There’s a growing market in South Korea for live snow crab – and although this is a market that’s supplied largely by Russian producers, the Norwegian Seafood Council sees long-term opportunities for Norway in Korea.
In 2023, Koreans consumed around 11,000 tonnes of crab, which is the highest consumption in many years. Most of it this is consumed in restaurants, and most is imported – mainly from Russia.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and subsequent Western sanctions, Norwegian exports to Korea as Russia was forced to identify new markets. Large quantities of crab from Russia are imported into Asian countries, including South Korea, which has pushed prices down and made Norwegian king crab less competitive.
Live Norwegian snow crab is almost absent in South Korea. But according to the recent survey by the Norwegian Seafood Council, there is potential for Norwegian crab to also take its share of the market.
‘The report points to several good opportunities for Norwegian live snow crab,’ said Mia Sætre Bernhardsen, the Seafood Council’s manager in South Korea, commenting that Norwegian crab has no customs duty, while Russian crab is subject to a 20% duty, and Korean buyers are looking for new suppliers.
She added that Korean importers and Norwegian exporters already have established business contacts, and younger consumers in particular are prepared to pay a higher price for crab of Norwegian origin, while at certain times of the year Norwegian live snow crab is cheaper than the Russian offering.
China is the world’s largest market for live snow crab. But Norwegian crab is not approved for the Chinese market – which makes South Korea all the more important for Norwegian exporters.
In Norway, ending the Olympic-style quota management of the crab fishery is an important factor, as the impetus to catch as much as possible in a short time can be detrimental to quality and results in a short season of availability – but this changes as of next year.
‘The new arrangement could ensure more predictable deliveries throughout the year, and ensures time to select the biggest and best crabs,’ Mia Sætre Bernhardsen said, adding that fishermen and exporter will need to adjust to live export, while there is also strong competition on the South Korean market.
‘There are certainly good opportunities, but I believe it will take some time to build a strong position. The work we have done in marketing king crab has strengthened the position of Norwegian shellfish in general. There are still many people in South Korea who do not know that Norway can deliver live snow crab – and we need to make that better known.’
