JANUARY 2021 FISHMEAL PRODUCTION SURPASSED THAT OF JANUARY 2020

January 2021 fishmeal production surpassed that of January 2020. Total fishmeal and fish oil productions in January 2021 surpassed that of January 2020, according to the IFFO, the marine ingredients organisation.

Peru, Chile, the Northern European region and the African countries reported an improvement in terms of available raw material in January 2021 with respect to January 2020. On the contrary the USA reported a big drop, following poorer landings in Alaska. The US menhaden fishing season will in fact start in April.

Thanks to better-than-average landings in Peru and Chile, both total fishmeal and fish oil productions in January 2021 (including salmon-based meal and oil) were far bigger than in January 2020.

In China, demand for seafood remains robust and aquafeed production is expected to pick up mid-March Domestic fishmeal production was subdued before and after the Spring Festival. Operations resumed in Shandong and Zhejiang following the holidays, while the Liaoning fishmeal plants won’t resume operations until September due to the lack of raw material. Supply of domestic fishmeal in the first quarter of 2021 might not improve with respect to the first quarter of 2020.

Pig farming continues to recover. Pig feed production was on the rise at the beginning of the year, but the recent African Swine Fever outbreaks appear to have affected its consumption both in February and March.

Aquafeed output remains subdued for the time being, as aquaculture is still in its low season. From the second half of March, IFFO expects aquafeed production to pick up. The rise of the aquatic products’ price signals the strength of the demand for seafood, helped by the recovery of the food service in China.