The total fishmeal production of the countries analysed in the Marine Ingredients Organisation’s (IFFO) reports is estimated at 2.443 million tonnes in 2021, against the 2.359 million tonnes reported in 2020.
Peru, Chile and India have increased their cumulative fishmeal output in 2021, while the Northern European countries, the USA and the African countries reported a collective decrease of more than 160,000 tonnes, year on year.
However, the production of fish oil has dropped by almost 6%. The total output in 2021 is currently estimated at 546,000 tonnes (581,000 tonnes in 2020). Chile, Iceland and India have increased their production in 2021, while all the other areas, including Peru, the key producer, reported a contraction.
China: record levels of fishmeal imports expected to continue in 2022
The record level of fishmeal imports reported in 2021 might be reached again in 2022. The demand of marine ingredients is expected to be still dominated by aquaculture, against a backdrop of commitment from China to manage the sector sustainably.
Aquaculture currently remains off-season. Likewise from January to April 2022, little production of marine ingredients is expected, and most of it is expected to be based on by-products. The average trading price of aquatic products rose in December 2021 and January 2022 year on year, supported by healthy trading volumes.
