The global fish meal market is set to experience robust expansion, reaching USD 46.62 billion in 2025 and growing to USD 71.71 billion by 2035 at a steady CAGR of 4.4%. This growth presents compelling opportunities for manufacturers across aquaculture and livestock industries seeking premium protein solutions to enhance feed efficiency and meet evolving sustainability standards.
Aquaculture Driving Demand: A Critical Opportunity for Manufacturers
The aquaculture industry is the primary driver of fish meal consumption, accounting for 50% of the global market in 2025. Fish meal’s high protein content, balanced amino acid profile, and superior digestibility make it indispensable for farmed fish such as salmon, shrimp, tilapia, and hybrid bass.
With global seafood consumption on the rise, manufacturers supplying aquafeed face increasing pressure to optimize feed formulations that maximize growth rates, improve feed conversion efficiency (FCR), and enhance disease resistance. Fish meal, particularly when enhanced with enzyme treatments or marine peptides, addresses these challenges by delivering high nutrient absorption while reducing nitrogen and phosphorus waste, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations.
China, the fastest-growing market with a projected CAGR of 6.3%, exemplifies this trend. Leading manufacturers are investing in customized fish meal formulations for high-value species like shrimp and grouper, incorporating probiotics and functional additives to boost immunity and overall fish health.
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Wild-Caught Fish: The Backbone of Global Production
Wild-caught fish remain the dominant raw material in fish meal production, representing approximately 40% of the market in 2025. Anchovies, menhaden, capelin, and sardines harvested in Peru, Chile, and the North Atlantic provide a premium protein source prized for its amino acid richness and omega-3 content.
Despite rising interest in alternative proteins, wild fish continue to outperform other sources in digestibility and feed conversion efficiency, making it the top choice for high-performance aquafeed. Manufacturers that leverage sustainable sourcing and MSC-certified supply chains can ensure consistent product quality while aligning with growing industry standards for responsible fishing practices.
Innovations Enhancing Feed Performance and Sustainability
Fish meal producers are responding to key industry challenges with technological innovations. Enzyme-treated fish meal, for example, improves nutrient bioavailability and promotes better growth and health in both aquaculture and livestock applications. Precision fermentation techniques in Norway are adding microbial proteins to traditional fish meal, increasing amino acid efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
In Japan, ultra-purified fish meal is being developed for high-end tuna farming. Advanced molecular fractionation and low-temperature refining allow manufacturers to eliminate heavy metals, oxidized fats, and biogenic amines, providing safer, more digestible feed for premium sushi-grade tuna. These innovations highlight how manufacturers can differentiate themselves in a market where high-quality, species-specific feed is increasingly valued.
Expanding Applications in Livestock Nutrition
While aquaculture remains dominant, fish meal is regaining prominence in livestock nutrition. Its ideal amino acid profile, rich in methionine and lysine, enhances gut health and growth in piglets and broiler chickens. Manufacturers incorporating species-specific formulations and functional additives can optimize feed efficiency, reduce costs, and maintain high performance, even amid fluctuating raw material prices.
Enzyme-treated fish meal also contributes to environmental sustainability by minimizing nitrogen and phosphorus waste, making it a critical solution for livestock producers seeking regulatory compliance and improved sustainability credentials.
Strategic Market Insights for Manufacturers
The fish meal market is moderately concentrated, with global leaders such as Cargill, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), and Bunge commanding significant influence through integrated supply chains and expansive production capacities. Regional players, including TASA and Omega Protein Corporation, maintain strong market presence through specialized products and local expertise. Emerging companies are capturing niche demand for sustainable or high-performance fish meals, including insect-based and single-cell protein alternatives.
Manufacturers can leverage these market dynamics by identifying strategic partnerships, investing in value-added processing, and exploring innovations in enzyme and fermentation technologies to deliver tailored feed solutions that address both nutritional and sustainability goals.
Country-Specific Opportunities
- China: Focused on customized fish meal for high-value species, combining probiotics and marine peptides for enhanced immunity and digestibility.
- Norway: Pioneering hybrid fish meals with precision-fermented proteins to improve FCR and sustainability in salmon farming.
- Japan: Leading in ultra-purified fish meal for high-end tuna farming, emphasizing oxidative stability and premium marine peptides.
These regional developments provide manufacturers with actionable insights to expand operations, invest in specialized formulations, and target high-growth segments in aquaculture and livestock nutrition.
Recent Industry Performance Signals Robust Outlook
Recent market updates underscore strong production growth and resilience. According to IFFO, fishmeal production increased 26% in 2024, driven by improved anchovy landings in Peru, while fish oil production rose by 12%. Companies like Austevoll Seafood ASA and TASA reported significant revenue gains, reflecting favorable oceanographic conditions and efficient production strategies.
For manufacturers, these trends signal a growing, stable supply of high-quality raw materials and an expanding market demand that can be leveraged for long-term growth and innovation.
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Strategic Pathways for Manufacturers
The global fish meal market offers manufacturers an exceptional opportunity to address critical challenges in aquaculture and livestock nutrition while driving sustainable growth. By investing in high-performance feed formulations, leveraging wild-caught fish sustainably, integrating enzyme and fermentation technologies, and responding to regional market dynamics, manufacturers can position themselves at the forefront of a market projected to reach USD 71.71 billion by 2035.
Forward-looking companies that embrace these solutions will not only meet the evolving nutritional demands of farmed fish and livestock but also capture a larger share of an increasingly competitive and innovation-driven industry.
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