South Korea Turns to Land-Based Seaweed Farming, Processing

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--South Korea leads the global seaweed market, commanding a share of more than 70%. Over the past decade, South Korea's seaweed exports have grown at an average annual rate of 8%, surpassing 1 trillion won in value for the first time in 2024.

South Korea's seaweed is abundant and of high quality, due in part to strong processing technology. However, concerns are rising over the impact of climate change on seaweed harvests, particularly the recent increase in water temperatures. Additionally, the aging population involved in South Korea's seaweed production is exacerbating worries about future production growth.

In response, food company Pulmuone (Seoul, South Korea) has been developing land-based aquaculture technology since 2021. This method, which involves growing seaweed in large tanks called bioreactors, comes amid growing difficulties in securing high-quality seaweed through traditional marine aquaculture, as rising sea temperatures, nutrient depletion and frequent typhoons become more common.

Pulmuone plans to build a factory to produce and process dried seaweed year-round using a land-based smart farm at the Saemangeum Seafood Export Processing Complex, which is under development in South Korea. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Food & Beverage Project and Plant databases can learn more from a detailed project report and plant profile.

Industrial Info is tracking seven seaweed food-production projects across South Korea. Subscribers can click here for a list of detailed project reports and click here for a list of related plant profiles.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) platform helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).