Market evolution: Seaweed and algae products (CN 1212) — 2015–2025

Introduction

This report analyzes the trade dynamics of the European Union (EU) for the Combined Nomenclature (CN) code 1212, encompassing seaweeds, algae, sugar beet, sugar cane, locust beans, chicory roots, and other vegetable products. The analysis covers the period from 2015 to 2025. During this decade, the EU's trade in this product group underwent a significant transformation, characterized by a dramatic expansion in export volumes, a shifting geographic landscape of trade partners, and divergent trends among its constituent product segments. While imports remained relatively stable in value, exports more than doubled, indicating a growing role for the EU in global supply chains for these goods.

1. A Decade of Surging Export Capacity

The most prominent trend in the 2015-2025 period is the substantial and consistent growth in EU exports, both in quantity and value, which fundamentally altered the bloc's trade balance for product group 1212. This growth was underpinned by massive increases in the export of specific product segments, particularly sugar beet.

1.1 Exports Outpace Imports in Volume Growth

EU export volumes grew at a pace far exceeding that of imports. Export quantity rose by 303.4%, from 107,558 tonnes in 2015 to 433,936 tonnes in 2025. In contrast, import quantity increased by only 18.9%, from 204,999 tonnes to 243,789 tonnes over the same period. Despite this volume growth, the total value of exports increased by 106.7% to €137.2 million, while import value grew by a more modest 8.6% to €319.0 million. This indicates that the unit value (price) of EU exports fell significantly, while import prices remained more stable.

1.2 The Sugar Beet Export Driver and Price Erosion

The primary engine behind the export volume explosion was sugar beet (CN 121291). Its export quantity surged from 27,651 tonnes in 2015 to 329,927 tonnes in 2025. Simultaneously, the export price for sugar beet collapsed from €119 per tonne to just €68 per tonne. This pattern suggests the EU became a major exporter of lower-value, bulk sugar beet, likely destined for industrial use such as biofuel production.

1.3 A Narrowing but Persistent Trade Deficit

The robust export growth significantly narrowed the EU's trade deficit. The trade balance in value terms improved by 20.0%, from a deficit of €227.4 million in 2015 to €181.8 million in 2025. The largest deficit was recorded in 2022 at €408.6 million. The deficit reduction is a direct consequence of exports growing at more than ten times the rate of imports in value terms.

2. Evolving Geographic Landscape and Partnership Shifts

The growth in trade was not evenly distributed across partner countries. The period witnessed a notable reorientation of both the EU's export destinations and its import sources, with some partnerships strengthening dramatically while others waned.

2.1 Diversification and Consolidation of Export Markets

The EU's export market became more diverse. While Germany, Ireland, and Spain remained the largest exporting Member States, their collective share shifted. Export growth was particularly strong to Switzerland (+353.9%), the United States (+45.6%), and the United Kingdom (+45.3%). Switzerland emerged as the top export partner by value in 2025, a significant shift from 2015. This reorientation may reflect logistical advantages and stable trade agreements.

2.2 Import Partners: Stability with High-Volatility Exceptions

China remained the dominant source of EU imports by value throughout the period, growing by 3.0%. However, other suppliers exhibited extreme volatility. Imports from Iceland grew by 240.4%, while those from Norway grew by 348.4%. In contrast, imports from Chile and Serbia saw sharp declines of -54.3% and -80.5% respectively. The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) for import concentration by value decreased by 9.9%, indicating a slight diversification of import sources away from the most dominant partners.

2.3 Sectoral Specialisation Within the EU

An analysis of Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage (RSCA) in 2025 shows significant specialisation variation among EU members. Latvia (0.76), Lithuania (0.74), and Portugal (0.65) displayed a strong comparative advantage in this product group. Conversely, Finland (-0.96), Estonia (-0.83), and Sweden (-0.77) demonstrated a strong comparative disadvantage, indicating these countries are net importers and their industries are less competitive in global markets for these products.

3. Divergent Dynamics Across Product Segments

The aggregate figures for CN 1212 mask highly divergent trends among its seven sub-product lines, highlighting the heterogeneous nature of this trade category.

3.1 The Rise of Industrial-Scale Exports and Niche Imports

As noted, sugar beet (121291) exports soared in volume but at low prices. In parallel, seaweeds and algae unfit for human consumption (121229) saw its import volume grow steadily from 76,676 to 149,430 tonnes. This segment, likely destined for industrial extracts (e.g., hydrocolloids) or animal feed, became the single largest import category by volume.

3.2 The High-Value, Volatile Seaweed Trade

Trade in seaweeds and algae fit for human consumption (121221) was characterized by high value and significant price volatility. Import volumes were relatively small (rising from 3,952 to 7,975 tonnes), but the import value grew by 125% to €42.6 million, indicating a rising unit price. This reflects growing demand for edible seaweed products in the EU. The trade was highly volatile; for instance, the import price from Iceland in 2022 was €7,048 per tonne, while the export price to Switzerland reached €18,964 per tonne in 2025, underscoring the niche, premium nature of this segment.

3.3 Price Shocks and Concentrated Volatility

The data reveals notable price shocks in specific trade flows. The most extreme was a 4,333% price increase for imports from Serbia in 2019, albeit from a very small base. More significant were price shocks from Chile (+123.9%) and Nigeria (+91.6%) in 2022, which coincided with the broader inflationary pressures of that year. The coefficient of variation (CV) analysis shows that trade flows with Serbia, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia were the most volatile, indicating less predictable and more concentrated partnerships.

Conclusion

The EU's trade in CN 1212 products from 2015 to 2025 evolved from a net-import-dominated profile to one with significantly enhanced export capacity. This transformation was almost entirely driven by the massive, low-price export of sugar beet, positioning the EU as a major global supplier for industrial applications. Simultaneously, import demand remained stable, anchored by consistent inflows of seaweeds for industrial processing from China and growing demand for high-value, edible seaweed products. The geographic landscape of this trade shifted, with exports pivoting towards Switzerland and other stable markets, while imports saw volatile swings from secondary suppliers. Overall, the decade shows a bifurcated market: one of bulk, price-sensitive commodity exports and another of smaller-volume, higher-value, and more volatile niche imports.