Trend of The World and Indonesia Gracilaria Seaweed Production

The world and Indonesia Gracilaria Seaweed production are increasing since this seaweed farmed. Global gracilaria production increased more than 300% since 2005-2014 (FAO Data). This time, global Gracilaria production reach 4 million MT.

In 2005, Gracilaria seaweed production in the world was almost 1 million MT and incereased about 81% to 1,7 million MT in 2010. in 2014, the production increased more than 3,7 million MT. In Indonesia, Gracilaria Seaweed production was increased more than 2000% since 2005-2014. Indonesia produces Gracilaria about 1,1 million MT, or more than 29% of global production.

Indonesia has been one of the biggest producer of Gracilaria seaweed in the world. South Sulawesi Province as main producer of Gracilaria in Indonesia. This area is center of seaweed market, as the significant link-market and distribution in Indonesia and the world. Makassar as capital of South Sulawesi Province, has provided supporting facilities for seaweed market in this country as exporter.

in FAO data that, landing of the two types of Gracilaria distinguished have steadily increased over the last decade. By 2011, about 2,257,919 tonnes of Gracilaria were reported. The totality of what is recognized as warty Gracilaria (1,518,455 tonnes) is produced by cultivation mainly in China (1,513,590 tonnes) and Taiwan province of China (some 4,865 tonnes). In the case of Gracilaria spp., 94.2 percent of the production (some 697,240 tonnes) is by cultivation while the remaining (42,224 tonnes) are gathered from wild stocks. The most productive countries in America are Chile, Perú and Argentina. In Asia, there is productive cultivation of Gracilaria is Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Korea while in Africa only Namibia reports Gracilaria production.

Market demands for species of Gracilaria to produce agar have increased markedly in a decade (1999-2009). Global agar production increased from 7,500 to 9,600 tonnes, with sale prices of USD 17/kg increasing, on average, to USD 18/kg. The world agar sale value increased, therefore, from USD 128 million in 1999 to USD173 million in 2009. In 1999, about 63 percent of the total agar production was produced by Gracilaria. In 2009, the relative importance of Gracilaria had increased to 80 percent of the total agar production. These data indicate that although the industrial agar growth has been modest, it has been enough to generate the cash flows necessary to support the overheads needed for regulatory reform and capital investment needed to improve plants and equipment. Selling price increases have generally been adequate to offset seaweed, energy and chemical costs. In addition, the cultivation of Gracilaria has provided enough raw materials to support expansion. In fact, Gracilaria has grown in importance for extracting agar between 1999 and 2009 while Gelidium is declining in importance.