The industrial sector of algae in Portugal has 47 companies and each has an annual productive capacity of up to 100 tons dried, most of them for export, the Proalga Association told Lusa.
“Currently, the industrial sector of algae in Portugal has 21 companies dedicated to macroalgae (cultivation, harvesting, transformation and applications) and 26 companies in the microalgae sector, covering since cultivation, engineering, consultancy and marketing,” said, in response to Lusa, Proalga – Portuguese Association of Algae Producers.
Productive capacity varies from company to company, but it starts in two tons of dry weight per year and goes to a maximum of 100 tons.
Most production (more than 90%) is estimated to be intended for export, especially for European countries such as Spain, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, and Asians.
In the domestic market, there are problems in the level of food literacy and the absence of incentives for the introduction of algae in the food chain.
Portuguese algae, both in the national and external market, are used in areas such as human food, supplementation and health, cosmetic, agriculture, animal feed and blue biotechnology.
According to data from Dun & Bradstreet, analyzed by the Proalga, the associated companies registered, in 2023, 9.2 million euros of billing, taking into account the main and secondary activities.
“The sector has registered a progressive increase since 2017, the year that began the cultivation of macroalgae in Portugal, complementing decades of industrial production of microalgae (since 1991). The trend points to significant expansion in the coming years, leveraged by investment in innovation, sustainability and biotechnology,” he said.
Among the main companies and national producers are Allmicroalgae (Pataias), Necton (O), Algaplus (Ílhavo), Green Aqua Póvoa (Póvoa de Santa Iria) and Iberagar (Barreiro).
Portugal also has handcrafted producers, specialized in Spirulina, such as Natural Tomar, Spirulina da Terra, 5 ESSENTIA SPIRULINA AZORES AND SPIRALGAE.
Also read:
