Marine ingredients production fell in January
Production of fishmeal and fish oil used in aquafeed decreased in January 2026 in the countries analysed by marine ingredients organisation IFFO, except for the Denmark/Norway area and the United States.
The data is 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.
Despite the positive fishing effort in the country’s South region, Peruvian output also remained below previous year’s levels in February.
Anchovy quotas due
“The anchovy biomass evaluation in the North-Centre remains under way, with official announcements on quotas and starting dates of the new fishing season in 2026 expected during the first half of April,” said IFFO market research director Enrico Bachis.
China’s domestic marine ingredients production remains subdued in 2026. Its fishmeal imports decreased while fish oil imports, mostly destined to direct human consumption, increased significantly year on year.
Domestic aquaculture and aquafeed production through February 2026 are estimated to have increased year-on-year. Demand for aquafeed is driven by the currently high level of farmed fish inventories held for overwintering. Under the current conditions, first-quarter 2026 demand for fishmeal, particularly in the South China market, is expected to show solid year-on-year growth.
