South korea: South Korea's exports of seafood products reached an unprecedented $3.33 billion last year, driven by increasing international demand for dried seaweed products, as indicated by government data released Thursday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the figure represents a 9.7 percent rise from $3.03 billion in exports in 2024, as reported by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Exports of dried seaweed, known as "gim" in Korean, soared by 13.7 percent year-on-year to a record $1.13 billion, propelled by robust demand from foreign markets.

In addition to dried seaweed, outbound shipments of mackerel saw a significant increase of 128.8 percent, reaching $200 million, while squid exports rose by 48.7 percent to $110 million. These figures underscore the growing global appetite for South Korean seafood.

The United States emerged as a major destination, with exports climbing 9 percent year-on-year to $520 million in 2025. This growth was fueled by the popularity of seasoned gim products, tuna, and oysters, despite the tariff regime in Washington. Meanwhile, exports to Japan increased by 3.1 percent to $680 million, and shipments to China rose by 8 percent to $620 million.

Acting Oceans Minister Kim Sung-bum commented in a press release, "Last year's export performance, achieved amid uncertainties in the global trade environment, demonstrates the competitiveness of our seafood products."