Rising U.S. demand for Korean cosmetics, fueled by retail expansion and social media, is accelerating. The category's lower price points compared with prestige skincare risk pulling down average spending in the cosmetics market as consumers shift toward more affordable options.
Asia
In Asia, there was a continuous increase in Agar-Agar prices over 2025. This was driven by strong demand from food and pharmaceutical companies, particularly in China and India. There were also increases in demand due to seasonal events and festivals in Asia, including the Golden Week in China. This meant that there was a tightening in supply due to this event-driven demand. As a result, there were changes in production plans to meet this demand, and this caused an upward trend in Agar-Agar prices. There was also an increase in export demand from Japan.
Europe
In the European market, there was an increase in the prices of Agar-Agar products. This was due to an increase in costs related to sourcing and transportation, as importers were relying on Asia to supply them with Agar-Agar products. The demand was consistent in terms of food and biotechnology usage, and this was enough to give suppliers confidence in pricing. There was a lack of local production in this market; hence, an increase in demand in this market was enough to drive up the price.
North America
In North America, Agar-Agar prices gradually increased as well. The food, pharmaceutical, and specialty product industries continued to source Agar-Agar from Asia, mainly from China and India. Demand remained consistent, and inventories were carefully managed by suppliers to prevent shortages. While supply chains were reliable, seasonal spikes in procurement led to small price rises throughout the year.
Analyst Insight
According to Procurement Resource, Agar-Agar prices are expected to stay firm in the near term, with potential upward movement if seasonal demand or export activity increases.
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Asia
The Asian Agar-Agar market showed diverse pricing patterns across different regions in Q4’24. Chinese prices declined steadily throughout the quarter, primarily due to improved seaweed harvesting conditions and stable raw material availability. The harvest season that began in October provided sufficient Gracilaria supply, leading to increased production rates.
Japanese markets also witnessed a downward trend, influenced by abundant inventory levels and reduced freight costs, while the stronger yen made imports more affordable. In contrast, Indian prices moved upward, driven by robust domestic demand from the food industry, particularly during the festival and wedding season. Southeast Asian producers experienced stable production rates despite some weather-related challenges in coastal farming areas.
Europe
European Agar-Agar markets remained relatively stable during Q4, with slight variations across regions. The market benefited from increased Asian imports, particularly from China and Indonesia. Manufacturing activity in key markets like Germany and France maintained steady demand from the food processing sector. The pharmaceutical industry's consistent consumption patterns helped maintain price stability. Western European countries saw marginally higher prices compared to Eastern Europe due to higher energy costs affecting local processing facilities.
North America
North American markets experienced moderate price fluctuations during Q4. The region relied heavily on imports, with changing ocean freight rates influencing price movements. Demand from the food processing industry remained strong, particularly in the natural food additives segment. The market saw increased interest from pharmaceutical manufacturers, especially in the United States. Canadian markets aligned closely with US trends, though with slightly higher prices due to additional transportation costs.
Agar-agar is extracted from red algae and is widely employed in the food industry. It is gelatinous in nature with no odor or color. In the food industry it functions as a thickening agent in the production of desserts, jellies, and confectionery items. In addition to this, it is also used in microbiology as a substrate for bacterial and fungal cultures as it remains as a stable gel at a wide range of temperatures.
C14H24O9
Pharmaceuticals, Dentistry, Cosmetics, Textile, Food Industry
Neogen Food Safety, HISPANAGAR, AGARMEX, S.A., INDUSTRIAS ROKO S.A.
CurrencyUS$ (Data can also be provided in local currency)
Supplier Database AvailabilityYes
Customization ScopeThe report can be customized as per the requirements of the customer
Post-Sale Analyst Support360-degree analyst support after report delivery
Note: Our supplier search experts can assist your procurement teams in compiling and validating a list of suppliers indicating they have products, services, and capabilities that meet your company's needs.
In the initial phase of production of agar-agar, the extract from seaweed is treated, filtered, gelled, de-watered, dried and grinded. The extract is then standardized to give the final product in the form of powder or flakes.
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