Korea’s March Surge in Russian Frozen Fish Imports Hits Nearly Three-Year High; Russia Remains Korea’s Second-Largest Seafood Supplier

According to the latest trade data from SeafoodMedia, South Korea’s aquatic import market saw notable structural changes in March 2026. Imports of Russian frozen fish surged sharply, becoming the most noteworthy international trade trend of the month.

1. Key Data: Frozen Fish Imports Skyrocket 60% Month-on-Month, Hitting Three-Year Peak

In March, South Korea’s imports of Russian frozen fish reached 39.5 million US dollars, a substantial 60% month-on-month increase and the highest monthly import value since May 2023, reflecting a marked recovery in South Korean market demand for Russian frozen fish.

The growth was not limited to frozen fish alone:

• Crab imports stood at 33.9 million US dollars, up 23% month-on-month, further consolidating Russia’s position as South Korea’s top crab supplier.

• Fish fillets and fish products amounted to 6.7 million US dollars, down 9.4% month-on-month.

• Other fish products were valued at 4.2 million US dollars, a 14% month-on-month decline.

Overall, South Korea’s total seafood imports from Russia in March reached 84.7 million US dollars, rising 31% month-on-month and a modest 2% year-on-year, demonstrating a strong monthly recovery momentum.

2. Supply Landscape: China Leads, Russia Second; Top Five Ranking Stable

South Korea’s total seafood import volume reached 443.1 million US dollars in March, with the ranking of major suppliers remaining steady:

• China: 87.7 million USD

• Russia: 84.7 million USD

• Norway: 60.3 million USD

• Vietnam: 33.0 million USD

• Japan: 20.5 million USD

Driven by strong performance in frozen fish and crabs, Russia firmly holds the position as South Korea’s second-largest seafood supplier, with only a narrow gap behind top-ranked China, and boasts outstanding advantages in segmented product categories.

3. Trend Analysis: Short-Term Surge Coexists with Long-Term Stability

• Short term: Dual growth momentum from frozen fish and crabs drove a sharp month-on-month rebound in Russia’s seafood exports to South Korea.

• Long term: The mild 2% year-on-year growth indicates overall steady market demand. The current uptick is mainly a pulsed growth driven by seasonal restocking and channel adjustments, rather than a fundamental trend reversal.

For the industry, these figures signal the following implications:

• High-quality cold-water seafood from Russia continues to gain growing recognition in the South Korean market.

• South Korean buyers maintain rigid demand for cost-effective frozen aquatic products and specialty crabs.

• Aquatic trade channels between China–Russia and Russia–South Korea remain stable and well-functioning, laying a solid foundation for performance in subsequent quarters.

As fishing seasons and consumption peak periods approach gradually, Russia’s seafood exports to South Korea are expected to maintain steady growth. Frozen fish and crabs will remain the core growth drivers, worthy of continuous attention from global aquatic trade merchants.