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Agar Market Size, Share and Forecast 2026-2036

The global agar market is worth USD 345 mn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 546 mn by 2036, growing at a 4.7% CAGR. United States is the largest country market and Food grade is the largest by grade segment.

USD 345 mnMarket size 2026
USD 546 mnForecast 2036
4.7%CAGR 2026-2036
United StatesLargest country

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5 segmentation views25 countries2026 to 2036 yearly forecast

Market overview

The global agar market is worth USD 345 mn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 546 mn by 2036, growing at a 4.7% CAGR. United States is the largest country market and Food grade is the largest by grade segment.

ScopeAgar from red seaweed in food, bacteriological, pharmaceutical and cosmetic grades, sold as powder, strips and flakes.
IndustryFood and Beverage
Value 2025USD 330 mn
Value 2026USD 345 mn
Value 2036USD 546 mn
CAGR 2026-20364.7%
Volume 202614,855 tonnes
Volume 203619,291 tonnes
Average price 2026USD 23,210 per tonne
Report priceStarts from USD 1,999
PublishedNovember 2026

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Agar market size and forecast, 2026-2036

Exhibit 1The global agar market is forecast to grow from USD 345 mn in 2026 to USD 546 mn by 2036, a rise of 58%Global market value in USD: 2025 base year, 2026 estimate and forecast to 2036. CAGR 2026 to 2036: 4.7%
Agar market value, 2025 to 2036Market value by year. 2025: USD 330 mn; 2026: USD 345 mn; 2027: USD 361 mn; 2028: USD 378 mn; 2029: USD 396 mn; 2030: USD 414 mn; 2031: USD 434 mn; 2032: USD 454 mn; 2033: USD 476 mn; 2034: USD 498 mn; 2035: USD 521 mn; 2036: USD 546 mn. Compound annual growth rate 2026 to 2036: 4.7%.2025345 mn2026434 mn2031546 mn20364.7% CAGR

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

YearMarket value
2026USD 345 mn
2027USD 361 mn
2028USD 378 mn
2029USD 396 mn
2030USD 414 mn
2031USD 434 mn
2032USD 454 mn
2033USD 476 mn
2034USD 498 mn
2035USD 521 mn
2036USD 546 mn

Agar market segmentation

By grade

Exhibit 2Food grade is the largest segment by grade, with 70.0% of 2026 revenueEstimated share of 2026 global revenue, by grade
Agar market share by grade, 2026Share of 2026 revenue by grade. Food grade: 70.0%; Pharma and cosmetic grade: 16.0%; Bacteriological and biotech grade: 14.0%.Food grade70.0%Pharma and cosmetic grade16.0%Bacteriological and biotech grade14.0%

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Food grade70.0%67.6%USD 241 mn4.3%
Bacteriological and biotech grade14.0%15.9%USD 48 mn6.0%
Pharma and cosmetic grade16.0%16.5%USD 55 mn5.0%

By end use

Exhibit 3Confectionery and desserts adds the most revenue by end use, growing from USD 97 mn in 2026 to USD 144 mn by 2036Estimated revenue in USD by end use, 2026 and 2036 forecast
Agar market by end use, 2026 and 2036Revenue by end use in 2026 and 2036. Confectionery and desserts: USD 97 mn in 2026, USD 144 mn in 2036, change +49%; Dairy and meat: USD 76 mn in 2026, USD 113 mn in 2036, change +49%; Microbiology and biotech: USD 48 mn in 2026, USD 87 mn in 2036, change +80%; Vegan gelatin alternatives: USD 48 mn in 2026, USD 87 mn in 2036, change +80%; Bakery: USD 41 mn in 2026, USD 59 mn in 2036, change +42%; Pharma and cosmetics: USD 34 mn in 2026, USD 56 mn in 2036, change +64%.20262036 forecastChangeConfectionery and desserts+49%97 mn144 mnDairy and meat+49%76 mn113 mnMicrobiology and biotech+80%48 mn87 mnVegan gelatin alternatives+80%48 mn87 mnBakery+42%41 mn59 mnPharma and cosmetics+64%34 mn56 mn

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Confectionery and desserts28.0%26.3%USD 97 mn4.1%
Dairy and meat22.0%20.7%USD 76 mn4.1%
Bakery12.0%10.8%USD 41 mn3.6%
Microbiology and biotech14.0%15.9%USD 48 mn6.1%
Pharma and cosmetics10.0%10.4%USD 34 mn5.1%
Vegan gelatin alternatives14.0%15.9%USD 48 mn6.1%

By source seaweed

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Gracilaria52.0%50.0%USD 179 mn4.3%
Gelidium34.0%33.0%USD 117 mn4.4%
Other red seaweed14.0%17.0%USD 48 mn6.8%

By form

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Powder52.0%50.0%USD 179 mn4.3%
Strips and flakes28.0%26.0%USD 97 mn3.9%
Granules and liquid20.0%24.0%USD 69 mn6.6%

By gel strength

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Low28.0%26.0%USD 97 mn3.9%
Medium38.0%38.0%USD 131 mn4.7%
High34.0%36.0%USD 117 mn5.3%

Top 25 countries for agar by revenue

Countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales in the country, not by where the product is made. The ten largest hold 70.0% of 2026 revenue and the 25 countries below together hold 91.6%.

Exhibit 4United States is the largest country market at USD 48 mn in 2026, and the three largest countries hold 36.0% of global revenueEstimated 2026 revenue in USD and share of the global market, ten largest countries
Agar market, ten largest countries in 2026Ten largest countries by 2026 revenue. United States: USD 48 mn, 14.0%; China: USD 41 mn, 12.0%; Japan: USD 34 mn, 10.0%; Spain: USD 21 mn, 6.0%; France: USD 21 mn, 6.0%; Germany: USD 17 mn, 5.0%; South Korea: USD 17 mn, 5.0%; United Kingdom: USD 14 mn, 4.0%; Indonesia: USD 14 mn, 4.0%; Italy: USD 14 mn, 4.0%.United States48 mn 14.0%China41 mn 12.0%Japan34 mn 10.0%Spain21 mn 6.0%France21 mn 6.0%Germany17 mn 5.0%South Korea17 mn 5.0%United Kingdom14 mn 4.0%Indonesia14 mn 4.0%Italy14 mn 4.0%

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

#CountryValue 2026Share 2026Value 2036CAGR 2026-36
1United StatesUSD 48 mn14.0%USD 77 mn4.8%
2ChinaUSD 41 mn12.0%USD 76 mn6.2%
3JapanUSD 34 mn10.0%USD 45 mn2.8%
4SpainUSD 21 mn6.0%USD 30 mn3.8%
5FranceUSD 21 mn6.0%USD 30 mn3.8%
6GermanyUSD 17 mn5.0%USD 25 mn3.8%
7South KoreaUSD 17 mn5.0%USD 29 mn5.3%
8United KingdomUSD 14 mn4.0%USD 20 mn3.9%
9IndonesiaUSD 14 mn4.0%USD 27 mn6.8%
10ItalyUSD 14 mn4.0%USD 20 mn3.9%
11CanadaUSD 14 mn3.9%USD 27 mn7.1%
12ChileUSD 10 mn3.0%USD 16 mn4.6%
13MoroccoUSD 7.7 mn2.2%USD 12 mn4.7%
14AustraliaUSD 6.2 mn1.8%USD 9.7 mn4.6%
15BrazilUSD 5.2 mn1.5%USD 8.2 mn4.6%
16MexicoUSD 4.5 mn1.3%USD 7.2 mn4.6%
17IndiaUSD 4.1 mn1.2%USD 6.4 mn4.6%
18ThailandUSD 3.7 mn1.1%USD 5.8 mn4.7%
19VietnamUSD 3.4 mn1.0%USD 5.3 mn4.7%
20NetherlandsUSD 3.1 mn0.9%USD 4.9 mn4.6%
21BelgiumUSD 2.9 mn0.8%USD 4.5 mn4.6%
22PhilippinesUSD 2.7 mn0.8%USD 4.3 mn4.7%
23PortugalUSD 2.5 mn0.7%USD 4.0 mn4.6%
24ArgentinaUSD 2.4 mn0.7%USD 3.8 mn4.5%
25PeruUSD 2.3 mn0.7%USD 3.6 mn4.7%
Rest of worldUSD 29 mn8.4%USD 44 mn4.2%
Exhibit 5China and United States account for 31% of the USD 201 mn the market is forecast to add by 2036Forecast revenue added between 2026 and 2036 by country, in USD
Agar market, where the growth to 2036 comes fromRevenue added between 2026 and 2036. Market value 2026: USD 345 mn. China: +USD 34 mn; United States: +USD 29 mn; Canada: +USD 13 mn; Indonesia: +USD 13 mn; South Korea: +USD 12 mn; 20 other countries: +USD 85 mn; Rest of world: +USD 15 mn. Market value 2036: USD 546 mn.Market value 2026345 mnChina+34 mnUnited States+29 mnCanada+13 mnIndonesia+13 mnSouth Korea+12 mn20 other countries+85 mnRest of world+15 mnMarket value 2036546 mn

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

Competitive landscape

Group 1: Global leaders

  • Hispanagar
  • Industrias Roko
  • Gelymar
  • Marine Hydrocolloids
  • Ina Food Industry
  • Meron Biopolymers

Group 2: Regional and specialist players

  • Agarmex
  • B&V Agar
  • Ceamsa
  • Setexam
  • HiMedia Laboratories
  • Becton Dickinson
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific
  • Merck KGaA

Group 3: Emerging and niche players

  • Qingdao Gather Great Ocean
  • Qingdao Bright Moon Seaweed Group
  • Agarindo Bogatama
  • Java Biocolloid

Research methodology

Every figure on this page comes from the research framework that we apply to all of the markets we cover. The 2025 base for the agar market is built from the volume sold and the price that buyers pay, and is cross-checked against the size of the wider industry the market belongs to. Where a market can be sized in more than one way, the routes are compared before a figure is set.

The forecast runs year by year from the 2025 base to 2036. Growth in each year reflects demand from the industries that buy the product, adoption of new technology, pricing, regulation and replacement cycles. Volume and price are modelled together, so revenue in each year equals volume multiplied by average price. The 2026 to 2036 compound annual growth rate of 4.7% is calculated from the resulting values.

The market is divided by grade, by end use, by source seaweed, by form, by gel strength. The 25 largest countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales to buyers in each country, not by where the product is made. Segment values and country values add up to the market total in every year, and every report is checked for consistency before it is published.

Companies are placed in three groups: global leaders, regional and specialist players, and emerging and niche players. The groups describe how companies compete in the market. They are not a ranking and they are not market shares.

Our analysts also carry out primary research. Customized reports add interviews with key opinion leaders, such as senior executives, technical specialists and buyers, to test the assumptions behind the numbers for the question being asked.

Read the full research methodology

Frequently asked questions

How big is the agar market?

The global agar market is estimated at USD 330 mn in 2025 and USD 345 mn in 2026.

How fast will the agar market grow?

It is forecast to reach USD 546 mn by 2036, a compound annual growth rate of 4.7% from 2026, an increase of USD 201 mn.

Which country is the largest market for agar?

United States is the largest market by revenue at USD 48 mn in 2026, 14.0% of the global total. The three largest countries together hold 36.0%.

Which country is growing fastest?

Among the ten largest markets, Indonesia is growing fastest at 6.8% a year from 2026 to 2036.

Which agar segment is largest?

In the by grade split, Food grade is the largest segment with 70.0% of 2026 revenue.

Who are the leading agar companies?

Global leaders include Hispanagar, Industrias Roko, Gelymar, Marine Hydrocolloids.

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