Saudi Arabia Seaweed Market

Saudi Arabia Seaweed Market Overview:

The Saudi Arabia seaweed market size reached USD 81.1 Million in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 161.0 Million by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 7.10% during 2025-2033. The market is growing due to rising health consciousness, demand for plant-based and functional foods, and government support under Vision 2030. Expansion in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, driven by seaweed’s bioactive properties, along with the increasing popularity of Asian cuisine, further fuels growth. Sustainable production trends also attract investments, augmenting the Saudi seaweed market share.

Saudi Arabia Seaweed Market Trends:

Rising Demand for Seaweed-Based Food Products in Saudi Arabia

The increasing consumer demand for healthy and sustainable food options is significantly supporting the Saudi Arabia seaweed market growth. Seaweed is rich in essential nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making it a popular ingredient in functional foods, snacks, and plant-based diets. A recent study emphasizes the nutritional merits of three seaweed species: Palmaria palmata, Ascophyllum nodosum, and Chondrus crispus. In particular, P. palmata contains up to 25.78% protein, and C. crispus is especially high in calcium (51,900 µg/g) and iron (610 µg/g). Moreover, A. nodosum is rich in carotenoids (0.13 mg/g) and has a high content of antioxidants, highlighting relevant anti-cancer activity. These results highlight the significance of these seaweeds given the focused attention of Saudi Arabia toward sustainable, functional foods and nutraceuticals. As health consciousness rises among Saudi consumers, food manufacturers are incorporating seaweed into products such as salads, soups, and protein-rich supplements. Additionally, the government’s Vision 2030 initiative promotes food security and diversification, encouraging local production and imports of nutrient-dense foods such as seaweed. International fast-food chains and local restaurants are also introducing seaweed-based dishes to cater to changing tastes. With the growing popularity of Asian cuisine, particularly Japanese and Korean foods, nori and kelp are becoming staple ingredients. This trend is expected to drive further investments in seaweed farming and processing within the Kingdom, positioning Saudi Arabia as a key market for seaweed-based food innovations.

Expansion of Seaweed in Cosmetics and Pharmaceutical Industries

The increasing product use in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors is creating a positive Saudi Arabia seaweed market outlook. Seaweed extracts are valued for their anti-aging, moisturizing, and anti-inflammatory properties, making them a sought-after ingredient in skincare and beauty products. Korean seaweed extracts showed significant anti-aging properties against various skin-aging enzymes, such as collagenase (IC50 as low as 77.14 μg/mL), elastase (260.05 μg/mL), and hyaluronidase (93.24 μg/mL). More predominantly, brown seaweeds (Ecklonia cava and Padina gymnospora) significantly exhibited the strongest effects due to their high phenolic content. In confluence with this, the growing cosmeceutical market in Saudi Arabia and an increasing interest in marine-based skincare/cosmetics also create opportunities for such niche products in this geographical area. With the Kingdom’s booming cosmetics industry, driven by a young and beauty-conscious population, local and international brands are launching seaweed-infused creams, serums, and haircare products. Additionally, the pharmaceutical industry is exploring seaweed-derived compounds for their potential in wound healing, dietary supplements, and chronic disease management. The Saudi government’s focus on enhancing local manufacturing under Vision 2030 further supports research and development in marine biotechnology. As sustainability becomes a priority, seaweed’s eco-friendly cultivation aligns with global environmental trends, attracting investments in bio-based products. This trend is expected to propel the Saudi seaweed market, creating opportunities for domestic production and international collaborations in the coming years.

Saudi Arabia Seaweed Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with forecasts at the country 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

A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the product have also been provided in the report. 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:

• Northern and Central Region
• Western Region
• Eastern Region
• Southern Region

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include Northern and Central Region, Western Region, Eastern Region, and Southern Region.

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.

Saudi Arabia Seaweed Market News:

• June 12, 2024: Saudi Arabia's Aquaculture Development Program (ADP), led by KAUST and MEWA, announced increasing local seafood production by up to 530,000 tons annually by 2030, including valuable species such as seaweed. The project, which stands to achieve USD 417 Million of potential savings in feed costs, promotes the return of sustainable practices including Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA) – where seaweed plays a key role in ecological recycling. This approach will allow Saudi Arabia to lead the charge on marine food security and seaweed innovation.

Saudi Arabia Seaweed Market Report Coverage:

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

• How has the Saudi Arabia seaweed market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?
• What is the breakup of the Saudi Arabia seaweed market on the basis of environment?
• What is the breakup of the Saudi Arabia seaweed market on the basis of product?
• What is the breakup of the Saudi Arabia seaweed market on the basis of application?
• What is the breakup of the Saudi Arabia seaweed market on the basis of region?
• What are the various stages in the value chain of the Saudi Arabia seaweed market? 
• What are the key driving factors and challenges in the Saudi Arabia seaweed market?
• What is the structure of the Saudi Arabia seaweed market and who are the key players?
• What is the degree of competition in the Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia seaweed market from 2019-2033.
• The research report provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia 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.