India Seaweed Market

India Seaweed Market Overview:

The India seaweed market size reached USD 294.50 Million in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 598.59 Million by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 8.20% during 2025-2033. The India seaweed market share is propelled by the increasing demand for plant-based and sustainable food ingredients, rising health consciousness with seaweed's nutrient benefits, applications in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, clean-label and organic trends, and government initiatives supporting marine resource utilization.

India Seaweed Market Trends:

Rising Demand for Plant-Based Foods

The growing demand for plant-based foods in India is significantly driving the demand for seaweed. With health and eco-friendly consumers, individuals are increasingly opting for plant-based versions of traditional animal-based foods. A report released by India's Plant Based Foods Industry Association (PBFIA) in 2023, stated that there was a “significant rise” in plant-based consumption in the nation. It discovered that 67% of individuals opting for plant-based items are driven by animal welfare matters, 54.1% mention environmental issues, and 48.6% consider that plant-based diets offer health advantages. Seaweed, rich in vitamins, minerals, and proteins, is gaining popularity as a sustainable superfood. Seaweed is further being incorporated into food products such as snacks, salads, and beverages, offering a healthy option for vegetarians and vegans. In addition, the low calorie and high fiber content of seaweed make it a sought-after ingredient among consumers who are attempting to lose weight or improve their digestive health. As more plant-based food companies and restaurants are launched, demand for seaweed as a primary ingredient in this market will keep increasing. The growing population of consumers adopting sustainable consumption habits is also fueling this trend, further propelling the India seaweed market growth.

Seaweed in Cosmetic and Skincare Products

The Indian skincare and cosmetic business is witnessing a trend of increasing use of seaweed due to its abundant antioxidant, vitamin, and mineral content. Seaweed, known for its hydrating, anti-aging, and anti-inflammatory characteristics, is now included in various personal care products such as face masks, serums, shampoos, and lotions. The demand for seaweed-based beauty products is further fueled by customers turning toward the use of natural and organic ingredients more than ever before. The moisturizing and skin-rejuvenating properties of seaweed make one of its most sought-after products in dry skin, acne, and pigmentation treatments. Apart from this, beauty companies are following the growing desire for eco-friendly and sustainable products and incorporating seaweed due to its biodegradable and renewable nature. With the rise in Indian consumers switching to cleaner and greener beauty habits, the India seaweed market outlook is likely to keep thriving in the coming years.

Government Support and Sustainable Aquaculture

The government schemes in India are significantly accelerating the seaweed industry through sustainable aquaculture and marine resource utilization. The Indian government is engaged in accelerating the coastal aquaculture industry for the country, conditioning a seaweed crop as a high-value crop that can grow profitably for farmers. Seaweed cultivation yields multiple environment benefits, namely uptake of excess carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and is thus a potential climate change mitigation method. Seaweed cultivation brings economic benefits to coastal people through establishing income from seaweed production and the sale of seaweed for food, pharmaceuticals, and industrials. In 2025, the Indian government allocated Rs 640 crore for supporting seaweed cultivation under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). Apart from those, Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) and Mudra Loans try to extend financial assistance to small and medium-sized seaweed farmers. Besides, the ICAR-CMFRI and CSIR-CSMCRI identified 24,707 hectares across 333 places as potential sites for seaweed farming. Micropagation facilities need to be established to promote high survival rates and consistent yields, while seed banks and hatcheries are key to reducing seasonal losses and improving production. These measures complement the international trends toward more sustainable approaches and create further awareness of the viability and importance of seaweed as an asset.

India Seaweed Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with forecasts at the regional level for 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on environment, product, and application.

Environment Insights:

• Aquaculture
• Wild Harvest

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the environment. This includes aquaculture, and wild harvest.

Product Insights:

• Red
• Brown
• Green

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the product. This includes red, brown, and green.

Application Insights:

• Processed Foods
• Direct Human Consumption
• Hydrocolloids
• Fertilizers
• Animal Feed Additives
• Others

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the application. This includes processed foods, direct human consumption, hydrocolloids, fertilizers, animal feed additives, and others.

Regional Insights:

• North India
• South India
• East India
• West India

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include North India, South India, East India, and West India.

Competitive Landscape:

The market research report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape. Competitive analysis such as market structure, key player positioning, top winning strategies, competitive dashboard, and company evaluation quadrant has been covered in the report. Also, detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided.

India Seaweed Market News:

• In March 2024, Sea6 Energy, an innovative leader in the Blue Economy, inaugurated the planet's first extensive mechanized tropical seaweed farm near Ekas, on Lombok Island in Indonesia. The one-square-kilometer seaweed farm signifies an important achievement in proving the scalability of sustainable tropical seaweed farming for producing substantial industrial applications like biofertilizers, bioplastics, and ongoing research and development of renewable chemicals and fuels.
• In December 2024, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sea6 Energy Pvt Ltd, a company under Tata Capital Innovations Fund, to collaboratively explore and develop technologies for transforming tropical seaweed biomass into biofuels and chemicals.

India Seaweed Market Report Coverage:

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

• How has the India seaweed market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?
• What is the breakup of the India seaweed market on the basis of environment?
• What is the breakup of the India seaweed market on the basis of product?
• What is the breakup of the India seaweed market on the basis of application?
• What is the breakup of the India seaweed market on the basis of region?
• What are the various stages in the value chain of the India seaweed market? 
• What are the key driving factors and challenges in the India seaweed market?
• What is the structure of the India seaweed market and who are the key players?
• What is the degree of competition in the India seaweed market? 

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s industry report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the India seaweed market from 2019-2033.
• The research report provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the India seaweed market.
• Porter's five forces analysis assist stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the India seaweed industry and its attractiveness.
• Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.