Despite the significant decline in fishmeal and fish oil supplies expected this year from
"I would believe we're going to see a very large increase in aquaculture feed [over the next few years]," Aiden Connolly, vice president of Alltech, told listeners during the company's 2013 Global Feed Survey results webinar early Monday morning.
The company, which provides feed production information to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), is also predicting a dramatic increase in aquaculture production in the near future, Connolly said.
Feed for aquaculture currently makes up 5 percent of global feed production, but Connolly "wouldn't be surprised if it grew to 8 to 10 percent of the world market in the near future."
Regulations are increasing in regards to contaminants, which has put a slow on some of the world's feed production, but aquaculture may be less affected than beef or poultry due to demand.
"Obviously, we have a very dramatic situation wherewe cannot continue to fish the amount of fish out of the sea that we have in the past,” Connolly said. “People want to eat more fish because, just like chicken, it is perceived [as] very healthy."
The results of Alltech's survey show a whopping 44,793 million metric tons global fish feed production level last year – a 55 percent increase over the prior year. Some of the increase comes from more companies being included in the survey this year, but most reflects a widespread production increase trend, Connolly said.
The near 45 million metric ton production level may come as a surprise to the industry, International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Organization (IFFO) Technical Director Andrew Jackson told IntraFish.
“It's a big number, and I think a lot of people don't know just how big that number is,”
Like Alltech, the IFFO expects that number to continue to rise. It is expecting gains of about 7 to 8 percent this year and perhaps as high as ten percent,
Achieving growth in a supply-strapped industry
How will feed producers manage to increase fish feed production while fishmeal and oil – two of the most important ingredients in salmon and shrimp feed – decrease?
The answer is that for one, fishmeal and oil are becoming less important ingredients as feed producers find more and more viable protein substitutes.
“Fishmeal has traditionally represented a very verylarge percentage of the diets of fish, and that isnot going to continue,” Connolly told IntraFishduring the webinar's question and answer period. “Most of the companies we work with in the feed milling area have already started to address that. Many of them are at 10 to 15 percent of fishmeal today, and many are looking to eliminate it completely.
Connolly expects global aquaculture feed productionto surpass the 50 million metric ton mark in the next few years, which would be a big milestone, both statistically and psychologically speaking, for the industry, Connolly said
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The “Moringa Noodles Salad” product by Sa Giang Import-Export Corporation was honored as one of the “Top 10 Winning Products” at the THAIFEX – Anuga taste Innovation Show 2026, held as part of THAIFEX – Anuga Asia 2026 in Bangkok.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a fairly strong upward trend in 2025, Vietnam’s clam exports entered 2026 with a mixed picture: strong growth at the beginning of the year, followed by a slowdown from March onward. According to Vietnam Customs data, Vietnam’s clam export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached more than USD 38 million, up 2% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is facing new opportunities to expand its development space as many localities and businesses begin promoting marine farming models aimed at diversifying farming areas and adapting to climate change. However, for pangasius to truly “go offshore” and develop into a large-scale industry segment, significant challenges related to technology, broodstock, and markets still need to be addressed.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports in April 2026 reached USD 11 million, up 92% compared to the same period in 2025. This strong growth indicates that Vietnamese tilapia products are continuing to penetrate and expand rapidly in international markets. Cumulative export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 49 million, up 151% year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com) At VietShrimp Asia 2026, disease management trends in shrimp farming are shifting strongly from treatment-based approaches toward proactive prevention through environmental and pond ecosystem control.
(vasep.com.vn) After a period of strong growth, with export turnover reaching USD 38 million in Q1/2026 — up 174% year-on-year — the sector’s rapid expansion clearly reflects growing market opportunities.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the ASEAN bloc reached USD 44 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025. After falling to the lowest level of the quarter at USD 9 million in February — reflecting the seasonal slowdown in orders after the festive period — exports recovered strongly to USD 18 million in March, the highest monthly value of the quarter. This development shows that import demand for pangasius in ASEAN remains relatively stable despite short-term fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a slowdown in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Germany showed more positive signs in the first quarter of 2026. However, the recovery remains uncertain as consumer demand in Germany is still cautious, while market competition is increasingly driven by pricing and supply stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sharp decline in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel are showing positive signs of recovery in the early months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover to this market grew steadily month by month in Q1/2026, reaching nearly USD 10 million, up 33% compared to the same period in 2025. However, compared to Q1/2024, this level remains significantly lower, indicating that the recovery is still in its early stage following last year’s strong adjustment.
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