4 World's Largest Country Producers of Seaweed
4 World's Largest Country Producers of Seaweed -There
were 4 countries in the world with the largest production of seaweed in 2015.
This data was obtained from the FAO’s Report entitled “The Global Status of
Seaweed Production, Trade, and Utilization which” published in 2018. Based
on the statistic data, these countries are the big players in the world of
production and trade of seaweed with long history of seaweed farming.
So far, as human
being, seaweed is a healthy and fiber-enriched food containing various
essential vitamins and minerals (iron, iodine, aluminum, manganese, calcium,
soluble nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur). In the world of science, especially
biology, seaweed is classified as algae. In the field of taxonomy, more
specifically, algae are divided into 4 classes based on their color pigments,
namely Rhodophyceae (red algae), Phaeophyceae (brown algae), Cholorophyceae
(green algae), and Cyanophyceae (blue-green algae).
In our daily life, seaweed have multiple benefit for human being such as
cosmestics, potential of fuel source, and medicinal ingredient (anticoagulant,
antibiotic, anti-hypertensive). There are so many positive benefits from
seaweed. Of course, many countries are trying to produce this commodity in
fulfilling the market demmand. If it is related to published statistical data,
there are several countries that have the largest seaweed production in the
world. Here are some of the countries with the largest seaweed production in
the world in 2015.
The Rank World’s Largest Country Producers of
Seaweed
|
Rank |
Country |
Seaweed Production in 2015 |
|
(Tons) |
||
|
1 |
China |
13,924,535 |
|
2 |
Indonesia |
11,269,341 |
|
3 |
Phillipines |
1,566,361 |
|
4 |
South Korea |
1,197,129 |
|
Source : FAO, 2015 |
||
The Brief Description of World’s Largest Country Producers
of Seaweed
1.China
China is the world's largest producer of seaweed in 2015. Statistically,
its production of seaweed in 2015 reached 13.9 million tons. Brown algae / Saccharina
japonica is the most produced species of seaweed in China reaching 51% of
the total Chinese seaweed production.
Geographically, there are three largest provinces in China
which has huge seaweed production, namely Fujian, Liaoning, and Shandong. These
provinces contribute 91% of total production in China. Fujian contributed 40.5%
while Shandong contributed 33% and the remaining 17% came from Liaoning
Province. Seaweed production in small production can be found in the provinces
of Jiangsu, Guangdong, Hainan, and Zhejiang.
2.Indonesia
Indonesia was the second-largest country producer of
seaweed in the world in 2015. Overall, national production of seaweed from
Indonesia in 2015 reached 11.2 million tons. With a long coastline of 61,000 km
and 17,000 of island, Indonesia has grown to become the second largest seaweed
producer in the world. Globally, seaweed production from Indonesia contributes
38% of the total global seaweed production. The distribution of seaweed farming
is spred across the islands of Sulawesi, Maluku, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa
Tenggara, North Kalimantan, and East Java.
In contrast with the conditions of seaweed production in
China, the main cultivated seaweed species in Indonesia is the genus of red
algae, namely Eucheuma spp, Kappaphycus spp and Gracilaria spp.
In recent years, the increasing demand of seaweed for food and carrageenan from
various countries in the world can make boosting demand from the genus Eucheuma
and Kappaphycus as raw materials. In 2015, the export value of Indonesian
seaweed reached 211,872 tons with total value of US $ 205 million.
3.Phillipines
Philippines
is the 3rd world’s largest producer of seaweed in the world in 2015.
Its production in that year reached 1.5 million tons. There are more than 800
species of seaweed cultivated in that country with the genus Eucheuma
spp became the most widely cultivated and the genus of Caulerpa, Gracilaria,
and Sargassum with small production. Based on the species, the most widely
cultivated are Euchema cottonii and Euchema denticulatum.
Geographically,
the Philippine seaweed cultivation area is in the southern part. Economically,
the existence of this seaweed cultivation can support the livelihood of 500,000
people in that region. Based on the area of production, Mindanao Island is the
largest area for seaweed production with contributes more than 50% of the Phillipina’s
seaweed production.
4.South Korea
South Korea was the 4th World’s Largest Country Producer
of Seaweed in the world of 2015. Overall, the South Korea’s seaweed production reached
1.1 million tons. According to data from FAO, the Republic of South Korea still
has consistent production. Apart from meeting domestic needs, seaweed
production is also used for export. In 2015, total exports reached 34,500
tonnes with a value of USD 222 million. Most of export products are dominated
by ready-to-eat seaweed products.
Bibliography of 4 World's Largest Country Producers of Seaweed in 2015
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). 2018. The Global Status of Seaweed Production, Trade and Utilization - Volume 124, 2018. Accessed in http://www.fao.org/in-action/globefish/publications/details-publication/en/c/1154074/