FAO SOFIA 2024: Leading Countries in Algae & Seaweed Production
According to the 2024 The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), global algae production has reached a record high of 37.8 million tonnes. This sector is almost entirely driven by aquaculture, which accounts for 97 percent of the total volume. Asia remains the undisputed global hub, contributing roughly 97 percent of the world’s seaweed supply.
Who is Leading Countries in Algae & Seaweed Production?
China and Indonesia are the world's leading producers of algae and seaweed, collectively accounting for approximately 85 percent of global output. According to the FAO SOFIA 2024 report, China maintains the top position, producing over 20.8 million tonnes (roughly 57% of global share), followed by Indonesia with approximately 9.1 million tonnes (25% share). Other significant producers include South Korea, the Philippines, and Vietnam, with Chile and Norway leading production outside of the Asian region.
Global Production Leaderboard (2022 Data)
The industry is highly concentrated, with the top five countries producing the vast majority of the world's seaweed. While China leads in volume, different countries specialize in specific species based on their climate.
| Rank | Country | Production (Million Tonnes) | Major Species Produced | Global Share |
| 1 | 🇨🇳 China | 20.8 | Brown Algae (Saccharina japonica) | ~57% |
| 2 | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 9.1 | Red Algae (Kappaphycus, Eucheuma) | ~25% |
| 3 | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 1.8 | Laver/Nori (Porphyra), Kelp | ~5% |
| 4 | 🇵🇠Philippines | 1.3 | Carrageenan-bearing Red Algae | ~4% |
| 5 | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 0.6 | Various Kelp species | ~1.5% |
Key Trends from the SOFIA Report
The Rise of "Blue Transformation": The FAO highlights seaweed as a pillar of the "Blue Transformation" initiative, emphasizing its role in food security, carbon sequestration, and providing livelihoods for coastal communities.
Red vs. Brown Algae: Indonesia and the Philippines dominate the Red Algae market, which is primarily used for industrial carrageenan (thickening agents). China and Korea lead in Brown Algae (kelps), which are largely consumed directly as food.
Regional Expansion: While Asia dominates, there is significant growth potential in Africa (Tanzania) and Latin America (Chile), where cultivation is being scaled to meet international demand for bioplastics and biofuels.
China: The Global Powerhouse of Seaweed Production
China is the world's undisputed leader in the cultivation and harvesting of algae and seaweed. According to the FAO SOFIA 2024 report, China alone accounts for approximately 57-60% of total global production, yielding over 20.8 million tonnes annually. This dominance is built on a massive coastal infrastructure and a sophisticated "Blue Transformation" strategy that integrates seaweed farming into both the food supply chain and industrial manufacturing.
Production is heavily concentrated in the northern and eastern coastal provinces, where cold-water nutrients support the rapid growth of large-scale kelp forests. While the industry was originally established for food security, it has evolved into a high-tech sector providing raw materials for everything from biodegradable plastics to pharmaceutical stabilizing agents.
China’s Seaweed Production by Species and Region
Chinese production is characterized by high-volume "brown algae" for food and industrial alginates, alongside high-value "red algae" for the global snack and sushi markets.
| Species Group | Common Name | Primary Production Region | Main Uses |
| Brown Algae | 🇨🇳 Kelp (Kombu) | Fujian, Shandong, Liaoning | Direct food consumption, Alginate extraction, Iodine |
| Red Algae | 🇨🇳 Nori (Laver) | Jiangsu, Zhejiang | Dried snacks, Sushi sheets, High-value exports |
| Red Algae | 🇨🇳 Gracilaria | Guangdong, Hainan | Agar-agar production, Abalone feed |
| Brown Algae | 🇨🇳 Wakame | Dalian (Liaoning) | Miso soup ingredients, Export to Japan/Korea |
Key Pillars of China's Seaweed Industry
Regional Dominance: Fujian Province has overtaken traditional leaders to become the top producer, contributing roughly 43% of China's total annual yield. Shandong Province follows closely with 32%, particularly excelling in kelp seedling technology.
Vertical Integration: China does not just grow seaweed; it processes it. The country hosts the world's largest facilities for extracting alginates, mannitol, and iodine, ensuring that the raw biomass is converted into high-value chemical products before export.
Ecological Carbon Sinks: China is increasingly utilizing seaweed farms as "Blue Carbon" ecosystems. These underwater forests sequester millions of tonnes of $CO_2$ annually, helping the nation meet its environmental goals while simultaneously filtering coastal waters of excess nutrients.
Indonesia: The Global Hub for Red Algae
Indonesia is the world’s second-largest producer of seaweed, following China, and is the global leader in the production of tropical red algae. According to the FAO SOFIA 2024 report, Indonesia contributes approximately 25% of global algae production, with a yield of roughly 9.1 to 10.7 million tonnes (wet weight) annually.
Unlike China’s focus on cold-water kelp, Indonesia’s industry is built on tropical species like Kappaphycus alvarezii (Cottonii) and Eucheuma denticulatum (Spinosum). These are the primary raw materials for carrageenan, a high-demand hydrocolloid used as a stabilizer in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. The sector is a vital economic engine for Indonesia’s "Blue Economy," supporting the livelihoods of over 267,000 coastal households.
Indonesia’s Seaweed Production by Region and Species
Production is heavily concentrated in the central and eastern regions of the archipelago, where the water quality and tidal conditions are ideal for year-round cultivation.
| Rank | Province | Major Species Produced | Primary Usage | Global Contribution |
| 1 | 🇮🇩 South Sulawesi | Kappaphycus alvarezii | Carrageenan (Gelling agent) | >20% of global carrageenan |
| 2 | 🇮🇩 East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) | Eucheuma denticulatum | Agar-agar, Food, Cosmetics | Major export to China |
| 3 | 🇮🇩 West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) | Gracilaria spp. | Food thickeners, Bio-plastics | Regional processing hub |
| 4 | 🇮🇩 North Kalimantan | Kappaphycus alvarezii | Industrial exports | Fast-growing new sector |
| 5 | 🇮🇩 Maluku & Papua | Sargassum, Eucheuma | Local food, Organic fertilizer | Emerging artisanal market |
Strategic Drivers of the Indonesian Market
Export Dominance: Indonesia provides roughly 66% of the global supply of hydrocolloid seaweeds. While much of this is exported as raw dried seaweed (RDS), the government is currently pushing for "downstreaming" to process these into refined carrageenan domestically.
Low-Impact Aquaculture: Seaweed farming in Indonesia is predominantly a small-scale, family-run operation. It requires no fresh water, fertilizers, or land, making it one of the most sustainable forms of agriculture in the nation.
National Targets: The Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has set an ambitious production target of 12.3 million tonnes by late 2024/2025, supported by the establishment of "Seaweed Villages" and improved tissue culture technology for better seed quality.
Challenges: Despite its leadership, the industry faces hurdles such as rising sea surface temperatures due to climate change and the "Ice-Ice" disease, which can decimate crops during seasonal shifts.
Philippines: The Pioneer of Carrageenan Production
The Philippines holds a historic and strategic position in the global seaweed industry as the pioneer of commercial eucheumatoid (red seaweed) farming. According to the FAO SOFIA 2024 report, the Philippines produced approximately 1.5 million tonnes of algae in 2022, maintaining its status as the fourth-largest producer globally.
Seaweed is the nation's primary aquaculture commodity, accounting for nearly 70% of the total aquaculture volume. The industry is a critical pillar of the Philippine "Blue Economy," providing livelihoods for over one million Filipinos, mostly through small-scale, family-operated farms in the Mindanao and Visayas regions.
Philippines’ Seaweed Production by Region and Species
Production is geographically diverse, but the BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) remains the powerhouse, contributing nearly half of the national output.
| Rank | Region | Primary Species | Key Production Hubs | Global Market Use |
| 1 | 🇵🇠BARMM | Kappaphycus alvarezii | Tawi-Tawi, Sulu | Raw Dried Seaweed (RDS), Semi-refined Carrageenan |
| 2 | 🇵🇠MIMAROPA | Eucheuma denticulatum | Palawan | Food grade carrageenan, cosmetics |
| 3 | 🇵🇠Zamboanga Peninsula | Kappaphycus spp. | Zamboanga City, Sibugay | Industrial stabilizers, Pharmaceutical capsules |
| 4 | 🇵🇠Central Visayas | Caulerpa lentillifera | Cebu, Bohol | Lato (Sea Grapes) for direct food consumption |
| 5 | 🇵🇠Western Visayas | Gracilaria spp. | Iloilo, Guimaras | Agar-agar production, Local delicacies |
Strategic Importance and Industry Outlook
The Carrageenan Authority: The Philippines is home to some of the world's largest carrageenan refinery plants. While Indonesia leads in raw biomass volume, the Philippines remains a preferred supplier for high-quality Refined Carrageenan and Philippine Natural Grade (PNG) carrageenan due to its established processing infrastructure.
Species Diversification: Beyond the industrial "Cottonii" and "Spinosum" varieties, the Philippines is a world leader in cultivating Caulerpa (Sea Grapes or Lato). Unlike other seaweeds, Lato is grown primarily for fresh local and export food markets, commanding a high premium.
Government Roadmap (2022–2026): The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has allocated significant funding (over ₱1 billion) to modernize the sector. This includes the establishment of climate-resilient nurseries and satellite-based monitoring to combat challenges like "Ice-Ice" disease and typhoon damage.
Logistical Evolution: A major focus is currently being placed on "downstreaming"—shifting from exporting raw dried seaweed to high-value processed extracts. This transition aims to capture more value domestically rather than shipping raw materials to China or Europe for refining.
North Korea: The Understated Giant of Kelp Production
North Korea (DPRK) remains a significant, though often overlooked, player in the global seaweed industry. According to the FAO SOFIA 2024 report, the country ranks as the fifth-largest producer in the world, with an estimated production of approximately 603,000 tonnes.
The industry is centrally managed and focused heavily on cold-water species along the eastern coastline. Unlike the export-driven models of South Korea or the industrial carrageenan focus of Southeast Asia, North Korea's production is primarily geared toward domestic food security and as a source of biomass for organic fertilizers and pharmaceutical additives.
North Korea’s Seaweed Production Profile
Production is concentrated in the nutrient-rich, cold waters of the East Sea (Sea of Japan), specifically around the South Hamgyong and Kangwon provinces.
| Species Group | Local Name | Primary Production Region | Main Usage | Global Context |
| 🇰🇵 Brown Algae | Dasima (Kelp) | South Hamgyong, Kangwon | Food staple, nutrient supplements | Key cold-water biomass producer |
| 🇰🇵 Brown Algae | Miyeok (Sea Mustard) | Coastal Eastern Provinces | Soup base, maternity nutrition | High domestic demand |
| 🇰🇵 Red Algae | Gim (Laver) | Shallow coastal bays | Dried edible sheets | Smaller scale than South Korea |
| 🇰🇵 Green Algae | Chilpae | Tidal flats | Local delicacies, fertilizers | Primarily artisanal/local |
Key Pillars of the North Korean Seaweed Sector
Domestic Food Security: Seaweed is a critical source of iodine, minerals, and vitamins in the North Korean diet. Large-scale state farms prioritize "Dasima" (Kelp) because of its high yield and ability to be stored for long periods.
Low-Tech Sustainability: Most farming utilizes long-line cultivation methods that require minimal energy input. This makes seaweed one of the most reliable and resilient agricultural sectors in the country despite economic sanctions or fuel shortages.
Integrated Mariculture: North Korea often utilizes "polyculture" techniques, where seaweed is grown alongside shellfish (like scallops or mussels). The seaweed helps oxygenate the water and provides a habitat for the shellfish, increasing the overall protein yield per hectare.
Emerging Export Potential: While most production is domestic, there have been historical instances of North Korean seaweed being processed and exported to neighboring markets like China, often as a raw material for further refining into industrial alginates.
Global Production Summary (Top 5)
To put North Korea's role in perspective, here is how it compares to the global leaders in the SOFIA 2024 rankings:
| Global Rank | Country | Production (Million Tonnes) | Primary Focus |
| 1 | 🇨🇳 China | 20.8 | Food & Industrial Alginates |
| 2 | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 9.1 | Carrageenan (Industrial) |
| 3 | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 1.8 | Premium Edible Sheets (Gim) |
| 4 | 🇵🇠Philippines | 1.5 | Carrageenan (Industrial) |
| 5 | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 0.6 | Domestic Food & Fertilizers |
Data Collection & Governance: How SOFIA Figures are Built
The data presented in the FAO SOFIA 2024 report is the result of a massive, multi-year global effort coordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Because the FAO is the only organization mandated to collect global fisheries and aquaculture statistics, the SOFIA report serves as the "gold standard" for the industry.
Data Collection Methodology
The FAO does not count every seaweed farm individually; instead, it operates as a global data aggregator. The process involves three main layers of verification:
National Reporting (The Primary Source):
Every year, the FAO sends out standardized questionnaires to over 200 countries and territories.
National departments (such as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in the Philippines or the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in South Korea) collect data from local farm registries and export manifests to provide "official" figures.
Validation and Cross-Checking:
The FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Division compares national reports against alternative sources, including customs and trade data, satellite imagery of coastal farms, and academic research.
If a country’s reported data seems inconsistent—for example, if a country reports 1 million tonnes of seaweed but only exports 10,000 tonnes with no domestic market—the FAO initiates a "query" to resolve the discrepancy with the national government.
FAO Estimations ("E" Flags):
In cases where a country fails to report (often due to conflict or lack of administrative capacity), the FAO uses specialized algorithms and historical trends to provide an estimated value. These are clearly marked in the FishStat database to maintain transparency.
Organizations Involved
While the FAO leads the report, several other international and regional bodies provide technical expertise and data verification:
| Organization | Role in SOFIA Data |
| CWP (Coordinating Working Party on Fishery Statistics) | Sets the global standards for how seaweed and fish should be measured and categorized. |
| RFBs (Regional Fishery Bodies) | Provide localized data on specific maritime zones (e.g., the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission). |
| Member State Governments | The "boots on the ground" responsible for the initial data collection and reporting. |
| NACA (Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific) | Assists in verifying production trends specifically within the Asian seaweed hub. |
Key Data Sources
All production figures for algae and seaweed are stored and updated in a publicly accessible database managed by the FAO:
FishStatJ: The FAO's primary software tool used for the dissemination of global fisheries and aquaculture statistics.
SOFIA Flagship Series: The biennial report itself, which synthesizes the raw data into the "State of World" narrative.
Blue Transformation Roadmap: A strategic document used to adjust data collection focus toward sustainability and carbon sequestration.
Note on Measurement: Seaweed production is typically reported in wet weight (the weight of the seaweed immediately after harvest), while processed products like carrageenan or dried nori are measured by dry weight. This is why production volumes often look significantly larger than export volumes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Why is Asia the leader in seaweed production?
Asia accounts for approximately 97% of global production due to several factors: favorable tropical and temperate climates, long-standing culinary traditions (like sushi and soups), and a well-established industrial processing infrastructure for hydrocolloids.
2. What is the difference between "Wet Weight" and "Dry Weight"?
Production data in the FAO SOFIA report is recorded in Wet Weight (biomass immediately after harvest). However, seaweed loses about 80–90% of its weight during the drying process. This is why a country might produce 10 million tonnes of raw seaweed but only export 1 million tonnes of dried product.
3. How does seaweed farming help the environment?
Seaweed is a "zero-input" crop. It requires no fresh water, no land, and no chemical fertilizers. Furthermore, it acts as a carbon sink, absorbing $CO_2$ from the ocean, and helps prevent "dead zones" by absorbing excess nitrogen and phosphorus from the water.
4. Why are China and Indonesia's seaweed types different?
It comes down to water temperature. China’s coastline is largely temperate, making it ideal for Brown Algae (Kelps). Indonesia’s tropical, warm waters are the perfect environment for Red Algae, which is used to produce carrageenan.
Glossary of Terms
To navigate the FAO SOFIA report and the seaweed industry effectively, it is helpful to understand these technical and biological terms.
| Term | Definition |
| Aquaculture | The farming of aquatic organisms, including fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and aquatic plants (algae). |
| Blue Transformation | An FAO strategy aimed at maximizing the contribution of aquatic food systems to food security and environmental health. |
| Carrageenan | A family of natural linear sulfated polysaccharides extracted from red seaweed; used as a thickening or gelling agent in food. |
| Eucheumatoids | A group of tropical red seaweeds (Kappaphycus and Eucheuma) primarily farmed in Indonesia and the Philippines. |
| Hydrocolloids | Substances (like agar, alginate, and carrageenan) that form a gel when in contact with water; vital for industrial food processing. |
| Inland Waters | Lakes, rivers, and ponds. While most seaweed is marine, some algae species are harvested from these freshwater sources. |
| Mariculture | A specialized branch of aquaculture involving the cultivation of marine organisms in the open ocean or enclosed sections of the ocean. |
| Polyculture | The practice of raising multiple species in the same area (e.g., seaweed and shellfish) to create a balanced ecosystem. |
| Sequestration | The process by which seaweed captures and stores atmospheric carbon dioxide ($CO_2$). |
Comparison of Key Species Groups
| Type | Common Name | Major Producer | Primary Use |
| Phaeophyceae | Brown Algae (Kelp) | 🇨🇳 China | Food, Iodine, Alginates |
| Rhodophyceae | Red Algae | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | Carrageenan, Agar, Sushi (Nori) |
| Chlorophyceae | Green Algae | 🇵🇠Philippines | Fresh salads (Sea Grapes) |