IFFO reports global fishmeal and fish oil production up year on year

In March 2025, total cumulative fishmeal production reported by marine ingredients industry trade organisation IFFO increased by approximately 29 per cent compared to the same period in 2024.

This increase was primarily influenced by a significant uptick in Peru, said IFFO, while Chile, the USA, Spain and the African countries also reported a positive performance compared to January-March 2024.

As for fish oil, total cumulative output for the year through March 2025 was 34 per cent up year over year, again mainly driven by Peru. The other regions reported a positive trend in cumulative fish oil production compared to January-March 2025, with the exception of the European countries.

In China, demand for marine ingredients was expected to be promising in 2025, said IFFO.

China’s latest fishing bans were implemented on May 1. Until the next fishing season in August and September, most of the raw materials to produce fishmeal and fish oil will come from frozen fish and raw materials imports (such as sardine raw materials).

Farm-gate prices for several species with high fishmeal dietary needs have exceeded year-ago levels. As a result, higher domestic production of aquaculture, and better demand for marine ingredients is anticipated throughout 2025.

Similarly, pig farmers have expressed growing optimism for the second half of the year, prompting an acceleration in piglet purchases. Strong, unexpected demand for piglets to date is likely to drive up piglet feed production and fishmeal consumption in 2025.

Prices of plant-based feed ingredients - such as soybean meal, corn, and rapeseed meal - have risen due to supply constraints exacerbated partially by the ongoing trade conflict.

In response, feed producers are actively seeking alternatives to soybean meal or reducing its inclusion in feed formulas to better manage overall costs.