Indonesia to Increase Processed Seaweed Exports

Indonesia to Increase Processed Seaweed Exports
INDONESIA - The government of Indonesia is planning to increase exports of processed seaweed.

The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry is cooperating with Swiss promotion agency Swiss Import Promotion Program (SIPPO) and has invited 15 seaweed and natural ingredients importers from several countries in Europe, such as Austria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland and Switzerland, to visit seaweed processing plants in Indonesia, reports TheJakartaPost.

The ministry"s director for foreign marketing, Artati Widiarti, stated that in November, ministry representatives would visit Frankfurt, Germany, to promote seaweed.

Indonesia exported 174,000 tons of seaweed in 2012 worth $177.9 million (Rp 2 trillion). Around 80 per cent of it was dried seaweed and 20 per cent processed seaweed, which was in the form of carrageenan and jelly.

The price of dried seaweed is $2 to $3 per kilogram, whereas the price for good quality carrageenan can reach $20 per kilogram, said Artati.