Indonesia's seaweed exports were highest to China in 2020.

Indonesia is one of the world's largest seaweed exporters. In 2020, Indonesia recorded its largest seaweed exports to China.

The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) recorded seaweed exports from Indonesia to China reaching US$149.3 million with a volume of 148,300 tons. South Korea ranked second with seaweed export value of US$9.6 million and a volume of 7,800 tons. Following this was Chile with seaweed exports valued at US$5.8 million and a volume of 3,400 tons.

Seaweed exports from Indonesia to Vietnam totaled US$3.8 million with a volume of 6,100 tons. Exports to France amounted to US$3.6 million with a volume of 3,300 tons.

In total, Indonesia's seaweed exports amounted to US$181.4 million in 2020, a decrease of 15.7% from US$215.2 million in 2019. The volume of seaweed exports from Indonesia also decreased. In 2020, the volume was 177,900 tons, down 7% from 191,200 tons in 2019.

According to Rini Satriani, Head of Division IEB Institute LPEI, although export performance in 2020 experienced a decline, Indonesia managed to maintain its position as the second-largest and highly competitive seaweed exporter in the world.

According to a study conducted by the IEB Institute (Indonesia Eximbank Institute), Indonesian seaweed exports showed positive cumulative performance during the January-October 2021 period. The value of seaweed exports during this period increased by 20.42% year-on-year (YoY) to USD 177.99 million.

This cumulative growth in export value was also accompanied by an 11.68% (YoY) increase in export volume to 159,590 tons. This increase was due to rising demand from Indonesia's main trading partner, China.