Indonesia’s Dried Eucheuma cottonii Export: The Seaweed That Binds the World

Indonesia’s Dried Eucheuma cottonii Export: The Seaweed That Binds the World - Over 81,000 kilometres of Indonesia's great coasts entwine life in coastal towns closely with the sea. Eucheuma cottonii is one of the unsung heroes of this marine abundance; although not a household name, this red seaweed is discreetly very important in many different sectors worldwide. Thanks to its significant carrageenan concentration, Eucheuma cottonii becomes a major export good for Indonesia in dried form, driving culinary, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic sectors all around.|

With roughly 38% of world seaweed output (FAO, 2020), Indonesia is currently the second-largest seaweed producer in the world following China. Because of their fast development rate and great carrageenan output, eucheuma cottonii is the most grown variant in Indonesia. Particularly in areas like South Sulawesi, East Nusa Tenggara, and Maluku, this seaweed excels in the warm, shallow seas of eastern Indonesia.

With seaweed exports reaching USD 430 million in 2023, Indonesia's Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) claims that this represents almost 7.7% of the nation's overall marine and fishery export value (PanenNews, 2023). Eucheuma cottonii was the most often traded species worldwide; more than 65% of this export was dried form.

Among the top exporting countries are China, South Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, and the United States. China alone takes more than half of Indonesia's dried seaweed exports yearly (Warta Ekonomi, 2023), therefore highlighting Indonesia's critical importance in the world supply chain.

Growing Eucheuma cottonii is basic yet environmentally friendly. In shallow coastal regions, farmers tie seedlings to horizontal ropes and let them flourish for 45–50 days. The seaweed is cleaned, sun-dried, and then packaged for use after harvested.
Baca juga Eucheuma-cottonii product.

The low production cost and strong return on investment of this seaweed make it extremely appealing. Research conducted by Indonesia's Marine Research Agency indicates that the longline seaweed farming system in South Sulawesi has a revenue-to---cost (R/C) ratio more than 2, indicating every $1 spent on production returns over $2.

Apart from its financial worth, seaweed farming is quite important for enhancing the way of life in coastal towns. Thousands of households depend on this industry, hence it is a real and sustainable example of the "blue economy" in action.

Indonesia’s Dried Eucheuma cottonii Export: The Seaweed That Binds the World

Particularly for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), the Indonesian government has been very helpful in promoting seaweed exports. A recent example is the success narrative of Balikpapan's local company CV Multi Sarana Jaya, which exported dried Eucheuma cottonii to China following a registration number from the General Administration of Customs China (GACC)—a key need for accessing the Chinese market (KKP.go.id, 2023).

Launched by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, the "Indonesia Seaweed: Natural Binding Solutions to the World" branding campaign aims to boost Indonesia's position internationally. Attracting interest from consumers in France, South Korea, and the United States (KKP.go.id, 2023), this program highlights Indonesian seaweed goods at international trade exhibits.

The Indonesian seaweed export business has various difficulties notwithstanding its worldwide success:
• Global pricing swings motivated by trade policy, supply levels, and weather.
• Restricted domestic processing capacity means most seaweed is exported raw, dried form rather than higher-value processed goods like alkaline-treated cottonii (ATC) or semi-refined carrageenan (SRC).
• Problems with quality consistency, especially with relation to farmer level hygiene and moisture content

The Indonesian government is advocating increased investment in processing infrastructure and standardising seaweed quality for exports to meet these difficulties. Building additional domestic processing facilities will help Indonesia keep more value within its own nation and increase employment possibilities in downstream sectors.

Seaweed is becoming more and more of a sustainable answer as the globe shifts to environmentally friendly components. Now a plant-based substitute for gelatin, carrageenan extracted from Eucheuma cottonii is found in vegan and organic goods. Its application in biodegradable plastics, bioethanol, even fertilisers is also under investigation.
Indonesia's great maritime area and current production capacity provide it a special advantage to spearhead the worldwide seaweed revolution. The secret is to keep spending in value-added product development, sustainable farming methods, and quality enhancement - Indonesia’s Dried Eucheuma cottonii Export: The Seaweed That Binds the World.