The rapid growth of the global population, urbanization, and industrial expansion is poised to push the world into a nutritional crisis and environmental degradation in the near future. As food, feed, and a source of high-value bioactive compounds, seaweeds may serve as an emerging and sustainable alternative to support economic development, carbon capture, and global food security. FishStatJ database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations was used to get data on global aquaculture production from 1992, 2002, 2012, and 2022. The data were filtered out from other aquatic organisms and products. Substantial growth in production volumes, from 6.58 million tons in 1992 to 35.14 million tons in 2022, soared from 6% to 16% of global aquaculture production. Aquaculture has predominantly driven this growth, which accounts for 97% of total seaweed production. Additionally, the market has seen a notable shift from brown to red seaweeds, with the latter now comprising 58.21% of the total output due to its commercial value, especially for carrageenan and agar extraction. China has emerged as the leading contributor, representing 60% of global production and exhibiting a 12-times rise in the total value of the produce, followed by Indonesia, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. This change reflects a move toward more commercially viable species and marks a significant evolution in production techniques and species composition. Notably, species like Saccharina sp. and Eucheuma sp. saw massive production increases, highlighting the growing role of seaweeds in food security, economic development, and environmental sustainability.