Report

Fishmeal And Fishoil Market Analysis

fishmeal and fish oil market size in 2026 is estimated at USD 10.01 billion, growing from 2025 value of USD 9.5 billion with 2031 projections showing USD 12.97 billion, growing at 5.33% CAGR over 2026-2031. Robust aquaculture expansion, the pivot toward high-protein functional foods, and rising demand for EPA and DHA drive steady value creation. Feed formulators increasingly favor marine proteins for their digestibility, even as resource constraints and climate variability intensify supply-side pressure. Structural trade flows that link South American anchovy fisheries with Asian feed mills underpin pricing, while advances in enzymatic hydrolysis improve yields, reinforcing the premium positioning of high-grade products. Competitive strategies center on vertical integration, sustainability certifications, and diversification into alternative proteins that hedge against quota tightening and climate shocks.

Global Fishmeal And Fishoil Market Trends and Insights



Rise in Global Fishmeal and Fish Oil Production Capacity Expansions

Investment in new marine protein facilities is reshaping supply logistics. Pelagia's Skagen plant and Cooke's acquisition of Copeinca's 200,000 metric tons capacity illustrate vertically integrated moves that secure raw fish access and enhance processing efficiency. Companies deploy automated rendering lines that lift oil recovery and protein concentration, consolidating competitive positions in margin-sensitive feed markets. Geographical diversification of plants mitigates single-region climate risks, especially as El Nino events disrupt anchovy landings. The capacity race signals industry recognition that quota-constrained fisheries favor operators with the scale to optimize limited biomass, reinforcing the premium paid for plant proximity to landing sites.

Growing Demand for High-Protein Aquafeed Formulations

Intensive aquaculture increasingly relies on feeds with 45-50% protein, above legacy 35-40% inputs. Salmon and trout farms using offshore cages and recirculating systems require high energy density to uphold fish-in fish-out ratios, cementing the role of fishmeal in starter and grow-out diets. Formulators mix marine proteins with soy concentrates, insect meals, and single-cell proteins, yet continue to measure performance against fishmeal benchmarks for digestibility and palatability. The resulting specialization enables suppliers to price premium functional blends that boost feed conversion while reducing total inclusion rates, thereby balancing nutrition with sustainability.

Volatile Raw-Fish Landings Linked to El Nino Events

Warmer Pacific currents periodically slash anchovy biomass off Peru and Chile, upending roughly half of global fishmeal output and causing sharp price gyrations. The 2023-2024 El Nino collapsed Peruvian landings before a rebound in January 2025 restored volume, but not before prompting rationing and contract renegotiations. Feed producers cushion volatility with safety stocks or spot substitutions that erode formulation consistency, while importers diversify toward insect and microbial proteins to minimize exposure. Climate unpredictability thus remains the single most disruptive short-term risk to traditional supply chains.

Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:

Shift Toward Functional Foods Rich in EPA/DHA Omega-3sRegulatory Incentives for By-Product Rendering and Waste ValorizationTightening Quotas on Small Pelagic Fisheries

For complete list of drivers and restraints, kindly check the Table Of Contents.

Segment Analysis

Salmon and trout captured 43.02% of the fishmeal and fish oil market share in 2025, reflecting the species' premium retail valuation and strict nutritional demands. Producers operating offshore cages and land-based recirculation systems reinforce reliance on highly digestible marine proteins that achieve low feed conversion ratios, a metric closely watched by certification bodies. The crustacean category is expanding at a 7.58% CAGR as farms adopt intensification protocols that require balanced amino acid inputs and functional additives for disease resistance. The fishmeal and fish oil market size linked to marine fish and carp grows steadily alongside Mediterranean seabass and Asian carp culture, respectively, although these species blend marine inputs with cheaper plant proteins to control feed expense.

Holistic species management drives feed manufacturers to introduce tailored blends that modulate fishmeal inclusion by life stage, ensuring juvenile diets maximize growth while finishing diets optimize fillet quality. Premium segments, such as salmon, are willing to pay sustainability premiums for MarinTrust-certified meals, reinforcing supplier focus on traceability. Crustacean nutritionists increasingly incorporate enzyme-treated meals and emulsifiers that heighten lipid uptake, allowing lower inclusion rates without sacrificing performance. This migration from commodity to functional products supports higher margins and cements the fishmeal and fish oil market as a critical input in value-added seafood supply chains.

The Fishmeal and Fish Oil Market Report is Segmented by Species Type (Salmon and Trout, Crustaceans, Marine Fish, Carps, Tilapias, and Others), Application (Poultry, Swine, Pets, Aquatic Animals, and Others), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East, and Africa). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

Geography Analysis

Asia-Pacific held a 52.10% share of the fishmeal and fish oil market in 2025, anchored by China's dominant aquaculture sector and the region's extensive feed manufacturing base. Despite a decline in Chinese aquafeed output in 2024, profitability improved as formulators prioritized high-quality inputs over simple volume growth. Vietnam and Indonesia ramped up shrimp and pangasius exports, fueling import demand for premium meal even amid currency volatility. Japan's investment in land-based salmon projects widens the region's appetite for pharmaceutical-grade fish oil inputs for functional foods.

South America is the fastest-growing region at 7.08% CAGR through 2031, reflecting both its status as the principal raw material exporter and its expanding domestic aquaculture footprint. Peru's January 2025 fishmeal production surge after El Nino recovery exemplifies the region's supply influence. Chile leverages alternative proteins to hedge quota risk while scaling salmon harvests, and Brazil explores marine ingredient use in integrated tilapia farms. Logistics corridors linking Pacific landings to Atlantic consumption markets are under continuous upgrade, reducing freight cost and spoilage risk.

Europe and North America constitute mature but innovation-intensive arenas. Norway imports sizable volumes to support salmon farming, yet accelerates research on enzymatic hydrolyzed trimmings that lower wild-catch dependence. The European Union's circular-economy mandates stimulate by-product rendering, raising the fishmeal and fish oil market size tied to secondary raw materials. North American pet-food makers capitalize on consumer willingness to pay for traceable omega-3 sources, preserving margin even when feed-grade prices soften. Across both regions, retailers pressure suppliers for third-party sustainability labels, reinforcing market segmentation between certified premium and conventional grades.

List of Companies Covered in this Report:

Pelagia AS (Austevoll Seafood ASA / Kvefi AS) FF Skagen A/S The Scoular Company Omega Protein Corporation (Cooke Inc.) Oceana Group Limited Tecnologica de Alimentos S.A. (Grupo Brescia) Empresas Copec S.A. (Empresas Angelini) Pesquera Diamante S.A. TripleNine Group A/S Croda International Plc GC Rieber Oils (GC Rieber VivoMega AS) OLVEA Fish Oils (OLVEA Group) Pesquera Exalmar S.A.A Orizon S.A. (Grupo Copec)

Additional Benefits:

The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
3 months of analyst support