China has one of the world’s largest and most mature seaweed markets, with a history of consumption and cultivation spanning over a thousand years. Traditionally, seaweed, including Laminaria, Undaria (wakame), and Porphyra (nori), was used for food, animal feed, and traditional medicine, particularly in coastal provinces such as Shandong, Fujian, Zhejiang, and Liaoning. The Tang and Song dynasties recorded large-scale harvesting of Laminaria for food and medicinal applications, while Porphyra has long been integral to local diets. Industrial seaweed production began in the 20th century, particularly for hydrocolloids like alginate, agar, and carrageenan, fueling the growth of China’s food, pharmaceutical, and textile sectors. In the 1980s and 1990s, government-backed aquaculture programs modernized seaweed farming with rope-based cultivation, seedling production, and mechanized harvesting techniques. Today, China dominates global seaweed production, contributing more than 60% of the world’s output, with both wild harvesting and aquaculture playing critical roles.

Recent decades have seen diversification into high-value applications, including functional foods, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and bio-based materials. Consumer awareness of health benefits, coupled with urbanization and rising disposable incomes, has spurred demand for edible seaweeds such as kelp, nori, and wakame. China’s seaweed market continues to evolve from a traditional staple and industrial raw material into a diversified sector, balancing large-scale production with innovation-driven, high-value products. Historical knowledge, advanced aquaculture techniques, and government support position China as the global leader in both production volume and technological advancement in seaweed cultivation and processing.According to the research report, "China Seaweed Market Research Report, 2030," published by Actual Market Research, the China Seaweed market is anticipated to add to USD 2.86 Billion by 2025–30.China’s seaweed industry is governed by regulations under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) and provincial fisheries authorities, which oversee licensing, environmental compliance, and sustainable cultivation practices. Aquaculture farms must comply with water quality standards, environmental protection laws, and biosecurity regulations. Technological innovation has been a major driver, with advancements in seedling production, rope-based offshore farming, mechanized harvesting, and automated processing facilities.

Biorefinery technologies are increasingly applied to extract multiple products from single seaweed biomass, including hydrocolloids, proteins, and bioactive compounds for food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Sustainability and environmental impact are critical, with seaweed cultivation recognized for carbon sequestration, nutrient absorption, and habitat improvement. Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA), combining seaweed with shellfish and fish, is widely deployed to reduce eutrophication and enhance ecosystem resilience. Despite these advances, challenges persist, including pollution from industrial runoff, overharvesting in some regions, and climate-driven variability in growth cycles. National policies, such as the Blue Economy and the promotion of sustainable aquaculture, support research into climate-resilient species and circular economy models. Additionally, China is implementing standards for organic and traceable seaweed products to meet growing domestic and export market demands.

The combination of stringent regulation, technological innovation, and sustainability-oriented policies ensures that China maintains its global leadership while minimizing environmental risks associated with large-scale production.China’s seaweed market is dominated by three main types: brown, red, and green species. Brown seaweeds, including Laminaria, Undaria, and Sargassum, account for the largest production volume and are primarily cultivated for food consumption, alginate extraction, animal feed, and fertilizers. Laminaria is consumed as a staple vegetable and processed into snacks, supplements, and condiments. Red seaweeds, such as Porphyra (nori), Gracilaria, and Gelidium, are significant for their high-value hydrocolloids, including agar and carrageenan, widely used in food processing, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Red species are also consumed directly as dried sheets and flakes in snacks and traditional dishes. Green seaweeds, including Ulva and Enteromorpha, are less cultivated but increasingly applied in functional foods, nutraceuticals, and cosmetic formulations due to their high protein and antioxidant content.

While brown and red species dominate production volume and economic value, green species represent an emerging niche segment with high growth potential. The segmentation is shaped by regional cultivation patterns, with brown species concentrated in Liaoning and Shandong, red species in Fujian and Zhejiang, and green species in smaller pilot projects along southern coastal provinces. Collectively, these types enable China to maintain dominance in both bulk production and high-value niche markets, supporting domestic consumption, industrial use, and export-led growth.China’s seaweed market serves diverse end-user sectors, including food, hydrocolloids, animal feed, agriculture, cosmetics, and other industrial applications. Human consumption is a primary segment, encompassing traditional diets, snacks, soups, and ready-to-eat products. Edible seaweeds such as kelp, wakame, and nori are popular in households and foodservice, supported by urbanization and growing health awareness. Hydrocolloids derived from red and brown seaweeds remain a crucial segment, supplying food, pharmaceuticals, and confectionery industries both domestically and internationally.

The animal feed sector is expanding, with Laminaria and other species incorporated into livestock and aquaculture feed to improve nutrition and reduce methane emissions. Agricultural applications include seaweed-based biofertilizers and biostimulants, widely adopted in rice paddies, vegetable farms, and orchards to enhance soil health and crop yield. The cosmetics and personal care segment has grown rapidly, leveraging bioactive compounds for skincare, anti-aging, and haircare formulations. Other applications include pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and bio-based materials such as biodegradable packaging and bioplastics. Together, these end-user segments demonstrate China’s multi-tiered demand structure: industrial uses dominate volume and revenue, while emerging applications in health, cosmetics, and agriculture drive innovation and value addition. The breadth of end users ensures resilience and sustainability of the Chinese seaweed industry, positioning it as both a domestic staple and a global supplier.Seaweed in China is available in processed, dried, and fresh/frozen forms, each catering to different market needs.

Processed forms, including powders, extracts, and liquid concentrates, dominate industrial applications such as hydrocolloid production, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and functional foods. These forms ensure consistency, longer shelf life, and easy integration into manufacturing processes. Dried seaweed, including sheets, flakes, and whole pieces, is widely consumed in households and restaurants across the country. Products such as nori sheets, dried kelp, and wakame flakes are staples in traditional cuisine and snacks, and are increasingly exported to international markets. Fresh and frozen seaweed is an emerging segment, particularly in high-end foodservice and health-oriented retail, offering superior taste, texture, and nutritional content. Fresh Laminaria and Undaria are cultivated near the coast and supplied directly to regional markets, while frozen formats help extend shelf life and support distribution to inland areas.

Domestic production is complemented by imports of specialty species for culinary diversity, particularly for sushi and premium processed products. This segmentation by form reflects the dual strategy of maintaining large-scale industrial output while catering to consumer-facing markets. Processed forms drive industrial applications and exports, dried forms dominate traditional food and retail, and fresh/frozen seaweed supports high-value culinary and health-focused consumption. Collectively, these forms enhance the versatility and growth potential of China’s seaweed market.China’s seaweed production combines large-scale aquaculture and wild harvesting, with aquaculture representing the majority of output. Rope-based farming techniques dominate, particularly for Laminaria, Undaria, and Porphyra, and are concentrated in provinces such as Liaoning, Shandong, Fujian, and Zhejiang. Aquaculture provides consistent supply, controlled quality, and scalability to meet domestic and international demand.

Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA), where seaweed is grown alongside fish and shellfish, is increasingly implemented to enhance nutrient utilization, reduce environmental impact, and promote sustainable growth. Wild harvesting, while smaller in volume, continues in coastal regions for specific red and brown species used in traditional foods and specialty products. The combination of aquaculture and wild harvesting allows China to maintain high production volumes while diversifying sources for different market segments. Aquaculture innovations, supported by government subsidies and research institutions, focus on mechanization, disease control, and climate-resilient species to ensure long-term sustainability. The dual cultivation approach strengthens the supply chain, reduces environmental pressure on natural stocks, and enables China to sustain its leadership in the global seaweed market. Together, aquaculture and controlled wild harvesting ensure reliability, scalability, and value addition, underpinning China’s dominance in industrial, culinary, and high-value applications.Considered in this report• Historic Year: 2019• Base year: 2024• Estimated year: 2025• Forecast year: 2030Aspects covered in this report• Seaweed Market with its value and forecast along with its segments• Various drivers and challenges• On-going trends and developments• Top profiled companies• Strategic recommendationBy Type• Red Seaweed• Brown Seaweed• Green SeaweedBy End Users• Human Consumption• Hydrocolloids (Phycocolloids)• Animal Feed & Additives• Agriculture• Cosmetics & Personal Care• Other Applications (Pharmaceuticals, Bio-plastics, etc.)By Form• Processed Forms (Powder, Liquid)• Dried Forms (Sheets, Flakes, Whole)• Fresh/FrozenBy Cultivation Method• Aquaculture (Farmed)• Wild Harvest (Harvested) .