Aquafeed Additives Market

Market Overview

The global aquafeed additives market size was valued at USD 2.18 billion in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 2.84 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 3.0% during the forecast period (2023–2031).

Farming fish or other aquatic animals in ponds, circulation tanks, or similar habitats is known as aquaculture. Aquaculture has a rich history that dates back to the prehistoric past, and several recent advancements in the sector have occurred. In 1990, the first concrete fish tanks for commercial fish farming were built, and output increased to satisfy consumer demand. Aquafeed supplements are being offered to provide the necessary nutrient-rich meals. Aquafeed additives are compounded meals created from raw materials such as fish meal, soybeans, corn, sunflower, and corn. The feed's name suggests it is meant for aquatic animals like fish, shrimp, and crabs. Aquafeed and aquaculture additives are diets and supplements given to aquatic animals like fish and crustaceans to provide a complete, nutrient-rich diet. Amino acids, antibiotics, vitamins, and feed acidifiers are the most common additives used in aquaculture. They are in charge of raising the feed quality, which increases the performance and health of growing animals.

Highlights

• Feed acidifiers dominate the ingredients segment
• Catfish dominates the application segment
• Central and South America is the highest shareholder in the global market

Market Dynamics

Global Aquafeed Additives Market Drivers:

Increasing Direct Human Consumption (DHC) of Fish and Fish Products

Fish is low-fat than other meat forms such as cattle and poultry. Fish is a rich source of proteins and vitamins and is primarily used for direct human consumption. Fish consumption has increased due to the growing availability of various fish in the retail market. Therefore, likely to boost the demand for fish and fish products for direct human consumption in the coming years. In addition, Omega-3 fatty acids are extracted from various fish, including salmon, tuna, cod liver, whale blubber, and seal blubber. The increasing prevalence of obesity and other illnesses is anticipated to boost the demand for omega-3 supplements as they assist in reducing body fat. Further, consuming omega-3 derived from either farmed and wild fish or encapsulated fish oil helps control several health issues, such as asthma, psoriasis, and eczema.

Additionally, the human consumption of fish is anticipated to rise on account of the several health benefits related to fish, including enhancing cognitive development in children, assisting in reducing the threat of cardiovascular diseases, and lessening the fat level in the body, which diminishes the dangers associated with obesity. This is projected to fuel the demand for healthy and disease-free fish and high-quality fish products, consequently boosting the consumption of aquafeed additives over the forecast period.

Increased Demand for High Protein Content Food

Aquafeed additives are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids and proteins. They improve the nutritional value of the feed and offer several benefits, including increased protein digestibility, augmented growth rate, enhanced feed conversion, reduced mortality of aquatic species, and improved immunity system. Therefore, increasing awareness among aquafeed manufacturers regarding the nutritional benefits of aquafeed additives rich in protein content is anticipated to trigger market growth.

Furthermore, protein demand is observing a surge due to growing consumer awareness regarding consuming food with high nutritional value. An increasing number of consumers in the Asia-Pacific has led to an increased demand for protein sourced from animals (including fish). This is anticipated to propel the demand for fish food, driving the aquafeed additives market over the forecast period.

Global Aquafeed Additives Market Restraint:

Fluctuations in Raw Material Prices

Additives such as fishmeal and fish oil are majorly used to manufacture aquafeed. However, fluctuating prices of fishmeal due to the scarcity of captured fish have resulted in the increasing popularity of plant-based additives in aquafeed. Fluctuations are anticipated to hamper the growth of the aquafeed additives market as fishmeal is a primary raw material used for manufacturing aquafeed additives. Moreover, increasing demand for fishmeal from other applications, such as pharmaceuticals, has tightened its supply for aquafeed applications. These factors have prompted manufacturers of aquafeed additives to opt for crops and grains that contain nutritional levels equivalent to fishmeal in manufacturing additives.

Additionally, the prices of soybean and corn have been observing continuous fluctuations since 2009 because of several factors, such as fluctuating oil prices, adverse weather conditions, and global currency fluctuations. In addition, crops such as soybean and corn are used for direct human consumption, further restraining their supply for manufacturing aquafeed additives. Therefore, the high manufacturing costs of aquafeed additives due to volatile raw material prices are anticipated to hamper the market growth.

Global Aquafeed Additives Market Opportunities:

New Product Development and Geographical Expansion

The opportunities in the market majorly lie in two aspects - new product development and geographical expansion. Developing new products using bio-ingredients with sustainable features is expected to gain wide acceptance in the market. The shift toward environment-friendly aquafeed additives will likely boost consumer demand and attract new market entrants. However, new entrants will face stiff competition from existing participants as they benefit from economies of scale. The geographical expansion strategy is expected to result in higher profits for manufacturers as it would open new markets. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, consolidation in emerging economies will likely open up new market opportunities for aquafeed additives.

Regional Analysis

Central and South America Dominates the Global Market

Based on region, the global aquafeed additives market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Central and South America, and the Middle East and Africa.

Central and South America is the most significant shareholder in the global aquafeed additives market and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period. The aquaculture industry in this region is mainly concentrated in Chile, Brazil, Mexico, and Ecuador. The aquaculture industry in the region contributes to employment, food security, and foreign currency generation. Key aquatic species produced in the region include salmonids, shrimps, tilapia, mollusks, carp, and seaweed. In addition, the use of phytosterols as a feed additive for Atlantic salmon is expected to boost its health and lipid metabolism. These benefits of the additive, coupled with the high production of Atlantic salmon, are expected to drive the product demand in this region over the forecast period. Furthermore, due to favorable climatic conditions, the market is driven by aquaculture production in Brazil and Chile. The availability of locally produced fish feed made from basic raw materials such as fish oil and fish meal is anticipated to drive the aquaculture industry in these countries over the coming years.

North America is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 3.6% over the forecast period. The aquaculture industry in North America is projected to grow significantly due to the rising seafood consumption in countries such as the U.S. and Canada. The increasing consumption of salmonids and mollusks, hard clams, oysters, and mussels substantially contributes to the industry's growth. In addition, the rising demand for aquaculture-produced seafood can be attributed to a decline in the production of wild fishery and increased daily consumption of seafood across the region. The climatic conditions in the region are suitable for the growth of various aquaculture species, such as crustaceans and catfish. The intensive farming of these species in the area, specifically in the U.S., is expected to complement the growth of the aquaculture industry. Furthermore, the rising requirement for seafood due to the increasing population is anticipated to augment the development of the aquaculture industry, which is expected to drive the growth of the aquafeed additives market.

The aquaculture industry is growing significantly across European countries, especially the UK, France, Italy, and Spain. The main groups of reared aquaculture species include marine fish, freshwater fish, bivalves, and salmonids. A majority of Europe's total aquaculture production is represented by Atlantic salmon, Blue mussel, Rainbow trout, Atlantic Bluefin tuna, Gilt-head seabream, Pacific cupped oyster, European seabass, and Common carp. Further, the demand for aquafeed additives in the region has increased rapidly over the past decade, mainly because of the expanding marine aquaculture in countries such as Norway, Denmark, and Ireland. The improving environmental management, along with a drastic increase in the efficiency of feed and nutrient consumption, has aided the growth of the aquafeed additives market in the region. In addition, the presence of fish breeding bases in Western Europe, coupled with the growing popularity of mussels as a cheaper source of protein, is anticipated to supplement the aquafeed additives market growth over the forecast period.

Asia-Pacific is predicted to grow at a rapid pace in the global aquafeed additives market over the forecast period due to the substantial growth of the aquaculture industry, which is attributed to the availability of cheap labor, ease of induced conditions for aquaculture, and the presence of natural resources in the region. Strong aquaculture production in the region, predominantly in China and India, and factors such as the ease of fish farming, durability of species, and better water quality within closed farm systems are projected to drive the demand for aquafeed additives in the coming years. In addition, the favorable climatic conditions in these countries aid the overall aquaculture production, thereby driving the aquafeed industry and, consequently, the aquafeed additives market.

Aquaculture in the Middle East and Africa is increasing due to the growing consumption of seafood and an increase in fish imports. It is the largest producer of Litopenaeus vannamei (whiteleg shrimp). International players enter into strategic alliances to get a foothold in the country's aquafeed market. In addition, tuna, salmon, and fishmeal are being exported to various countries. This has increased the demand for aquafeed, further fueling the demand for aquafeed additives in the region.

Segmental Analysis

The global aquafeed additives market is segmented by ingredients and applications.

Based on ingredients, the global aquafeed additives market is divided into anti-parasitic, feed acidifiers, prebiotics, essential oils and natural extracts, palatants, hydrolysates, yeast extracts, and others. 

The feed acidifiers segment is responsible for the largest market share and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 3.4% over the forecast period. Feed acidifiers are prepared from organic acids and their salts. They help maintain gastric acid levels in aquatic species, thus boosting the absorption and digestion of food. The demand for feed acidifiers as aquafeed additives is projected to grow significantly due to their ability to prevent diseases caused by E. coli and Salmonella. They are being considered an alternative to antibiotics to offer protection from disease. In addition, the demand for feed acidifiers as aquafeed additives is expected to be positively affected soon due to the growing inclination of the FDA toward restricting the use of antibiotics and the rising focus on animal health management. Increasing awareness among the producers and consumers of the aquaculture industry regarding sustainable and responsible practices is expected to drive product demand over the forecast period.

Prebiotics are mainly used to sanitize the feed containing pathogenic agents and several other infections. They are used in fish diets to study and obtain positive effects on growth, gut microbiota, feed conversion, and resistance against pathogenic bacteria, cell damage, lysozyme activity, respiratory burst, phagocytic activity, and superoxide dismutase activity. Prebiotics, when used in small quantities with other nutrients, have proved to be beneficial in improving the feed efficiency and growth performance of finfish and crustaceans. They are gaining importance as growth promoters in aquafeed due to their positive effect on dressing percentage, body weight gain, and weight gain of muscles and vital organs of fish. Furthermore, the increasing acceptance of aquafeed consisting of growth-promoting ingredients is anticipated to boost the demand for prebiotics.

Based on application, the global aquafeed additives market is segmented into carp, rainbow trout, salmon, crustaceans, tilapia, catfish, sea bass, grouper, and others. 

The catfish segment owns the highest market share and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.4% during the forecast period. As a sustainable fish species, catfish are farmed in freshwater ponds using rice, corn, and soybean as aquafeed. It is the preferred group of farmed aquaculture species due to its ease of farming in less-than-ideal climatic conditions. Increasing demand for catfish from consumers due to its rich content of vitamin D and omega-6 fatty acids is expected to augment the demand for aquafeed additives market over the forecast period. In addition, catfish feed comprises corn meal, soybean meal, peanut meal, cottonseed meal, and wheat. This feed is supplemented with vitamins, minerals, and vegetable oil. Also, animal protein in fish meals is given to catfish. Increasing penetration of catfish production bases in Eastern Europe, especially in Poland, is expected to be a favorable factor for the growth of the aquafeed additives market over the forecast period.

Crustaceans include lobsters, crabs, shrimps, crayfish, krill, and prawns. The most cultivated varieties among crustacean species include giant prawns, fleshy prawns, and white-leg shrimp. They are used in several food products, such as fish cakes, soups, pies, stocks, seafood chowder, and processed foods. Protein is one of the essential ingredients in crustacean feed, with levels from 30-50% of the diet for lobsters and shrimps to about 60% of the diet for fish at the post-larvae stage. For high-feed conversion, moisture pellets and dry compound feed are given to shrimps. Further, increasing demand for prawns and shrimps in the food industry is anticipated to drive the aquafeed additives market over the forecast period.

Recent Developments

• February 2023- Calysta's FeedKind fermented protein can now be used in salmonid feed after receiving a "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) classification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
• February 2023- Nutreco acquired a minority position in BiomEdit, the most innovative microbiome biotech firm in animal health. The two firms have formed a ground-breaking, long-term strategic research and commercial relationship – the first since BiomEdit's inception – to provide livestock and aquaculture producers with unique, novel feed additives derived from microbiome technology.