Competitiveness analysis of Indonesian seaweeds in global market

Comparative advantage is an indicator of competitive level of a country in global market. Indonesia has an abundant seaweed production that has been exported to international market. This study aims to estimate the competitiveness of Indonesian seaweed in global market. This study employs secondary data from UN Comtrade, BPS, and fisheries statistics of Indonesia. Data were analyzed by Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) to examine index of competitiveness, export product dynamics (EPD) to describe potential market destination in global market. The findings indicate that competitiveness of Indonesian seaweeds was mostly strong in some destination countries in global market. Furthermore, Indonesian seaweeds had the best benefit (rising star) in global market and also acquired falling star, lost opportunity and retreat market shares. Some destination countries were potential to be developed and some were optimistic. Therefore, Indonesia needs to strengthen collaboration with some countries that have a potential market on seaweed products including China, Japan, Rep of Korea and Singapore. Furthermore, Indonesia needs to expand export market to some African countries since Indonesia had only few market destinations in Indonesia.