Russian fishmeal exports up 22.6% in 2024

According to the results of 2024, Russia increased the volume of fishmeal exports to 173 thousand tons, according to international customs statistics analyzed by the Fishery Shipowners Association (FSA). This is 22.6% more than in 2023. Due to the price reduction, the total value of flour exports increased slightly less than the volume - by 18.7%.

The leader among the world exporters of fishmeal is Peru (959 thousand tons). The volume of Peruvian fishmeal exports increased significantly in 2024, recovering from a decrease in 2023 due to the influence of El Niño. Also in the top five are Vietnam (260 thousand tons), Chile (253 thousand tons), India (208 thousand tons) and Thailand (184 thousand tons). Russia is in sixth position.

With the development of deep fish processing, Russian producers have significantly increased the production of fish meal. In 2024, it amounted to 193.5 thousand tons, which is 11.2% higher than the 2023 figure. And over the past seven years, production has almost doubled (from 100 thousand tons in 2017).

The driver of fish meal consumption in the domestic market should be an increase in domestic production of feed and feed additives for animals, as provided for by the agricultural development program until 2030 (flour is a raw material for feed). According to Russian Fisheries Agency, self-sufficiency in aquaculture feed should increase from the current 25% to 90% by 2030. At the same time, the growing production of fishmeal in Russia will fully satisfy both domestic and export needs.