Global Aquafeed Market Forecast to Nearly Double to USD 123.6 Billion by 2036, Says Future Market Insights
A market research report from Future Market Insights projects the global aquafeed market will grow from USD 66.7 billion in 2026 to USD 123.6 billion by 2036 at a 6.4% CAGR, driven by recurring commercial aquaculture demand. Conventional aquafeed is estimated to hold a 90% share of the nature category in 2026, while fish accounts for 36% of species-category demand.
The global aquafeed market is projected to nearly double in value over the next decade, according to a report published on 30 September 2026 by Future Market Insights (FMI). The firm forecasts the market will expand from USD 66.7 billion in 2026 to USD 123.6 billion by 2036, representing a compound annual growth rate of 6.4%.
FMI placed the market's 2025 value at USD 62.7 billion. According to the report, growth is being driven by commercial aquaculture operations' need for formulated diets across stocked production cycles, with producers weighing "nutrient density, feed conversion, survival, and feed cost" as key selection criteria.
Conventional aquafeed is estimated by FMI to account for 90.0% of nature-category demand in 2026. The firm attributes its dominant position to broad ingredient availability and the flexibility to substitute inputs according to "nutritional requirements, ingredient prices, and production conditions." Fish is projected to represent 36.0% of species-category demand in 2026, with commercial finfish operations requiring diets tailored to species, growth stages, and production systems.
The report cites data from the Food and Agriculture Organization, which reported in June 2026 that aquaculture produced approximately 103 million tonnes of aquatic animals during 2024, underpinning recurring procurement requirements for formulated feed.
Regional growth rates vary. Japan is projected to expand at a 7.9% CAGR through 2036, compared with 5.0% for Germany. FMI attributes Japan's faster pace to a broader marine finfish production mix requiring species-specific diet design. Germany's aquafeed demand is described as more concentrated on cold-water species: Destatis reported in June 2026 that German aquaculture produced approximately 16,600 tonnes of fish in 2025, with trout and char representing 59.5% of output.
Feed economics are highlighted as central to supplier relationships. The report notes that higher-priced formulations must "demonstrate a corresponding biological or operating benefit to justify additional feed expenditure," and that farms may be reluctant to change established feed programmes when a new formulation carries uncertainty around feed conversion or harvest outcomes.
Companies identified in the competitive landscape include Cargill, Charoen Pokphand Foods, Nutreco (Skretting), Alltech, ADM, BioMar Group, Ridley Corporation, Land O'Lakes (Purina Animal Nutrition), Aller Aqua, and Guangdong Haid Group.
Nandini Roy Choudhury, Principal Consultant at Future Market Insights, commented: "Aquafeed suppliers are earning repeat business by proving conversion performance in the farm system that uses each diet. Ingredient novelty matters less than repeatable biological results once feed price becomes a material share of production cost."
All market size estimates, growth projections, and segment shares are sourced from FMI's proprietary research and have not been independently verified.
Prepared with AI assistance by Endata and reviewed by the editorial team.
