South Korea Lobster Market

South Korea Lobster Market Overview:

The South Korea lobster market size reached USD 157.70 Million in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 287.25 Million by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 6.18% during 2025-2033. Rising seafood consumption, growth in premium dining, health awareness, and increasing imports are some of the factors contributing to South Korea lobster market share. Trade agreements and improved cold-chain logistics also contribute. Demand from upscale restaurants and home delivery platforms further boosts growth, especially for live and frozen lobster varieties.

South Korea Lobster Market Trends:

Growing Demand for Live Lobster in Urban Centers

In South Korea, live lobster imports are seeing strong growth as consumer tastes move toward freshness and premium ingredients. Younger shoppers, especially in cities like Seoul and Busan, are fueling demand through upscale grocery apps and seafood markets. Live lobster, mostly sourced from Canada and the United States, is now viewed as a luxury ingredient for home cooking and social media-worthy meals. The foodservice sector is also helping this trend by expanding live tank displays in restaurants and supermarkets. Improvements in cold-chain logistics and air cargo handling have made it easier to ship live seafood over long distances with less spoilage. Online platforms now offer scheduled delivery with real-time tracking, helping build trust with buyers. Importers are favoring suppliers who can handle smaller, frequent orders and maintain consistent survival rates. This shift is not only changing sourcing priorities but also driving innovation in packaging and transport. It is a sign that Korean consumers are moving beyond traditional frozen imports and placing a premium on product experience. These factors are intensifying the South Korea lobster market growth.

Supply Instability and Price Fluctuations Shaping the Market

The South Korea lobster market is increasingly shaped by supply volatility and pricing swings linked to external factors. Lobster harvesting is seasonal in key exporting countries like the US and Canada, which leads to sharp changes in supply and pricing throughout the year. Shorter fishing windows caused by unpredictable weather are disrupting expected volumes. On top of that, international trade shifts are affecting how product flows into Asia. When China limits imports from the US, for example, extra supply often ends up in South Korea, temporarily pushing prices down. These price dips are usually followed by sudden hikes when seasonal demand rises or when competing markets regain buying power. The COVID era exposed how fragile supply lines can be, with port delays and cargo space shortages leading to missed deliveries and added costs. Korean importers are reacting by sourcing from a broader mix of countries and reworking contracts to include more flexible terms. Price-sensitive buyers are becoming cautious, making long-term sales harder to predict.

South Korea Lobster Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with forecasts at the country and regional levels for 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on species, weight, product type, and distribution channel.

Species Insights:

• American Lobster
• Spiny Lobster
• Rock Lobster
• European Lobster

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the species. This includes American lobster, spiny lobster, rock lobster, and European lobster.

Weight Insights:

• 0.5 – 0.75 lbs
• 0.76 – 3.0 lbs
• Over 3 lbs

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the weight. This includes 0.5 – 0.75 lbs, 0.76 – 3.0 lbs, and over 3 lbs.

Product Type Insights:

• Whole Lobster
• Lobster Tail
• Lobster Meat
• Lobster Claw

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the product type. This includes whole lobster, lobster tail, lobster meat, and lobster claw.

Distribution Channel Insights:

• Food Service
• Retail

A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the distribution channel have also been provided in the report. This includes food service and retail.

Regional Insights:

• Seoul Capital Area
• Yeongnam (Southeastern Region)
• Honam (Southwestern Region)
• Hoseo (Central Region)
• Others

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include Seoul Capital Area, Yeongnam (Southeastern Region), Honam (Southwestern Region), Hoseo (Central Region), and others.

Competitive Landscape:

The market research report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape. Competitive analysis such as market structure, key player positioning, top winning strategies, competitive dashboard, and company evaluation quadrant has been covered in the report. Also, detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided.

South Korea Lobster Market News:

• In July 2025, Domino’s Pizza Korea introduced the ‘Lobster Shrimp Tuwumba Pizza’ as part of its 35th anniversary, spotlighting lobster as a premium topping. The pizza includes lobster, black tiger shrimp, and a rich five-cheese Tuwumba sauce. This launch reflects rising demand for seafood-based fast food in South Korea’s lobster market. A 20% discount is offered on app orders, along with a giveaway featuring a signed national team jersey.

South Korea Lobster Market Report Coverage:

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

• How has the South Korea lobster market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea lobster market on the basis of species?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea lobster market on the basis of weight?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea lobster market on the basis of product type?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea lobster market on the basis of distribution channel?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea lobster market on the basis of region?
• What are the various stages in the value chain of the South Korea lobster market? 
• What are the key driving factors and challenges in the South Korea lobster market?
• What is the structure of the South Korea lobster market and who are the key players?
• What is the degree of competition in the South Korea lobster market? 

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s industry report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the South Korea lobster market from 2019-2033.
• The research report provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the South Korea lobster market.
• Porter's five forces analysis assist stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the South Korea lobster industry and its attractiveness.
• Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.