Q1 2026 global fishmeal production crashes 28% year-on-year
Aquafeed Market 2025 to 2032: Protein Transition, Asian Dominance and the Strategic Reshaping of Global Supply →Global fishmeal and fish oil production saw severe contractions in early 2026, with global fishmeal output dropping 28% year-on-year in Q1 and March production alone plunging 38%. This supply shock is driven by strict quota restrictions on Peru's North-Central anchovy fishery, which was limited to 1.91 million metric tons due to high juvenile counts. Consequently, average fishmeal export prices have spiked and remain highly elevated at $1,650 to $1,950 per metric ton.
Accelerate qualification of alternative proteins
Substituting marine ingredients with soy concentrates and single-cell proteins will mitigate severe cost and supply volatility from the fishmeal deficit.
Secure long-term volume commitments for functional additives
Locking in contracts for digestive enzymes and immunonutrition will safeguard feed efficiency as formulations transition away from traditional fishmeal.