Fishmeal, Fish Oil Output Plunge by Half Amid Global Supply Crunch
The Marine Ingredients Organization (IFFO) has released its latest snapshot of fishmeal and fish oil production, showing that both outputs are well behind last year's pace. According to IFFO, fishmeal output in the first seven months of 2026 is down 49 percent compared to the same period in 2025, while fish oil output is down 30 percent.
The majority of this drop is attributed to Peru and Chile, but softer catches in Africa and Northern Europe have also contributed to a global decline in production. IFFO Market Research Director Enrico Bachis said that the reduced supply from South America might be offset by regions in Asia with peak fishing seasons in the last quarter of the year.
China is beginning to ramp up its fishmeal production, and demand for aquafeed is at a seasonal peak. However, raw material availability remains uncertain. Specialty species like largemouth bass, snakehead, and yellow catfish are seeing weak farmgate prices, which has resulted in lower stocking densities that could weaken demand for fishmeal during the grow-out stage.