Kelp Market Size, Share, Outlook

The global Kelp Market Size stood at $10.71 billion in 2022 and is poised to register 13.47% growth over the forecast period from 2023 to 2030. The global kelp market is driven by Consumer awareness of the health benefits of kelp foods, government support for seaweed farming practices to cater to the burgeoning global demand, widening applications of seaweed products, and increasing demand for low-calorie snacks.

 

Kelp Market Analysis

Diverse nature, attractive photosynthetic efficiency and metabolic plasticity, and ability to adapt and thrive in a range of different environments enable growth across different regions worldwide. Kelp has wide applications in biofuels, food and animal feed, energy, pharmacy, cosmetic, and other chemical industries.

The global kelp industry witnessed a positive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic including shifting consumer preference for healthy kelp products, the launch of new products, and demand for kelp snacks, diet pills, and other edible foods. However, due to trade restrictions, lowered demand for cosmetics, decreased investments in R&D in bioenergy, fluctuating feed demand, and others were observed.

Asian countries, including China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines, New Zealand, and Thailand, European countries, including France, Norway, Ireland, United Kingdom, and Spain, American countries including Canada, US, Chile, and others continue to produce and consume kelp in large volumes.

 

Market Dynamics

Market Driver- Consumer awareness towards the health benefits of kelp foods

The nutrient-dense edible brown algae are gaining wide popularity across developed and developing countries worldwide. Kelp is generally low in fat and rich in carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and essential micronutrients, particularly antioxidants. The impressive nutritional profile of kelp including iron, iodine, calcium, folate, magnesium, and other vitamins encourages its widespread adoption.

Further, as kelp food manufacturers promote the use of kelp as diabetes control, and for anti-obesity within the human body, the market outlook remains robust. The presence of organic compounds such as Fucoxanthin, alginic acid, Fucoidans, and Phlorotannins supports the weight loss potential of kelp products.

The established use of kelp and other seaweeds in various food preparations of Chinese and Japanese cuisines encourages large domestic production and import volumes. It helps in reducing the salt content in foods and boosts mineral content. In addition to the demand for kelp for direct consumption by humans, the volume of kelp consumed through processed foods is a key contributor to the overall market growth.

Amidst the global drive towards the consumption of healthy foods with a nutritious profile, the global trade volume of different seaweed types including semi-processed and processed kelp is increasing rapidly. The usage of seaweed as a binder, and thickener is also increasing rapidly in Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East countries. Both manufacturers and researchers continue to emphasize novel products with functional ingredients.

The market potential for edible foods is encouraging farmers to grow various types of seaweed including dulse, bull kelp, ribbon kelp, and sugar kelp that are used in sushi, salsas, sauces, salads, seasonings, and other food products. In addition, several startup companies, restaurants, and other food manufacturing companies are emphasizing the use of kelp for the production of plant-based meat. With the global drive towards vegan foods, the use of kelp for producing vegan meat presents significant growth opportunities.

 

Market Challenge- Rampant Water Pollution, Oil Spills, and Garbage Disposal in Oceans Has an Enormous Effect on Kelp

Natural calamities, water pollution threats, oil spills, pests and diseases, garbage disposal, and other occurrences hinder the growth of kelp. Further, they can cause toxicity to the end products, which can hinder the overall market growth, in particular, in the food and feed segments. As wild farming is the cheapest source of kelp, it remains an important source of kelp across markets. However, natural calamities can have a significant impact on production quantities and quality of products.

With the over-exploitation of wild harvests, the drive towards farmed kelp is increasing exponentially across countries. The end-user industry demand is encouraging investments in farmed kelp and other seaweeds. However, farmed cultivation is relatively costly and can pose financial challenges to small-scale farmers. On the other hand, cultivated kelp is increasing rapidly to cater to the burgeoning end-user demand.

 

Market Segmentation

The global Kelp Market is segmented into Types, Applications, and Countries.

The liquid form is the dominant segment in Kelp Market from 2023 to 2030

Liquid kelp is used as organic fertilizer for plant growth without any by-products or environmentally damaging chemicals. Products made from a wide range of kelp species that are washed, dried, milled, and processed to enable the natural benefits of kelp to be retained are marketed worldwide. Diverse applications of liquid kelp include agriculture, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, and feed industries. In edible applications, the liquid form of kelp is used in beverages such as healthy drinks, texture improvement in dairy beverages, viscosity improvement, used as thickening and gelly agents, and other uses.

The liquid form of kelp also finds wide use in cosmetic applications. Shifting consumer preferences towards green and eco-friendly cosmetic products is encouraging kelp-based ingredients to be widely used in cosmetics. The liquid form of kelp offers significant advantages over other forms. Alginate or carrageenan could improve the skin moisture retention properties of the product.

In the pharmaceutical industry, liquid kelp extract is used in manufacturing several dietary supplement products.  Kelp extracts are sold in diverse concentrations to cater to the manufacturer’s requirement in the process.

 

The pharmaceuticals industry is the highest-growing sector in the Kelp market worldwide

Widening research on the use of kelp extracts for medicinal purposes is encouraging its adoption across global markets. Research focus on the use of kelp and other seaweeds in cancer prevention, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant properties, immunity boosting, tumor suppression, and other fields is widely observed.

Kelp is an ideal source of organic proteins, sugars, and fibers, and also contains a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, and bioactive ingredients making it suitable for multiple applications. Bioactive ingredients from seaweed are used as lead candidates for drug development for important bacterial and viral conditions, as well as Alzheimer's. Diet pills made of kelp are also widely marketed in the beauty and wellness industry.

The dietary fiber content in kelp supports its use in cancer prevention applications. Further, clinical trials using kelp for Alzheimer’s show promising results. The presence of bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, pigments, minerals, peptides, vitamins, and others supports their use in diverse pharmaceutical applications. Diabetic treatment and other applications are also widely using kelp. Further, for targeted drug delivery using novel technologies, biomolecules from kelp are being developed.

 

Asia Pacific accounts for the highest market size for the period 2023 to 2030

 Asia Pacific is the largest market for Kelp, predominantly driven by incumbent production and consumption trends. Favorable climatic conditions for the production of seaweeds in the country coupled with raw material availability support the market in China. Further, the country is characterized by the presence of low labor costs, and large-scale domestic demand, supporting the market. China is the largest market for kelp production. A large number of small and medium-scale companies operate in the industry and cater to local consumers. In particular, Fujian province, Liaoning province, and Shandong provinces are the leading producers of kelp.

Among different production types, wild farming is limited in the country compared to farmed kelp production. A wide variety of species are found in the coastal areas of the country, supporting their diverse uses. The country is the largest consumer and exporter of kelp and other seaweeds. The kelp processing industry is also well-established in the country and is concentrated in the Fujian, Liaoning, and Shandong provinces. Laminaria Japonica (Saccharina japonica), Undaria pinnatifida, and other species are widely cultivated in the country.

On the consumption front, robust food demand includes seasonings, sauces, drinks, flavored and dried food types, the dairy industry, and others. Sun-dried kelp has been a common food product for decades in China. Kelp processing companies produce dried, semi-dried, wet, salted, and non-salted, seasoning products in flavors, sliced, tied, small and large pieces, different kelp parts, kelp-sauce, kelp-noodle, kelp soup-mate, branding packages and HoReCa packages, and others.

Well-established cuisines using kelp and other seaweeds support market penetration. Diverse types of soups, salads, dishes, snacks, and other edible forms are marketed. Further, pharmaceutical companies also manufacture kelp-based diet pills and other medicines for domestic and export markets. Kelp food products are sold in the whole of China through wholesale markets, supermarkets, local community wet/morning markets, and E-commerce business channels.

 

Segmentation

By Type

• Fresh
• Dried

 

By Form Type

• Liquid
• Powder
• Flakes
• Sheets

 

By Application

• Food
• Pharmaceuticals
• Cosmetics
• Feed
• Biofuels
• Agriculture
• Others

 

By Region

• North America (United States, Canada, Mexico)
• Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Others)
• Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Others)
• Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Others)
• Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Other Middle East, South Africa, Nigeria, Other Africa)

 

Key Players

• Atlantic Holdfast Seaweed Company  
• Acadian SeaPlants Limited
• Maine Coast Sea Vegetables Inc
• North American Kelp
• Smart Organic AD
• Seasol International
• Roullier Group
• Compo GmbH & Co

 

Kelp Market Outlook 2023

1 Market Overview

1.1 Introduction to Kelp Market

1.2 Scope of the Study

1.3 Research Objective

1.3.1 Key Market Scope and Segments

1.3.2 Players Covered

1.3.3 Years Considered

 

2 Executive Summary

2.1 2023 Kelp Industry- Market Statistics

3 Market Dynamics

3.1 Market Drivers

3.2 Market Challenges

3.3 Market Opportunities

3.4 Market Trends

 

4 Market Factor Analysis

4.1 Porter’s Five Forces

4.2 Market Entropy

4.2.1 Global Kelp Market Companies with Area Served

4.2.2 Products Offerings Global Kelp Market

5 COVID-19 Impact Analysis and Outlook Scenarios

5.1.1 Covid-19 Impact Analysis

5.1.2 Post-COVID-19 Scenario- Low Growth Case

5.1.3 Post-COVID-19 Scenario- Reference Growth Case

5.1.4 Post-COVID-19 Scenario- Low Growth Case

 

6 Global Kelp Market Trends

6.1 Global Kelp Revenue (USD Million) and CAGR (%) by Type (2018-2028)

6.2 Global Kelp Revenue (USD Million) and CAGR (%) by Applications (2018-2028)

6.3 Global Kelp Revenue (USD Million) and CAGR (%) by Regions (2018-2028)

 

7 Global Kelp Market Revenue (USD Million) by Type, and Applications (2018-2022)

7.1 Global Kelp Revenue (USD Million) by Type (2018-2022)

7.1.1 Global Kelp Revenue (USD Million), Market Share (%) by Type (2018-2022)

7.2 Global Kelp Revenue (USD Million) by Applications (2018-2022)

7.2.1 Global Kelp Revenue (USD Million), Market Share (%) by Applications (2018-2022)

 

8 Global Kelp Development Regional Status and Outlook

8.1 Global Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Regions (2018-2022)

8.2 North America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) by Type, and Application (2018-2022)

8.2.1 North America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) by Country (2018-2022)

8.2.2 North America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) by Type (2018-2022)

8.2.3 North America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) by Applications (2018-2022)

8.3 Europe Kelp Revenue (USD Million), by Type, and Applications (USD Million) (2018-2022)

8.3.1 Europe Kelp Revenue (USD Million), by Country (2018-2022)

8.3.2 Europe Kelp Revenue (USD Million) by Type (2018-2022)

8.3.3 Europe Kelp Revenue (USD Million) by Applications (2018-2022)

8.4 Asia Pacific Kelp Revenue (USD Million), and Revenue (USD Million) by Type, and Applications (2018-2022)

8.4.1 Asia Pacific Kelp Revenue (USD Million) by Country (2018-2022)

8.4.2 Asia Pacific Kelp Revenue (USD Million) by Type (2018-2022)

8.4.3 Asia Pacific Kelp Revenue (USD Million) by Applications (2018-2022)

8.5 South America Kelp Revenue (USD Million), by Type, and Applications (2018-2022)

8.5.1 South America Kelp Revenue (USD Million), by Country (2018-2022)

8.5.2 South America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) by Type (2018-2022)

8.5.3 South America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) by Applications (2018-2022)

8.6 Middle East and Africa Kelp Revenue (USD Million), by Type, Technology, Application, Thickness (2018-2022)

8.6.1 Middle East and Africa Kelp Revenue (USD Million) by Country (2018-2022)

8.6.2 Middle East and Africa Kelp Revenue (USD Million) by Type (2018-2022)

8.6.3 Middle East and Africa Kelp Revenue (USD Million) by Applications (2018-2022)

 

9 Company Profiles

 

10 Global Kelp Market Revenue (USD Million), by Type, and Applications (2023-2028)

10.1 Global Kelp Revenue (USD Million) and Market Share (%) by Type (2023-2028)

10.1.1 Global Kelp Revenue (USD Million), and Market Share (%) by Type (2023-2028)

10.2 Global Kelp Revenue (USD Million) and Market Share (%) by Applications (2023-2028)

10.2.1 Global Kelp Revenue (USD Million), and Market Share (%) by Applications (2023-2028)

11 Global Kelp Development Regional Status and Outlook Forecast

11.1 Global Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Regions (2023-2028)

11.2 North America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) by Type, and Applications (2023-2028)

11.2.1 North America Kelp Revenue (USD) Million by Country (2023-2028)

11.2.2 North America Kelp Revenue (USD Million), by Type (2023-2028)

11.2.3 North America Kelp Revenue (USD Million), Market Share (%) by Applications (2023-2028)

11.3 Europe Kelp Revenue (USD Million), by Type, and Applications (2023-2028)

11.3.1 Europe Kelp Revenue (USD Million), by Country (2023-2028)

11.3.2 Europe Kelp Revenue (USD Million), by Type (2023-2028)

11.3.3 Europe Kelp Revenue (USD Million), by Applications (2023-2028)

11.4 Asia Pacific Kelp Revenue (USD Million) by Type, and Applications (2023-2028)

11.4.1 Asia Pacific Kelp Revenue (USD Million), by Country (2023-2028)

11.4.2 Asia Pacific Kelp Revenue (USD Million), by Type (2023-2028)

11.4.3 Asia Pacific Kelp Revenue (USD Million), by Applications (2023-2028)

11.5 South America Kelp Revenue (USD Million), by Type, and Applications (2023-2028)

11.5.1 South America Kelp Revenue (USD Million), by Country (2023-2028)

11.5.2 South America Kelp Revenue (USD Million), by Type (2023-2028)

11.5.3 South America Kelp Revenue (USD Million), by Applications (2023-2028)

11.6 Middle East and Africa Kelp Revenue (USD Million), by Type, and Applications (2023-2028)

11.6.1 Middle East and Africa Kelp Revenue (USD Million), by Region (2023-2028)

11.6.2 Middle East and Africa Kelp Revenue (USD Million), by Type (2023-2028)

11.6.3 Middle East and Africa Kelp Revenue (USD Million), by Applications (2023-2028)

 

12 Methodology and Data Sources

12.1 Methodology/Research Approach

12.1.1 Research Programs/Design

12.1.2 Market Size Estimation

12.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation

12.2 Data Sources

12.2.1 Secondary Sources

12.2.2 Primary Sources

12.3 Disclaimer

 

List Of Tables

Table 1 Market Segmentation Analysis

Table 2 Global Kelp Market Companies with Areas Served

Table 3 Products Offerings Global Kelp Market

Table 4 Low Growth Scenario Forecasts

Table 5 Reference Case Growth Scenario

Table 6 High Growth Case Scenario

Table 7 Global Kelp Revenue (USD Million) And CAGR (%) By Type (2018-2028)

Table 8 Global Kelp Revenue (USD Million) And CAGR (%) By Applications (2018-2028)

Table 9 Global Kelp Revenue (USD Million) And CAGR (%) By Regions (2018-2028)

Table 10 Global Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Type (2018-2022)

Table 11 Global Kelp Revenue Market Share (%) By Type (2018-2022)

Table 12 Global Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Applications (2018-2022)

Table 13 Global Kelp Revenue Market Share (%) By Applications (2018-2022)

Table 14 Global Kelp Market Revenue (USD Million) By Regions (2018-2022)

Table 15 Global Kelp Market Share (%) By Regions (2018-2022)

Table 16 North America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Country (2018-2022)

Table 17 North America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Type (2018-2022)

Table 18 North America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Applications (2018-2022)

Table 19 Europe Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Country (2018-2022)

Table 20 Europe Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Type (2018-2022)

Table 21 Europe Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Applications (2018-2022)

Table 22 Asia Pacific Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Country (2018-2022)

Table 23 Asia Pacific Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Type (2018-2022)

Table 24 Asia Pacific Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Applications (2018-2022)

Table 25 South America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Country (2018-2022)

Table 26 South America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Type (2018-2022)

Table 27 South America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Applications (2018-2022)

Table 28 Middle East and Africa Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Region (2018-2022)

Table 29 Middle East and Africa Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Type (2018-2022)

Table 30 Middle East and Africa Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Applications (2018-2022)

 

Table 31 Financial Analysis

Table 32 Global Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Type (2023-2028)

Table 33 Global Kelp Revenue Market Share (%) By Type (2023-2028)

Table 34 Global Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Applications (2023-2028)

Table 35 Global Kelp Revenue Market Share (%) By Applications (2023-2028)

Table 36 Global Kelp Market Revenue (USD Million), And Revenue (USD Million) By Regions (2023-2028)

Table 37 North America Kelp Revenue (USD)By Country (2023-2028)

Table 38 North America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Type (2023-2028)

Table 39 North America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Applications (2023-2028)

Table 40 Europe Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Country (2023-2028)

Table 41 Europe Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Type (2023-2028)

Table 42 Europe Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Applications (2023-2028)

Table 43 Asia Pacific Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Country (2023-2028)

Table 44 Asia Pacific Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Type (2023-2028)

Table 45 Asia Pacific Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Applications (2023-2028)

Table 46 South America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Country (2023-2028)

Table 47 South America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Type (2023-2028)

Table 48 South America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Applications (2023-2028)

Table 49 Middle East and Africa Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Region (2023-2028)

Table 50 Middle East and Africa Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Region (2023-2028)

Table 51 Middle East and Africa Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Type (2023-2028)

Table 52 Middle East and Africa Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Applications (2023-2028)

Table 53 Research Programs/Design for This Report

Table 54 Key Data Information from Secondary Sources

Table 55 Key Data Information from Primary Sources

 

 

List Of Figures

Figure 1 Market Scope

Figure 2 Porter’s Five Forces

Figure 3 Global Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Type (2018-2022)

Figure 4 Global Kelp Revenue Market Share (%) By Type (2022)

Figure 5 Global Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Applications (2018-2022)

Figure 6 Global Kelp Revenue Market Share (%) By Applications (2022)

Figure 7 Global Kelp Market Revenue (USD Million) By Regions (2018-2022)

Figure 8 Global Kelp Market Share (%) By Regions (2022)

Figure 9 North America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Country (2018-2022)

Figure 10 North America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Type (2018-2022)

Figure 11 North America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Applications (2018-2022)

Figure 12 Europe Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Country (2018-2022)

Figure 13 Europe Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Type (2018-2022)

Figure 14 Europe Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Applications (2018-2022)

Figure 15 Asia Pacific Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Country (2018-2022)

Figure 16 Asia Pacific Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Type (2018-2022)

Figure 17 Asia Pacific Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Applications (2018-2022)

Figure 18 South America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Country (2018-2022)

Figure 19 South America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Type (2018-2022)

Figure 20 South America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Applications (2018-2022)

Figure 21 Middle East and Africa Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Region (2018-2022)

Figure 22 Middle East and Africa Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Type (2018-2022)

Figure 23 Middle East and Africa Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Applications (2018-2022)

Figure 24 Global Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Type (2023-2028)

Figure 25 Global Kelp Revenue Market Share (%) By Type (2028)

Figure 26 Global Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Applications (2023-2028)

Figure 27 Global Kelp Revenue Market Share (%) By Applications (2028)

Figure 28 Global Kelp Market Revenue (USD Million) By Regions (2023-2028)

Figure 29 North America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Country (2023-2028)

Figure 30 North America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Type (2023-2028)

Figure 31 North America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Applications (2023-2028)

Figure 32 Europe Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Country (2023-2028)

Figure 33 Europe Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Type (2023-2028)

Figure 34 Europe Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Applications (2023-2028)

Figure 35 Asia Pacific Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Country (2023-2028)

Figure 36 Asia Pacific Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Type (2023-2028)

Figure 37 Asia Pacific Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Applications (2023-2028)

Figure 38 South America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Country (2023-2028)

Figure 39 South America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Type (2023-2028)

Figure 40 South America Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Applications (2023-2028)

Figure 41 Middle East and Africa Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Region (2023-2028)

Figure 42 Middle East and Africa Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Region (2023-2028)

Figure 43 Middle East and Africa Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Type (2023-2028)

Figure 44 Middle East and Africa Kelp Revenue (USD Million) By Applications (2023-2028)

Figure 45 Bottom-Up and Top-Down Approaches For This Report

Figure 46 Data Triangulation