South Korean seaweed export and consumption trends

Published Jul 30, 2021

Tridge summary

South Korea's agricultural sector has seen a significant growth in the production and export of seaweed-related products, including seaweed, kelp, agar, and shiitake mushrooms, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the country's seaweed production reached 1.77 million tons, with an annual growth rate of 6.1%, and seaweed exports amounted to USD 688 million, showing an 11.8% increase since 2016. Additionally, the demand for agar, a food additive extracted from red algae, is on the rise due to its eco-friendly characteristics, replacing animal gelatin in the Western world. Kelp, known for its nutritional benefits and environmental impact, is gaining popularity as a superfood in the United States and is being incorporated into various food products. This growth in the seaweed industry highlights South Korea's leading role in the global market and the increasing global interest in these functional food sources.

Disclaimer: The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Seaweed consumption spreads from the center of Asia to the West Last year’s domestic production was 1.77 million tons… Annual average growth of 6.1% In addition to seaweed, we export seaweed, seaweed, agar, kelp, etc. Kelp is gaining popularity as a ‘next-generation superfood’ in the United States. Increase in domestic seaweed production and exports Korea produces a variety of seaweeds, including kelp, laver, and seaweed, as well as seaweed, green radish, and kelp. Domestic seaweed production is 1.77 million tons as of 2020, showing an average annual growth rate of 6.1% since 2016. It occupies 97.1%. Seaweed exports have grown at an average annual rate of 11.8% since 2016, and exported USD 688 million in 2020. In particular, among seaweed export items, seaweed is the representative export item, accounting for 87.2% of the total seaweed export value, and exported $600 million in 2020 despite the spread of COVID-19. In addition to laver, various seaweeds such as seaweed (5.4%), ...

Source: Fisheco