Marine ingredients output falls in January as Peru remains below prior-year levels.
Fishmeal and fish oil production declined in January 2026 across most countries monitored by IFFO, with Peru’s output remaining below prior-year levels into February despite active fishing in the country’s southern region.
The IFFO dataset covers Chile, Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Ivory Coast, Mauritius, Norway, the UK, the US, Peru, South Africa and Spain, representing about 40 percent of global fishmeal production and 50 percent of fish oil output. Only the Denmark/Norway region and the United States recorded year-on-year increases.
Attention is now focused on Peru’s North-Centre anchovy stock assessment, with quota decisions and the start of the 2026 fishing season expected in early April.
“Official quota announcements and fishing season start dates for 2026 are expected in the first half of April,” said Enrico Bachis, market research director at IFFO.
Peruvian anchovy is the primary raw material for marine-derived aquafeed ingredients, meaning any quota restriction would tighten global supply during the first half of the year.
In China, domestic marine ingredient production remains subdued. Fishmeal imports declined year on year, while fish oil imports, largely destined for human consumption, increased significantly.
IFFO data indicates aquaculture and aquafeed production grew year on year through February, supported by high farmed fish inventories held over winter and steady first-quarter feed demand in southern China.