Rabobank predicts seafood could dethrone poultry and lead global animal protein growth in 2025

Fish in containers portside
Aquaculture, wild-caught seafood, and poultry will largely drive global protein growth in 2025, according to Rabobank | Photo courtesy of enzosub/Shutterstock
6 Min

Seafood is on the cusp of overtaking poultry as the top contributor to global protein supply growth, according to a new report from Dutch financial services firm Rabobank.

The report, titled “Global Animal Protein Outlook 2025,” anticipates that seafood will take over the top spot in 2025 despite uncertainties generated by global macroeconomic fluctuations and policy changes that will mark this year as a “pivotal moment” for trade and production across various regions and commodities.

Overall production of protein worldwide is set to grow slightly faster this year than in 2024, with almost 6 million metric tons (MT) of additional animal protein estimated to head to market compared to the previous year.

Aquaculture, wild-caught seafood, and poultry will largely drive that growth, according to RaboResearch Senior Analyst of Animal Protein Angus Gidley-Baird, who added that growth in beef production is likely to contract.

Specifically, the report projects that together, aquaculture and wild-caught production will grow by 2.3 percent year over year, adding around 5 million MT of additional protein and reversing 2024’s 0.3 percent decline in the categories.

At the same time, Rabobank estimates poultry will continue to steadily grow, adding an additional 2 million MT to global output, while pork production will be up marginally at just 0.1 percent after enjoying significant growth from 2021 to 2023.

Beef production, according to Rabobank, will decline due to contractions in major regions.

Within the seafood category, the global salmon market is forecast to grow 3.5 percent year over year. This comes off the back of an estimated 1 percent to 2 percent rise in production in 2024. 

The projected higher growth, though, is dependent on


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