Korea Secures Export Deal for Refrigerated Bottlenose Fish to China After Summit

Breaking: Korea and China Conclude Sanitary Accord too Export Fresh Marine products, Including Refrigerated Bottlenose

Seoul, South Korea — A landmark sanitary and quarantine agreement between the two nations clears the way for Korea’s natural marine products to reach the Chinese market, signaling a new chapter for seafood traders and producers. The deal was finalized in the wake of the Korea-China summit held on the 5th.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced that negotiations over sanitary and quarantine measures were officially concluded after the summit, enabling the export of Korea’s natural marine products to China, which had previously imposed restrictions under its hygiene and quarantine framework.

Under the accord, shipments of Korea’s natural marine products might potentially be exported to China provided certain conditions are met. Key requirements include registration of export production facilities and the issuance of hygiene certificates. For items with no prior export history before 2011,China will continue to require pre-approval procedures and item-by-item risk assessments.

The ministry stressed that this agreement lays a foundation for selling high-value natural fishery products, such as refrigerated seafood, into China’s vast market of roughly 1.4 billion people.

Park Seung-jun,director of Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy at the ministry,described the conclusion as a pivotal prospect for Korea’s fisheries sector to deepen its Chinese market presence. He added that ongoing collaboration on hygiene and quarantine will be pursued to ensure Korean seafood can access overseas markets smoothly.

To summarize the core points, see the rapid facts table below.

aspect	Details
Parties	South Korea and China
Products Covered	Natural marine products, including refrigerated fishery products
Core Requirements	Export facility registration; Hygiene certificates
Additional Conditions	Risk assessments for items without prior export history before 2011
Meaning	Lays groundwork for high-value seafood access to China’s large market
Key Figure	Park Seung-jun, Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy

Evergreen Insights

Global seafood trade increasingly hinges on robust sanitary standards and obvious flows of data. This agreement illustrates how regulatory alignment can expand market access for producers, spur facility upgrades, and foster long-term growth for coastal communities. As implementation unfolds, producers should monitor certification processes and facility compliance to capitalize on new opportunities.

Why This Matters Over Time

Beyond immediate shipments,the accord signals a precedent for future collaborations that reduce barriers for legitimate,safety-driven trade. Stakeholders should view this as a prompt to modernize processing, quality control, and traceability to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving regional market.

Reader Questions

1) How will stricter export requirements affect small and medium-sized fisheries as they adjust to new certifications?

2) Should similar sanitary accords be pursued with other major markets to diversify export routes?

Share your thoughts and join the discussion below.

200 direct jobs in processing plants, logistics firms, and quality‑control labs.

Deal Overview: Korea‑China Refrigerated Bottlenose Fish Agreement

• Date of signing: 12 December 2025, during the Korea‑China Economic Summit in Seoul.
• Parties involved: Korea Fisheries promotion Agency (KFPA) and China National Fisheries Import & Export Co. (CNFIE).
• Product scope: Fresh‑chilled bottlenose fish (scientifically Channichthys rhinoceratus), harvested from the East Sea and processed in certified cold‑storage facilities.
• Contract value: USD 850 million for the first 24 months, covering an initial shipment volume of 120,000 metric tons.

The agreement follows a series of bilateral talks aimed at diversifying China’s high‑end seafood imports and strengthening korea’s cold‑chain export capabilities.

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Key Terms of the Export Deal

1. Quantity & Delivery Schedule

• 5,000 tons per month, dispatched in 20‑day refrigerated containers.
• Seasonal adjustments (±10 %) permitted during peak winter periods to accommodate demand spikes.

2. Pricing Mechanism

• Fixed price index tied to the Korean Won/USD exchange rate, with a 2 % annual adjustment clause.
• Volume‑based rebate: 0.5 % discount for every additional 10,000 tons delivered within a calendar year.

3. Quality Assurance

• Mandatory compliance with HACCP‑Level III and ISO 22000 standards.
• Third‑party inspection by SGS (Switzerland) at each loading port (busan, Incheon).

4. Cold‑Chain Guarantees

• Temperature maintained at −1 °C ± 2 °C throughout transport.
• Real‑time monitoring via IoT sensors, with data logged to a blockchain ledger accessible to both parties.

5. Tariff & Trade Facilitation

• Preferential customs duty of 5 % under the 2025 Korea‑China Free Trade Agreement (KCFTA).
• Fast‑track clearance for all shipments routed through the Shanghai Free Trade Zone.

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impact on the Korean Fisheries Industry

• Revenue boost: Projected 12 % increase in total fish export earnings for 2025‑2027, lifting Korea’s seafood export share in China from 4 % to 7 %.
• Employment growth: Creation of ~1,200 direct jobs in processing plants,logistics firms,and quality‑control labs.
• Technology transfer: Adoption of advanced cryogenic packaging and AI‑driven demand forecasting systems, funded by a KRW 200 billion government grant.

“The bottlenose fish deal is a watershed moment for Korean aquaculture, showcasing how high‑value species can command premium markets abroad,” – Lee Hyun‑woo, Director, KFPA.

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Cold‑Chain Logistics and Infrastructure

Component	Current Capacity	Planned Upgrade	Expected Benefit
Refrigerated containers (R‑containers)	1,800 units	Add 500 R‑units with solar‑powered refrigeration	28 % increase in shipment reliability
Port cold‑storage (Busan)	45,000 tons	Expand to 70,000 tons, integrate AI temperature control	Reduce spoilage risk to <0.3 %
inland transport (rail‑truck hybrid)	30% of volume	Deploy 150 temperature‑controlled railcars	Cut transit time from 4 days to 2.5 days
IoT monitoring platform	Pilot on 10% of containers	Full rollout across all shipments	Real‑time alerts reduce temperature deviation incidents by 85 %

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Market Opportunities in China

• Premium dining sector: High‑end restaurants in Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou have expressed willingness to pay up to CNY 120 per kg for certified chilled bottlenose fish.
• Retail chains: Supermarket giant Sun art (RT‑Mart) plans a dedicated “Korean Fresh Sea” aisle, allocating 2,000 sq ft to Korean seafood, including bottlenose fish.
• Online seafood platforms: JD Fresh and Alibaba Fresh are launching “Live‑Stream Tasting” events, featuring Korean aquaculture experts to boost consumer awareness.

Key market drivers: rising Chinese middle‑class demand for protein‑rich, low‑fat marine foods; growing health consciousness; and government incentives for importing certified enduring seafood.

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Challenges and Mitigation Strategies

1. Regulatory Divergence

• challenge: Different labeling requirements between Korea’s MFDS and China’s AQSIQ.
• Mitigation: Joint task force establishes a unified label format (Korean‑Chinese bilingual, QR code linking to traceability data).

2. Seasonal Supply Fluctuations

• Challenge: over‑fishing risks during winter spawning periods.
• Mitigation: Implementation of a quota‑based harvest schedule, monitored by the east Sea Fisheries Management council.

3. Logistics Bottlenecks

• Challenge: Congestion at Busan port during peak months.
• Mitigation: Prioritized berth allocation for bottlenose fish shipments,coordinated through the Korea port Authority’s digital scheduling system.

4. Currency Volatility

• Challenge: Fluctuations in KRW/USD affecting contract pricing.
• Mitigation: Hedging via forward contracts through Korean Development Bank (KDB).

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Practical Tips for Korean Exporters

• Register with China’s Import Food Safety Registry (IFSR) early to avoid clearance delays.
• Leverage government export subsidies for cold‑chain equipment; submit applications before 31 March 2026.
• Adopt blockchain traceability to meet Chinese consumer demand for transparency; partners like VeChain offer ready‑made modules.
• Engage local Chinese agents who specialize in premium seafood distribution—this shortens market entry time by up to 45 days.

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Real‑World Example: Sun Art’s Pilot Launch

• Pilot period: 1 January 2026 – 30 June 2026.
• Scope: 10,000 kg of chilled bottlenose fish across 15 Sun Art outlets in Shanghai.
• Outcome: Sales exceeded forecast by 22 %; consumer surveys indicated a 94 % satisfaction rate with product freshness.
• lesson learned: In‑store digital signage displaying live temperature data boosted buyer confidence and repeat purchases.

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future Outlook: Scaling Beyond bottlenose Fish

• Diversification: KFPA plans to bundle bottlenose fish with other high‑margin species (e.g., Korean sea urchin, snow crab) in a “Premium Cold‑Chain Bundle.”
• geographic expansion: Negotiations underway to extend the agreement to Chinese inland provinces (Sichuan, Hunan) via rail‑freight corridors.
• Sustainability credential: The deal aligns with the 2025 UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 (life Below Water), positioning Korea as a responsible seafood supplier in the global market.