NTT’s 51,870-Hectare Seaweed Potential Hinges on Processing and Access

Labuan Bajo — — East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) has identified tens of thousands of hectares suitable for seaweed farming, but recent national discussions highlight that post-harvest processing, infrastructure and market access will determine how much value reaches coastal communities.

Planning documents for NTT’s 2013–2018 regional development programme estimate a potential seaweed cultivation area of 51,870 hectares, equivalent to around 5 percent of the province’s coastline, with an indicative production potential of 250,000 tonnes of dried seaweed per year. A later version of the programme confirms the same figure and potential output.

These figures position NTT as one of Indonesia’s key seaweed regions. A study on tourism development in the province cites the same 51,870-hectare potential and notes that seaweed cultivation has developed in districts including Kupang, Sabu Raijua, Rote Ndao, Alor, Lembata, East Flores, Sikka, East Sumba and West Manggarai. The study describes Eucheuma and other red algae among the superior seaweed varieties grown in the province.

From production potential to local value

On 17–18 September 2026, a high-level delegation from the Government of Indonesia and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) visited Sidoarjo in East Java to examine how seaweed-based businesses can strengthen coastal livelihoods and Indonesia’s wider blue economy.

In its 18 September 2026 statement on the visit, UNDP said Indonesia is among the world’s largest producers of tropical seaweed, including Gracilaria, and remains a dominant exporter, accounting for approximately 69 percent of global seaweed exports in 2025. Indonesian media reports on the same delegation echoed that figure, citing UNDP’s assessment that Indonesia contributed around 69 percent of world seaweed exports in 2025.

UNDP framed seaweed as a way to create greater economic value for coastal communities if cultivation is linked to better productivity, processing, technology and market access rather than simply exporting raw material. The Sidoarjo example combines pond rehabilitation, cultivation, shared post-harvest facilities, cooperatives and skills development for farmers.

According to UNDP, practical post-harvest steps such as drying, cleaning and pressing seaweed are critical for improving product quality and enabling producers to meet the requirements of more demanding markets. Indonesian coverage of the visit similarly highlighted the importance of shifting from unprocessed exports to higher-value products to support coastal economies.

Infrastructure must follow the farms

While NTT’s planning documents emphasize large areas suitable for cultivation, they also note that the province has historically used only a small portion of its seaweed potential. More recent research indicates that East Nusa Tenggara has around 54,000–62,000 hectares of seaweed cultivation land, but that only a fraction has been effectively utilized, and that seaweed clusters have been formed to concentrate development efforts.

Radio and academic reports describe seaweed production centres across multiple NTT districts, including Kupang, Rote Ndao, Sabu Raijua, Alor, East Flores, Lembata, East Sumba, Southwest Sumba, Ngada and Nagekeo, with provincial authorities grouping these into several seaweed development clusters. A recent analysis of the seaweed industry notes that the government has created five clusters covering Sumba, Timor–Rote, Sabu, Alor–Lembata–East Flores and Sikka–West Manggarai to support industrialization and quality management.

These clusters aim to improve coordination of cultivation and post-harvest handling across a geographically dispersed province, where transport and aggregation are important for connecting coastal producers with processors and markets. However, available studies focus primarily on production and clustering; they provide limited detail on the number, ownership or capacity of processing facilities, as well as on transport and logistics costs.

Data points

• Potential seaweed cultivation area in NTT: 51,870 hectares, equal to about 5 percent of the province’s coastline, with an indicative potential output of 250,000 tonnes of dried seaweed per year.
• Districts identified as seaweed cultivation or production areas include Kupang, Sabu Raijua, Rote Ndao, Alor, Lembata, East Flores, Sikka, East Sumba and West Manggarai, with more recent reports also naming Southwest Sumba, Ngada and Nagekeo.
• Indonesia’s share of global seaweed exports in 2025: approximately 69 percent, according to UNDP and subsequent reporting.
• Key cultivated varieties in NTT include Eucheuma species and other red algae, as well as Gracilaria in Indonesia’s wider seaweed sector.

Context and timeline

NTT’s seaweed potential has been recognized in provincial development plans for more than a decade, which cite 51,870 hectares of suitable coastal area and emphasize that only a small share had been used at the time. Subsequent research and government statements confirm that seaweed cultivation and production centres have expanded across multiple districts, but utilization rates remain below the identified potential.

The September 2026 UNDP–government visit to Sidoarjo illustrates national efforts to build a stronger seaweed value chain, moving from raw exports towards processed products that can deliver higher returns for coastal communities. For NTT, the combination of large potential cultivation areas, dispersed coastal settlements and emerging cluster-based development suggests that future gains will depend not only on hectares planted, but also on investments in processing, infrastructure, skills and market access.

Sources

• UNDP Indonesia – UNDP-AIS Forum High-Level Visit to Sidoarjo Showcases How Seaweed Can Drive Sustainable Coastal Growth
• Metro TV – Indonesia Bidik Nilai Tambah Rumput Laut untuk Perkuat Ekonomi Biru
• Pantau – UNDP Dorong Nilai Tambah Rumput Laut untuk Memperkuat Ekonomi Masyarakat Pesisir Indonesia
• SciSpace / conference paper – Opportunities and challenges for tourism development in the Province of East Nusa Tenggara
• RPJMD NTT 2014–2018 (Final Draft) – Rancangan Akhir RPJMD NTT 2014-2018-3
• RRI – Seaweed Farming to Boost Coastal Economies in NTT
• Bioflux – Quality management and industrialization of seaweed products as a driver of rural development in East Nusa Tenggara
• FAO Globefish – Indonesia-China route anchors seaweed trade despite lower volumes
• Konservasi-ID – Unlocking Seaweed Potential to Uplift East Nusa Tenggara’s Coastal Communities