Cumulative global fishmeal production was down year-over-year for the first 11 months of 2022, according to IFFO – The Marine Ingredients Organization.
A late start to the 2022 fishing season in Peru was blamed for the decline, and with catch totals in December 2022 roughly equaling those of December 2021, a year-over-year deficit of around 1.15 million metric tons of raw material is expected by IFFO.
Also hurting the cumulative total was China, with domestic production adjusting downwards throughout 2022, though IFFO reported total offtakes of imported fishmeal in Chinese ports in 2022 rose year-over year. The organization reported similar conditions in China are expected in 2023.
IFFO estimated global aquafeed production in 2022 at over 23 million metric tons, a slight increase year-on-year.
The United States, India, Iceland, and Africa each increased their fishmeal production year-over-year in 2022, IFFO reported.
Global fish oil production rose in the first 11 months of 2022, according to IFFO, which regularly tracks production of marine ingredients equivalent to roughly worth 50 percent of global output. South Africa, Ivory Coast, Mauritius, Europe, the United States, and India all increased their fish oil production through November 2022.
According to IFFO, aquafeed demand will remain muted through January and February, both traditionally off-season months for the aquaculture sector due to lower temperatures and numerous holidays. However, it noted the beginning of the year is usually the time when aquafeed producers stock feed ingredients in advance of commencing their aquafarming seasons in March or April.
Photo courtesy of IFFO
