India Seaweed Market Research Report and Industry Forecast

India Seaweed Market Size and Share:

The India seaweed market size reached USD 318.7 Million in 2025. The market is expected to reach USD 625.9 Million by 2034, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 7.79% during 2026-2034. The market growth is attributed to the increasing demand for plant-based and sustainable food ingredients, the rising health consciousness with seaweed's nutrient benefits, growing applications in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, clean-label and organic trends, and favorable government initiatives supporting marine resource utilization.

Market Insights:

• On the basis of region, the market has been divided into North India, South India, East India, and West India.
• On the basis of environment, the market has been divided into aquaculture and wild harvest.
• On the basis of product, the market has been divided into red, brown, and green.
• On the basis of application, the market has been divided into processed foods, direct human consumption, hydrocolloids, fertilizers, animal feed additives, and others.

Market Size and Forecast:

• 2025 Market Size: USD 318.65 Million
• 2034 Projected Market Size: USD 625.92 Million
• CAGR (2026-2034): 7.79%

India Seaweed Market Trends:

Rising Demand for Plant-Based Foods

The growing demand for plant-based foods in India is significantly driving the seaweed industry in India. 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.

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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 and augmenting the seaweed market size in India. 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, as per the India seaweed market analysis. 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. As per the latest India seaweed market statistics, 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.

Seaweed as a Multi-Functional Marine Resource Driving Industrial Innovation

Seaweed represents a nutrient-rich marine resource with extensive applications spanning food and industrial sectors, positioning itself as a cornerstone of India's emerging Blue Economy initiatives. This marine algae serves as a powerhouse of essential nutrients including vitamins, minerals, proteins, and bioactive compounds, making it invaluable across multiple industries. The seaweed industry size in India is primarily fueled by the growing adoption of plant-based diets, increasing eco-consciousness among consumers, and its recognition as a superfood with superior nutritional profiles. Beyond food applications, seaweed finds significant utility in cosmetics and skincare products due to its natural moisturizing and anti-aging properties, while its role in producing fertilizers and hydrocolloids demonstrates its industrial versatility. The Indian government's strong backing for sustainable aquaculture under the Blue Economy framework has catalyzed sector growth, with recent developments including Sea6 Energy's pioneering mechanized seaweed farm and strategic collaborations with HPCL for biofuel development. However, the industry faces challenges in regulatory harmonization and food safety certification standards, necessitating streamlined frameworks to ensure product quality and market confidence. Emerging themes such as climate resilience through carbon sequestration, community empowerment of coastal populations, and innovative waste utilization strategies are further positioning seaweed cultivation as a sustainable solution addressing environmental and socio-economic objectives simultaneously.

Growth, Opportunities, and Challenges in the India Seaweed Market:

Growth Drivers of the India Seaweed Market

The market is primarily driven by increasing consumer preference for plant-based and sustainable food ingredients, coupled with rising health consciousness regarding seaweed's exceptional nutritional benefits. Government initiatives supporting marine resource utilization and coastal aquaculture development provide substantial policy backing for industry expansion. The growing applications in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and industrial sectors, combined with clean-label and organic product trends, create multiple revenue streams for market participants.

Opportunities in the India Seaweed Market

Significant opportunities exist in developing value-added products for the expanding cosmetics and personal care industry, leveraging seaweed's natural bioactive compounds. The untapped potential in biofuel production and sustainable chemical manufacturing presents lucrative prospects, particularly through strategic partnerships like HPCL collaborations. India seaweed market forecast indicates export opportunities to international markets seeking sustainable and organic marine ingredients will offer substantial growth potential for Indian seaweed producers.

Challenges in the India Seaweed Market

The industry faces challenges in establishing standardized quality control measures and achieving regulatory harmonization across different application sectors. Limited awareness among consumers about seaweed's versatile applications and nutritional benefits constrains market penetration in traditional food segments. Scaling up cultivation infrastructure and ensuring consistent supply chains while maintaining sustainability standards presents operational complexities for industry stakeholders.

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 2026-2034. 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:

• September 2025: Lakshadweep is set to host an Investors Meet on seaweed and tuna, aiming to launch export-centric initiatives and encourage investment from national seaweed processors. Industry and government leaders expect significant project announcements and collaborations.
• August 2025: Aquagri launched "AgrINovo," a collaboration with Swiss firm Novochizol, focused on bringing advanced seaweed-based agricultural technologies for healthier crop solutions and coastal community benefits. The partnership aims to develop value-added products for Indian and global markets.
• 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.
• March 2024: Aquagri announced that it completed domestic backward integration of semi-refined carrageenan production, aiming to cut imports and promote self-reliance for food and air freshener supply chains. The firm outlined ongoing technical improvements and community programs for sustainable aquaculture.
• 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 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 2020-2034.
• 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.