18th March 2025
2025 Global fishmeal and fish oil production off to a good start
According to our market intelligence reports*, the total fishmeal production for January 2025 increased by approximately 75% compared to the same month in 2024. This increase was primarily influenced by a 300% increase in the Peruvian output. Chile, the USA, Spain and the African countries also reported a positive trend in fishmeal production compared to January 2024.
As for fish oil, total output in January 2025 was 71% up year over year, again mainly driven by Peru. The other regions also reported an increased fish oil production compared to January 2024, with the exception of the North European countries.
* These data are based on statistics shared by IFFO members in Chile, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Ivory Coast, Mauritius, Norway, the UK, the USA, Peru, South Africa and Spain, accounting for 40% of global fishmeal production and 50% of fish oil output.
China’s decreasing 2024 aquafeed production and sales
According to the China Feed Industry Association (CFIA), aquafeed production in 2024 decreased by 3.5% year-on-year and domestic aquafeed sales in 2024 decreased by approximately 10%. The decline was primarily driven by unfavourable weather conditions for aquaculture, generally weak farm-gate prices, and farmers’ attempts to reduce costs by limiting compound feed utilisation. Similarly, in 2024, pig feed production (another user of fishmeal) fell by 3.9% year-on-year due to lower pig supply and pork production.
Until the next fishing season in September 2025, most of the raw material for China’s production of fishmeal and fish oil is expected to come from frozen fish and imports such as sardines.