Seaweed Extracts Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Source (Brown, Red, and Others), By Form (Liquid, Powder, and Others), By Application (Nutraceuticals, Agricultural Products, Animal Feed Additives, Cosmetics, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2025 – 2032

The global seaweed extracts market size was valued at USD 1.26 billion in 2024. The market is projected to grow from USD 1.41 billion in 2025 to USD 3.44 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 13.60% during the forecast period. 

Seaweed extracts are functional compounds that are derived from seaweeds. These compounds have found application in various industries that range from agriculture, food, nutraceuticals, aquaculture, and others. A global shift in consumer preferences toward natural and organic products across various industries is fueling the growth of the global seaweed extracts market. The usage of these ingredients has increased in several industries, including food and beverage manufacturing. 

DuPont, Biolchim SpA, ALGAIA, Groupe Roullier, and Cargill, Incorporated are a few of the leading companies operating in the market.

MARKET DYNAMICS

Market Drivers

Growing Demand For Advanced Nutraceuticals to Support Market Growth

Seaweed extracts have traditionally been used in Asian countries, where their production is also highest, to prepare a wide range of traditional medicine and food products. With the growing demand for advanced nutraceuticals, there is a growing interest in Western countries as well to conduct scientific studies on these products to better understand their efficacy and develop new products. This increasing interest in untapped western markets is playing an important role in the overall seaweed extracts market growth.

High Interest Among Health-Conscious Consumers to Fuel Market Growth

Seaweeds are abundantly available in the wild and can also be grown sustainably on farms. These algal species grow easily in the water and require minimal investment in comparison to traditional crops, where the farmers have to invest in crop management products such as insecticides, pesticides, and others to maintain a good yield. Apart from their nutritional value and the diverse applications across industries, they also help in carbon sequestration and help restore damaged marine ecosystems. Therefore, seaweed extracts are widely favored by health and climate-conscious consumers. Therefore, the farming of seaweeds for industrial-scale production is also expected to increase in the future.

Market Restraints

High Dependency on Asian Countries to Procure Seaweed Hinders Market Growth Opportunities

Most of the seaweed is cultivated in Asian countries, which include China, Indonesia, and South Korea. As a result, the majority of seaweed processing into extracts is also concentrated in these countries due to the proximity to raw materials. Europe and North American markets thus either have to rely on these countries or adopt practices to produce seaweeds locally. However, significant research needs to be conducted to assess the economic viability of farming and setting up production centers, technological limitations, and social conflict that may arise due to setting up seaweed farms on coasts, which can impact fishing activities in that area. These factors limit the widespread production of seaweeds and impact the production of extracts for commercial usage in non-traditional markets.

Market Opportunities

New Seaweed-Based Product Development to Create Grow Opportunities

There is a rising prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and others, particularly in the aging population across Asia and Europe is driving demand for naturally derived ingredients used in health-promoting products. Key polysaccharides such as alginate, carrageenan, fucoidan, ulvan, agar, and laminarin are used in food, pharmaceutical, and other industries. Moreover, studies and research on compounds such as fucoidan have been published, which state their positive results related to improvement in the health of patients with these diseases. For instance, the study published by Sibusiso Luthuli, Siya Wu, Yang Cheng, Xiaoli Zheng, Mingjiang Wu, and Haibin Tong in 2019 reported that in vitro studies have shown fucoidan’s potential to reverse the effects of diabetes and related metabolic syndrome. Such findings enhance consumer awareness and create opportunities for new product development and market expansion.

Seaweed Extracts Market Trends

Growing Adoption of Naturally Sourced Ingredients In Cosmetic Products to Support Market Growth 

There is a growing demand for eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable products across different industries, including agriculture. Compared to chemical fertilizers, which are known to contribute to environmental pollution, biostimulants made with natural ingredients are gaining in popularity. These bio-based solutions help reduce reliance on synthetic inputs and mitigate environmental issues such as eutrophication caused by excessive fertilizer use. There is a growing demand for natural ingredients in cosmetic products. Seaweed extracts, known for their antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and moisturizing properties, are experiencing soaring demand in the personal care industry. Thus, prominent cosmetic companies are collaborating with seaweed extract manufacturers to create a novel cosmetics portfolio.

Impact of COVID-19

Seaweed cultivation was negatively impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Asia, the largest seaweed-producing region, farmers were unable to harvest seaweed on time, causing seaweed decay and economic loss. Travel restrictions also restricted farmers from visiting seaweed farms, leading to lowered production and sales. Moreover, working hours were diminished from 8 hours to 2-3 hours during the peak of the pandemic. Small-scale farmers, in particular, were hit hard, facing substantial financial hardship during the pandemic.

SEGMENTATION ANALYSIS

By Source

Red Seaweed Accounted for Highest Market Share Owing to Wider Usage in Extract Production

On the basis of source, the market is segmented into red, brown, and others. 

Among the various types of seaweeds, brown seaweed is the most widely cultivated and utilized globally, accounting for the highest market share in 2024. As per data provided by the FAOSTAT, global seaweed production reached 35,762,504 tons in 2019, with brown seaweeds contributing 47.65% of the total produced. In Europe, alone 287,033 tons of seaweed were cultivated, with brown seaweed marking up 97.85% of the total produce. Brown seaweed is widely used in the food and beverage industry and in biostimulants and pharmaceuticals. Red seaweed and other seaweed sources are also used in various industrial applications.

By Form

Powder Segment Led the Market due to Its Economic Viability

On the basis of form, the market is segmented into liquid, powder, and others.

The powder segment accounted for the highest market in 2024, as it is more economical and widely used in the manufacturing of nutraceuticals, biostimulants, and feed additives. Moreover, the powder form of extracts has a longer shelf life, contains a higher concentration of bioactive compounds, and offers greater stability than the liquid form.

Liquid seaweed extracts are expensive and difficult to store than their dry counterparts. However, they offer advantages in nutraceutical formulations, they are easy to mix and are more readily absorbed by the body.

By Application

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Nutraceuticals Segment Held Highest Market Share Due to its Growing Usage in Functional Food and Beverages

Based on application, the market is segmented into nutraceuticals, agricultural products, animal feed additives, cosmetics, and others.

Nutraceuticals accounted for the highest market share in 2024, owing to the increased popularity of such products among consumers. This ingredient is used in producing functional food and beverages, as these ingredients help provide numerous health benefits to consumers.

Agricultural products account for second second-largest market share as these ingredients are used in the production of biostimulants and fertilizers. The inclusion of these extracts in agricultural products increases soil health, supports plant growth, and improves plants' ability to absorb stress.

Other key applications include animal feed production, cosmetics, and others, where seaweed-derived ingredients contribute to enhancing animal health and overall performance.

Seaweed Extracts Market Regional Outlook

By geography, the global market report is studied across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and the Middle East and Africa.

Asia Pacific

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The Asia Pacific region holds the highest market share, valued at USD 0.98 billion in 2024. The region is the leading producer of seaweed and has a long history of consuming seaweed-based products since ancient times. Scientific research has further emphasized the potential benefits of consuming seaweed-based products, and their usage in industrial applications has increased significantly in recent years.

China

China is the leading producer and consumer of seaweed extracts in the region. Apart from traditional usage, the country has expanded its industrial seaweed processing capacity in recent years, which has contributed to the growth of the market. Several industrial users are thus able to procure high-quality raw materials from China to manufacture pharmaceuticals, animal feed, agricultural products including food and beverages. Demand for seaweed extracts is expected to increase further in the country.

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Europe

Europe is another major market, with demand expected to continue rising in the coming years. The region has a high proportion of geriatric population, which requires the need for dietary supplements that support immune health. As per the data provided by Eurostat in 2022, 1/5th of the population (21%) were aged above 65 years. Several research studies have shown that the seaweed extract based products have antioxidant, anti-allergic, antitumor, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective effects, making it suitable for creating dietary supplements. As more companies are focusing on developing high-quality marine-derived ingredients, the demand for the product in Europe is expected to grow.

North America

The demand for seaweed extracts is also increasing in North America, although production is still limited. Increased consumer awareness and preference for clean-label environment-friendly product ingredients have fueled the adoption of natural ingredients in industrial applications. Given their natural origin and scientifically backed health benefits, the use of products in various industries is expected to expand significantly in the region.

In the U.S. market, the demand for seaweed extracts is also expected to increase due to the increase of this ingredient in different industries. As seaweed extract is a sustainable and promising ingredient, significant research is being conducted to assess new potential areas where this ingredient can be used for manufacturing. However, the production of seaweed is limited and hence the country needs to invest in enhancing seaweed farming to meet the growing demand.

South America and the Middle East & Africa

South America and the Middle East & Africa seaweed markets are still in the early stages of growth, and there is a significant opportunity for manufacturers to expand their market presence in these countries. The local seaweed production is very limited, which is a major obstacle to the growth of the region. Industrial users have to source it from Ireland, Norway, France, China, the Philippines, Chile, and others, which adds to the cost of the final products. Consumer preferences and growing interest in this sector are expected to boost the local production of seaweeds in these regions.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Key Industry Players

Major Firms Focus on Collaborations to Develop Ingredients with Improved Functionality

The global market structure is fragmented, with several market players competing with each other and developing new products. Companies are focusing on the production of innovative new ingredients using advanced technology to develop ingredients with improved functionality. Manufacturers are also collaborating with end-use industries to develop innovative ingredients that can be used in cosmetics, nutraceuticals, and agricultural product solutions.

Key Players in the Seaweed Extracts Market

DuPont, Biolchim SpA, ALGAIA, Groupe Roullier, and Cargill, Incorporated are some of the largest players in the market. The global market is fragmented, with the top 5 players accounting for a limited portion of the global seaweed extracts market share.

List of Key Seaweed Extract Companies Profiled

• Acadian Seaplants Limited (Canada)


• Annie Chun (U.S.)


• ALGAIA (France)


• Humate International (China)


• Biolchim SpA (Italy)


• Cargill, Incorporated (U.S.)


• ARCHER-DANIELS-MIDLAND COMPANY (U.S.)


• CEAMSA (Compañía Española de Algas Marinas S.A.) (Spain)


• CP Kelco ApS (Denmark)


• DuPont (U.S.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

• April 2025: Bayer AG launched a seaweed biostimulant product named AnHai Long in the Chinese market. The product helps to address key issues such as soil degradation, nutrient absorption issues, and abiotic stress in plants.


• June 2024: Hi-Q Marine Biotech launched a seaweed extract product named FucoSkin CS that can be used in cosmetic product formulations. The product has been certified by Ecocert and also received COSMOS approval status.


• June 2023: Regenerative Agtech companies Cascadia Seaweed and Refeed Canada partnered with each other and launched liquid seaweed extract biostimulant products in the Canadian market.


• July 2023: Bionema Group Ltd launched a new range of seaweed extract-based biostimulant products in the U.K. market. The products are suitable for use in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and turf areas.


• October 2020: Givaudan introduced a new seaweed extract-based product named "B-Lightyl," which helps to treat hyperpigmentation.

REPORT COVERAGE

The global seaweed extracts market report analyzes the market in depth and highlights crucial aspects such as global market trends, market dynamics, prominent companies, and applications. Besides this, the market statistics report also provides insights into the market trends and highlights significant industry developments.

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Report Scope & Segmentation