The global Aquafeed & Alternative Aqua Protein Market is projected to reach USD 109.7 billion by 2036, up from approximately USD 62.4 billion in 2026, expanding at a 5.8% CAGR during the forecast period, according to the latest analysis by Future Market Insights (FMI).
The market is being supported by expanding fed-aquaculture production, which is generating recurring demand for protein inputs across commercial fish and shrimp farming operations. Increasing farm output is translating into regular feed requirements, creating opportunities for both conventional and alternative protein suppliers.
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Fishmeal Continues to Anchor Ingredient Demand
Fishmeal is estimated to account for 43.9% of ingredient demand in 2026, making it the leading ingredient category. Its established nutrient performance, protein quality and palatability characteristics make it a familiar input for performance-sensitive aquafeed formulations.
Feed manufacturers continue to rely on fishmeal because established formulation knowledge can reduce reformulation risks in intensive aquaculture systems.
Salmon Leads Species Demand
Salmon is expected to account for 45.6% of species demand in 2026, making it the leading species category.
Salmon farming requires precise nutrient delivery because feed conversion, growth consistency and biological performance directly influence farm economics. New protein sources therefore face rigorous qualification requirements before they can become routine inputs.
Powder Remains the Leading Form
Powder is projected to account for 41.3% of form demand in 2026, supported by bulk storage, controlled dosing and compatibility with established feed-mill operations.
Dry protein meals can be incorporated into existing receiving and dosing systems without requiring major changes to liquid-addition infrastructure.
Fed Aquaculture Drives Recurring Protein Demand
Fed aquaculture creates recurring protein requirements because each production cycle requires new feed volumes for growing aquatic animals.
The Food and Agriculture Organization reported in June 2026 that aquaculture produced 103 million tonnes of aquatic animals during 2024. Rising farm output expands the addressable market for qualified alternative proteins when feed mills can secure consistent nutrition at commercially viable volumes.
Qualification Rules Can Slow Alternative Protein Adoption
Novel feed ingredients can face regulatory, formulation and species-specific qualification requirements before they become routine commercial inputs.
Insect-protein economics are particularly influenced by the feed-grade substrates that producers can legally use. Norway’s Food Safety Authority stated in January 2026 that substrates for farmed insects must comply with feed rules and exclude several waste-derived inputs.
India Shows the Fastest Growth Among Highlighted Markets
Among the highlighted country markets, India is projected to record a 6.8% CAGR through 2036, followed by Vietnam at 6.4%, China at 6.0%, Chile at 5.6% and Norway at 5.2%.
India’s growth is supported by shrimp-feed distribution and increasing emphasis on traceability across export-oriented aquaculture. Vietnam combines large shrimp production with national feed-conformity requirements, while China benefits from large feed manufacturing networks and initiatives supporting non-grain feed resources.
Competitive Landscape
The Aquafeed & Alternative Aqua Protein Market includes global aquafeed manufacturers, specialist insect and microbial protein companies, and algae-derived nutrition suppliers.
Key companies profiled by FMI include Skretting (Nutreco), Cargill (EWOS), BioMar, InnovaFeed, Calysta, Corbion, Veramaris and Unibio.
Competition is divided between complete-feed manufacturers with direct control over formulation and farm-facing technical support and specialist protein companies seeking approved inclusion within established feed recipes.
Key Industry Developments
The market continues to see acquisitions, commercial partnerships, certification expansion and alternative-protein deployment.
In February 2026, BioMar acquired the remaining 30% of BioMar Ecuador, taking full ownership of the aquafeed business and strengthening its direct position in a major shrimp-feed market.
In January 2026, Innovafeed and NaturAlleva announced a commercial partnership for black soldier fly ingredients across Mediterranean aquafeed formulations, with deployment in sea bass and sea bream feeds.
In July 2025, Skretting received ASC Feed Standard certification for factories in Italy, Vietnam and Australia, increasing its certified factory count to ten and expanding documented feed-production coverage across fish and shrimp markets.
Analyst Perspective
“Aquafeed proteins should be judged first on digestible amino-acid delivery and legal inclusion limits for the target species. Feed mills gain more from a new protein when trials also prove pellet behavior, traceable sourcing and dependable tonnage under normal production schedules.” — Nandini Roy Choudhury, Principal Analyst, Future Market Insights
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Report Scope
The FMI study covers the Aquafeed & Alternative Aqua Protein Market by ingredient, species, form and region. Ingredient categories include fishmeal, insect, single-cell, algal and plant proteins. Species categories include salmon, shrimp and tilapia, while forms include powder, liquid, granules and paste.
The research covers North America, Latin America, Europe, East Asia, South Asia and Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa, with country-level analysis including India, Vietnam, China, Chile, Norway and 20+ countries.
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About Future Market Insights (FMI)
Future Market Insights, Inc. is an ESOMAR-certified, ISO 9001:2015 market research and consulting organization trusted by Fortune 500 companies. With a global presence across the U.S., UK, India and Dubai, FMI delivers data-driven insights across 30+ industries and 1,200 markets worldwide.
