“Some algae are a delicacy fit for the most honoured guests, even for the King himself.”

— Sze Teu (China, 600 BC)

Since prehistoric times, seaweed has been a staple food in China, Japan, and Korea. Commercial seaweed was first consumed in Japan in the 4th century and in China in the 6th century. Currently, China, Japan, and South Korea are the top consumers. As residents of these countries migrated to other parts of the world, demand for seaweed spread. Seaweed provides vitamins and nutrients such as calcium, sodium, potassium, iodine, iron, and zinc. Nori, the seaweed used to wrap sushi rolls, is also high in protein.

Today’s market size shows global commercial seafood revenues for 2019 and projected for 2027. Over the past 50 years, harvesting seaweed from natural sources has not been able to meet increasing demand. Nowadays, more than 90% of commercial seaweed is cultivated. In addition to human consumption, commercial seaweed is used as an animal feed additive, thickening and gelling agents for the cosmetics and food industries, fertilizer, and soil conditioner. It’s also used in beauty products such as scrubs, masks, and body wraps.

There are three types of commercial seaweed: red, brown, and green. In 2019, red seaweed comprised more than 50% of the market. Its varied uses along with its easy availability will drive its growth in the market. This type of seaweed is expected to have the highest compound annual growth rate through 2027. Nori is an example of red seaweed. Brown seaweed had a market share of more than 45% in 2019. This type of seafood is used as food and as raw materials for the extraction of hydrocolloid and alginate. Hydrocolloids and alginate gel are used for wound care. Alginate is also used as a cell carrier in tissue engineering. Kelp is a form of brown seaweed. Green seaweed is also used for food. Umibudo, also known as sea grapes, is a form of green seaweed that’s a staple food in Okinawan cuisine. 

In 2019, the Asia-Pacific region accounted for more than 60% of consumption. This region is expected to experience the fastest growth rate through 2027. Increased production and demand for commercial seafood for use in food, nutraceuticals, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, adhesives, and gels from China, Indonesia, South Korea, and Japan will contribute to this growth. The market in Europe is expected to expand significantly due to increased cultivation in Ireland, France, and the United Kingdom. Growth in this region is also expected to come from high demand in the healthcare and food industries.

About 75% of commercial seaweed was used for human consumption in 2019. Animal feed claimed the second-largest share of the market. Processed commercial seaweed is used to improve the health of livestock. Agricultural uses had the third-largest market share. Producers, vendors, end-users, government organizations, and others encompass the market. Some leading global companies in this industry include Cargill Inc., Roullier Group, E.I. DuPont Nemours and Co., Biostadt India Ltd., and Compo GmbH Co.

Geographic reference: World
Year: 2019 and 2027
Market size: $5.9 billion and $11.9 billion, respectively
Sources: “Commercial Seaweeds Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Product (Brown Seaweeds, Red Seaweeds, Green Seaweeds), by Form (Liquid, Powdered, Flakes), by Application, by Region, and Segment Forecasts, 2020 – 2027,” Grand View Research Report Summary, April 2020 available online here; “Commercial Seaweeds Market Size Worth $11.9 Billion by 2027: Grand View Research, Inc.,” CISION PR Newswire, April 21, 2020 available online here; “Hydrocolloid,” ScienceDirect available online here; “Alginate,” ScienceDirect available online here; “Seaweed as Human Food,” The Seaweed Site: Information on Marine Algae available online here; Ole Mouritsen, “The Science of Seaweeds,” American Scientist, November-December 2013 available online here; Rachel Tan, “6 Most Common Varieties of Edible Seaweed,” Michelin Guide, June 12, 2019 available online here.
Image source: ivabalk, “sushi-food-roll-domestic-production-2314534,” Pixabay, May 15, 2017 available online here.

Exports of fish and fishery products have grown quickly in the last decade, as has all production of fish and fishery products, whether through capture (fishing) or aquaculture (cultivation). Leading fish and fishery product exporters in the world are, in order, China, Norway, Thailand, Denmark, Vietnam, and the United States. Together, the exports of these six countries in 2008 accounted for 36.5% of all exports.

Geographic reference: World
Year: 1998 and 2008
Market size: $51.45 and $101.98 billion respectively.
Source: “Table 11 — Top Ten Exporters and Importers of Fish and Fishery Products,” The State of Fisheries & Aquaculture 2010, page 52, available online here.
Original source: United Nations, Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), Fisheries and Aquaculture Department.

Aquaculture is a fast growing part of the fish and fishery products market and as catches and harvests of this aquatic produce have increased over the last decade, so has the international trade of fish and fishery products. The top countries in terms of fish and fishery product imports are, in order, Japan, United States, Spain, France, Italy and China. Interestingly, China and the United States are also among the leading exporters of aquatic produce.

Geographic reference: World
Year: 1998 and 2008
Market size: $55.05 and $107.13 billion respectively.
Source: “Table 11 — Top Ten Exporters and Importers of Fish and Fishery Products,” The State of Fisheries & Aquaculture 2010, page 52, available online here.
Original source: United Nations, Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), Fisheries and
Aquaculture Department.

Aquaculture is the cultivation of aquatic plants and animals for human use and is also referred to as aquafarming. To say that aquaculture has grown rapidly since 1970 would miss the point entirely. The quantity of aquatic produce harvested in 1970 was a mere fraction—1/20th—of that harvested in 2008. The growth of aquaculture has been strong across all regions of the world. Nonetheless, Asia has seen enough growth in aquacultural production to raise its already high percentage of world production in 1970 (69.6%) to a remarkable 88.8% in 2008. In the chart we provide here you will see the world’s population presented by region as well as the world’s aquacultural production by region.

The market sizes presented here do not include aquatic plants but do cover all caught and raised fish of any kind from marine and inland waterway sources.

Geographic reference: World
Year: 1980, 2000 and 2008
Market size: 4.7, 32.4 and 52.5 million tons respectively.
Source: “Table 4 — Aquaculture Production by Region: Quantity and Percentage of World Production,” The State of Fisheries & Aquaculture 2010, page 20, available online here. The population data used in the chart are from the Statistical Abstract of the United States 2011, available online here.
Original source: United Nations, Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), Fisheries and
Aquaculture Department and U.S. Census Bureau.

Maine lobstermen have been increasing their fishing take for years now, reaching a new record in 2010. However, as with all commodities, there is a fine balance to be found between increasing volumes and price. The high prices per pound earned during the 2003 through 2007 period came down sharply in 2008 and 2009 when the price per pound hit a decade low of $2.93. In 2010 that price rose again, to $3.31, bringing it back to the level seen in 2000.

Geographic reference: State of Maine
Year: 2000 and 2010 (preliminary data)
Market size: 57.22 million pounds valued at $187.7 million and 93.36 million pounds valued at $308.7 million respectively.
Source: “Historical Maine Lobster Landings,” a report available online here.
Original source: Maine Department of Marine Resources.