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Global Fishmeal Supply Drops 49% in the First Seven Months of 2026

According to the latest data from IFFO – The Marine Ingredients Organisation, global fishmeal production fell 49% year-on-year during the first seven months of 2026, while fish oil production decreased by 30%.  

The sharp decline was mainly driven by lower catches and raw material availability in Peru and Chile, with weaker catches in parts of Africa and Northern Europe adding to the global supply shortage. IFFO noted that increased production from Asian regions, including China, India and Oman, during their peak fishing season in the fourth quarter could partially offset the shortfall.  

Fishmeal Remains Important for Aquafeed

Although fishmeal and fish oil inclusion rates have declined in many modern aquafeed formulations, they remain important sources of high-quality protein, essential amino acids and omega-3 fatty acids. Supply constraints therefore continue to have an impact on feed costs and the global aquaculture market.  

China Market Update

IFFO reported that China’s domestic fishmeal and fish oil production resumed in August 2026. Preliminary estimates indicate that domestic production through July was higher than the same period last year, while raw material availability after August remains subject to further observation.  

China remains an important market for marine ingredients, making market access and import compliance increasingly important for overseas fishmeal and fish oil producers.

Countries/Regions Approved by GACC for Fishmeal and Fish Oil Exports to China

According to the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) and its approved list of countries/regions and products eligible to export feed and feed ingredients to China (excluding plant-based feed ingredients), 29 countries/regions are currently approved to export fishmeal and/or fish oil to China.

Exporting Fishmeal to China: GACC + MARA

For overseas manufacturers planning to export fishmeal or fish oil to China, two key compliance requirements should be considered:

* GACC registration: The manufacturing facility must be eligible under China’s approved country/region and product access requirements.

* MARA registration: Overseas manufacturers exporting feed or feed additives to China for the first time generally need to obtain the relevant import registration before their products can be legally imported and used in China.

According to the current GACC approved list, 29 countries/regions are permitted to export fishmeal and/or fish oil to China, subject to the specific products approved for each country or region.

For overseas fishmeal and fish oil manufacturers, checking country access, product eligibility, GACC registration and MARA requirements in advance can help avoid delays when entering the Chinese market.

RingOne supports overseas feed and feed ingredient manufacturers with GACC registration and MARA import registration for the Chinese market.