May 2026: Global fishmeal and fish oil production drops sharply by 28% and 12%
Aquafeed Market 2025 to 2032: Protein Transition, Asian Dominance and the Strategic Reshaping of Global Supply →Data from the Marine Ingredients Organisation (IFFO) confirms a severe global contraction in marine ingredients, with cumulative Q1 2026 fishmeal output plummeting 28% and fish oil down 12% year-over-year. March 2026 specifically witnessed a steep 38% year-on-year drop in fishmeal production due to a 36% quota reduction and targeted fishing bans on juvenile fish in north-central Peru. Compounding this, a building El Niño event in Peru threatens to severely restrict marine biomass availability and trigger prolonged supply deficits.
Accelerate qualification of alternative protein formulations
Severe supply contractions in traditional marine ingredients necessitate immediate recipe flexibility with soybean meal and alternative functional proteins to hedge against looming price spikes.
Secure long-term supply volume commitments
With potential wild-caught fishmeal exhaustion risks projected by 2028, securing volume guarantees with strategic global suppliers is critical for supply continuity.