FAO GLOBEFISH launches new quarterly species analysis on seaweed

FAO GLOBEFISH now features specialized reporting on seaweed in its Quarterly Species Analysis expanding its market intelligence coverage under the flagship GLOBEFISH Highlights publication. It brings focused reporting on a product group that is becoming increasingly important in global aquatic food systems, both for direct food use and for further processing into food ingredients.

Seaweed is a collective term for marine macroalgae traded as edible products and as raw material for food ingredients. The analysis covers seaweed and algae for human consumption under HS 1212.21 and agar-agar under HS 1302.31, which are used primarily for direct food use and for processing into food ingredients, including hydrocolloids. The first issue of the Quarterly Seaweed Analysis (February 2026) highlights that global seaweed production remains highly concentrated in Asia and is largely driven by aquaculture, with FAO estimating total global algae production at 37.8 million tonnes in 2022.

International trade flows are shaped by a small number of major producers, leaving markets particularly sensitive to changes in supply conditions or processing capacity of leading countries such as Indonesia and China.  World exports declined by 4.4 percent in January–September 2025 compared with the same period of 2024, while export values increased by 9.4 percent, indicating higher average export prices. World imports fell by 4.6 percent over the same period, but import values rose by 3.4 percent. Average export prices increased from USD 3.92/kg to USD 4.48/kg in January–September 2025, with large differences across suppliers reflecting distinct product mixes and processing levels. 

The publication also highlights production concentration and key market drivers. Global seaweed production remains dominated by cultivation and highly concentrated in Asia, with China and Indonesia accounting for the largest shares of output. On the trade side, Indonesia remains the leading exporter, with exports strongly oriented towards China, while the Republic of Korea consolidates its position as the second-largest exporter, supported by high-value edible seaweed products such as gim.

The new Quarterly Seaweed Analysis reflects FAO GLOBEFISH’s ongoing commitment to delivering timely and policy-relevant market intelligence on emerging and established fisheries and aquaculture products. As seaweed continues to gain importance across food markets and processing industries, this new analysis will support stakeholders better understand market dynamics, trade developments and emerging opportunities.