Current Status of Global Cultivated Seaweed Production and Markets

Even with seaweed aquaculture growing rapidly over the last decade, global demand for seaweed-based products has surpassed supply. There is a large and diverse array of applications and uses of macroalgal products. The seaweed industry is estimated to have an annual value of some US$6 billion, the largest share of which (US$5 billion) is human food products. The remaining US$1 billion is largely based on seaweed extracts, such as hydrocolloids for use in animal feeds, fertilizers and bioactives.