Global fishmeal supplies grow significantly, while fish oil supplies remain tight

In 2024, global fishmeal supply has seen a significant increase due to strong fishing of small pelagic fish in Peru, with two annual fishing quotas reaching nearly 5 million tons. However, fish oil production remains low and markets are constrained. Peru, the world's largest producer of fishmeal and fish oil, has produced 670,000 tonnes of fishmeal, up 123% from the previous year. Despite this, overall fish oil production remains low, and there is interest in alternative sources such as algal oil and animal-free omega-3. Peruvian fishmeal exports rose from 399,000 tons to 591,000 tons, with China remaining the main export destination. Fishmeal prices have fallen from $1,750 per ton to $1,400 per ton and prices of alternative feed proteins such as soy and wheat are also falling.

According to SeafoodMedia, global fishmeal supply has seen a significant increase in 2024 due to strong fishing of small pelagic fish in Peru. Two annual fishing quotas for the central and northern regions of Peru have reached nearly 5 million tons, a significant increase from 1.3 million tons in 2023. Despite the surge in raw materials for reduction, fish oil production from Peruvian fishing remains low and existing reserves are largely exhausted. As a result, the fish oil market remains constrained, while fishmeal stocks are ample, especially in China, and oversupply is driving prices down. As the world's largest producer of fishmeal and fish oil, Peru accounts for 25-33% of global production. Thanks to favorable weather, the 2024 anchovy quota is large, with the first fishing season of 24 0,000 tonnes in the first quarter of 2024 and 2.51 million tonnes in the second. As of October 2024, Peru has produced 670,000 tonnes of fishmeal, up 123% from the previous year, which has ...