korean Wave star-linked marketing.“
 
* Offline promotional activities—such as operating promotional booths related to seafood products during sports events and advertising promotional videos—are planned.
 
"The export performance of seafood products in 2025 demonstrates that the competitiveness of Korean seafood products is continuously strengthening even amid uncertainties in the international trade environment. Going forward, we will actively support the sustained growth of the K-seafood export industry by strategically fostering promising export items such as gim and expanding the export base to include not only key markets like Japan, China, and the United States but also emerging markets such as Europe and the Middle East," said Acting Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kim Seong-beom.
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