Agar-agar trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in agar-agar was worth $268.6 million in 2024, about 15.6 thousand tonnes. That is a fall of 4% since 2017, and down 4% on 2023.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
World trade by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $268.6M | 15.6K t |
| 2023 | $280.8M | 15.1K t |
| 2022 | $305.8M | 17.1K t |
| 2021 | $286.4M | 17.4K t |
| 2020 | $259.4M | 14.5K t |
| 2019 | $279.2M | 15.4K t |
| 2018 | $290.6M | 16.0K t |
| 2017 | $280.8M | 15.6K t |
Top agar-agar exporting countries
Exports are led by China (31%), Spain (17%) and Morocco (11%). 83 countries reported exports, and the top three account for 59%.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $82.4M | 31% |
| Spain | $46.1M | 17% |
| Morocco | $30.2M | 11% |
| Chile | $25.4M | 9.5% |
| Italy | $20.9M | 7.8% |
| Indonesia | $20.2M | 7.5% |
| South Korea | $7.6M | 2.8% |
| Germany | $5.9M | 2.2% |
| United States | $4.1M | 1.5% |
| India | $3.9M | 1.4% |
| Mexico | $2.6M | 1% |
| Thailand | $2.6M | 1% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
Japan is the biggest buyer with 16% of world imports, ahead of the United States and Italy. Demand is spread widely: the top three take 38% across 171 importing countries.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | $42.8M | 16% |
| United States | $41.4M | 15% |
| Italy | $17.5M | 6.5% |
| Spain | $16.3M | 6.1% |
| China | $12.9M | 4.8% |
| Germany | $12.2M | 4.5% |
| United Kingdom | $12.1M | 4.5% |
| Russia | $11.8M | 4.4% |
| Thailand | $11.5M | 4.3% |
| India | $10.5M | 3.9% |
| France | $9.8M | 3.6% |
| Malaysia | $7.1M | 2.7% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $17.22 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Morocco averaged $28.62 per kg and Indonesia $12.88 per kg, so grade and origin matter.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments worldwide. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Who is behind these numbers in this market?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 1302.31: Mucilages and thickeners: agar-agar, whether or not modified, derived from vegetable products. HS 1302 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most agar-agar?
China exported $82.4 million in 2024, 31% of the world total, followed by Spain (17%) and Morocco (11%). In all, 83 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most agar-agar?
Japan imported $42.8 million in 2024, 16% of world imports, ahead of the United States (15%) and Italy (7%). The top three importers together take 38%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in agar-agar?
It was worth $268.6 million in 2024, about 15.6 thousand tonnes. That is a fall of 4% since 2017. The peak year was 2022 at $305.8 million. 83 countries reported exports and 171 reported imports.
What is the average price of agar-agar per kg?
The world average declared value was about $17.22 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Morocco averaged $28.62 per kg and Indonesia $12.88 per kg, so grade and origin matter. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so treat it as a benchmark, not a quote.
What is the HS code for agar-agar?
The HS code for agar-agar is subheading 1302.31, in chapter 13 (lac; gums, resins and other vegetable saps and extracts). Customs uses this code worldwide at the six-digit level; national tariffs add more digits. The full list of codes is on the HS 1302 page.
How can I find agar-agar buyers and suppliers?
Public statistics stop at country totals. EximDataX shows the importers and exporters behind this trade from shipment-level customs records, updated weekly, with direct customs feeds and mirror data. Tell us your product and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
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