Global fishmeal production rose 6.5 percent in the first eight months of 2021, and fish oil production was up 12 percent in the same period, according to IFFO, the international trade body that represents the marine ingredients industry.
Peru, Chile, and India all reported higher cumulative fishmeal and fish oil production through August 2021 year-over-year.
The totals are down from July, at which point global fishmeal production was up 8 percent year-over-year and fish oil production was up 17 percent, due to an earlier fishing season in Peru and lower catches in Denmark, Norway, and Africa, according to IFFO’s monthly analysis on marine ingredient market trends.
IFFO reported in September the average price of aquatic products continues to rise year-on-year, “supported by healthy trading volumes.”
“Recently, even shrimp prices have started to move up thanks to the improved demand,” IFFO said. “Aquafarming remains in its seasonal peak, with aquafeed output on the rise again in July 2021.”
September also marked the resumption of fishing in China, following the country’s annual summer moratorium. IFFO said China recorded significant increases in its aquafeed imports over the summer and currently had “record-high stocks” of aquafeed in storage.
“Despite the worldwide containers' crisis, shipments of imported fishmeal continue to grow year on year, with historically high stocks in the ports‘ warehouses. Demand for marine ingredients remains healthy,” IFFO said.
IFFO said it is unable to give a year-end estimate for fishmeal and fish oil production for 2021 due to the fact that domestic marine ingredients production usually has its peak in the last quarter of the year.
“Therefore, it is not clear yet what the local supply of fishmeal and fish oil will be this year,” it said.
Photo courtesy of Karen Murray/IFFO
