What this market covers
Farmed and wild harvested seaweed sold for food, extracts, feed and fertiliser. Food makers, hydrocolloid producers and farms buy it in dried and processed forms.
Typical segments
- Edible seaweed
- Seaweed extracts
- Animal feed seaweed
- Seaweed fertiliser
Source: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value moved +111% from 2020 to 2025, a direct read on EU demand for sourced supply.
- Supply is concentrated: one country provided a large share of extra-EU imports in 2025.
- US employment in the core industry shifted +38% since 2020.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The EU imported €42.3 million of products under CN code 12122100 (Seaweeds and other algae, fresh, chilled, frozen or dried, whether or not ground, fit for) from outside the EU in 2025. | 42.3 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 12122100 were up 111% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€20.0 million), calculated from Eurostat values. | +111 % change | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 12122100 to countries outside the EU were worth €7.1 million in 2025. | 7.1 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 12122100 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €52.5 million in 2025. | 52.5 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| China was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 12122100 to the EU in 2025, with €20.6 million, or 49% of extra-EU imports. | 20.6 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 12122100 to the United States were €2.0 million in 2025. | 2.0 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 12122100 was €5.32 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight. | 5.32 EUR per kg | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Ireland was the largest EU exporter of CN 12122100 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €1.2 million. | 1.2 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 14,500 enterprises in NACE class C1089 (Manufacture of other food products n.e.c.) in 2023. | 14,500 enterprises | 2023 | Eurostat |
| NACE class C1089 employed 167,970 people across the EU in 2023. | 167,970 persons employed | 2023 | Eurostat |
| The US had 206 private establishments in NAICS 112519 (Other aquaculture) in 2025. | 206 establishments | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| NAICS 112519 employed an average of 1,124 people in US private industry in 2025. | 1,124 jobs | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| US employment in NAICS 112519 changed by +38% between 2020 (813 jobs) and 2025, calculated from BLS figures. | +38 % change | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Average annual pay in US NAICS 112519 was $59,336 in 2025. | 59,336 USD per year | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| PubMed indexed 796 papers mentioning "seaweed" in the title or abstract in 2025. | 796 papers | 2025 | U.S. National Library of Medicine |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 12122100, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 42257495
- Figure 2
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 12122100, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 20023317; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 42257495
- Figure 3
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 12122100, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 7063357
- Figure 4
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 12122100, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 52471216
- Figure 5
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 12122100, partner CN, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 20633776
- Figure 6
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 12122100, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1977855
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 12122100, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 42257495, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 79370
- Figure 1
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter IE, product 12122100, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1171684
- Figure 8
- Eurostat: Enterprises by detailed NACE Rev. 2 activity and special aggregates (sbs_ovw_act) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 9
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C1089, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 14500
- Figure 10
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C1089, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 167970
- Figure 9
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 112519, 2025 (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 11
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 112519, annual_avg_estabs 206
- Figure 12
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 112519, annual_avg_emplvl 1124
- Figure 13
QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 813; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 1124
- Figure 14
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 112519, avg_annual_pay 59336
- Figure 11
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: PubMed search "seaweed"[tiab] AND 2025[dp] (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 15
esearch count 796
- Figure 15
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Food manufacturers
- Hydrocolloid producers
- Farms and feed makers
Large non-EU suppliers to the EU
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the European Union market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
Included with the full report
- PDF report, 40 to 60 pages
- Excel data pack
- Ready-to-use charts
- Method note and assumptions
- Written to order in 5 working days
Frequently asked questions
How big is the EU commercial seaweed market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €42.3 million of goods under CN 12122100 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €7.1 million.
Where does the EU import commercial seaweed from?
China was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included Korea, Republic of, Chile, Tanzania, United Republic of.
What is the average import price of commercial seaweed in the EU?
Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €5.32 per kilogram for CN 12122100 in 2025.
Which EU countries export the most commercial seaweed?
Ireland led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Sweden, Denmark.
How many US companies are in the commercial seaweed industry?
BLS counts 206 private establishments in NAICS 112519 (Other aquaculture), the closest official industry.
How many EU companies are in the commercial seaweed industry?
Eurostat counts 14,500 enterprises in NACE class C1089 (Manufacture of other food products n.e.c.).
Free sample
Get a free sample of this report
We send the table of contents, two sample chapters and the method note, usually within one working day. You owe us nothing for asking.
- Full table of contents
- Two sample chapters
- Method note and data outline