Fishmeal and fish oil production saw big year-on-year increases in January as a result of increased catches in Peru, a major harvester of anchovies, pictured.

Peru fishers delivered net gain for fishmeal and fish oil production in January

Editorial team
Published

Fishmeal production by members of marine ingredients organisation IFFO increased by approximately 75% in January compared to the same month last year, IFFO said today.

This increase was primarily influenced by a 300% increase in the Peruvian output. Chile, the United States, Spain and the African countries also reported a positive trend in fishmeal production compared to January 2024.

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.

The data are based on statistics shared by IFFO members in Chile, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Ivory Coast, Mauritius, Norway, the UK, the US, Peru, South Africa and Spain, accounting for 40% of global fishmeal production and 50% of fish oil output. 

Lower output in China

In China, aquafeed production in 2024 decreased by 3.5% year-on-year and domestic aquafeed sales decreased by approximately 10%, the China Feed Industry Association (CFIA) said. 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.

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