Aquatic Compound Feed Global Market Insights 2025, Analysis and Forecast to 2030, by Market Participants, Regions, Technology, Application, Product Type

Aquatic Compound Feed Market Summary

Aquatic compound feed refers to specially formulated nutrition products designed to meet the dietary needs of aquatic species, including ornamental fish, farmed fish, and other applications. These feeds are engineered to optimize growth, health, and reproduction, offering balanced nutrients in wet and dry forms. The market is characterized by its focus on sustainability, nutritional precision, and adaptability to diverse species and farming systems, such as recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and open-water setups. It serves the rapidly growing aquaculture industry, reflecting a sector driven by increasing seafood demand, declining wild fish stocks, and advancements in feed formulation technology. Key growth drivers include the expansion of aquaculture, rising consumer preference for fish protein, and innovations in feed efficiency.

Market Size and Growth Forecast
The global aquatic compound feed market is estimated to reach USD 7.3 to 10.6 billion in 2025, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.5% to 4.5% from 2025 to 2030. This growth is propelled by the steady rise in aquaculture production and demand for high-quality feed solutions.

Regional Analysis
North America: Holds 15-20% market share, with a growth rate of 3-4%. Growth is driven by premium farmed fish demand, with the United States leading in salmon and trout feed and Canada focusing on sustainable aquaculture practices.
Europe: Accounts for 25-30% market share, with a growth rate of 3-4%. Demand from Norway and Denmark supports dominance, driven by salmon farming and stringent quality standards.
Asia Pacific: Represents 45-50% market share, with a growth rate of 4-5%. China and India drive growth with massive aquaculture output and government-backed fish farming initiatives.
Rest of the World: Holds 10-15% market share, growing at 4-5%, with Chile leading due to its robust salmon export market and growing shrimp production.
Trends in Europe emphasize sustainability and premium feed formulations, while Asia Pacific prioritizes cost-effective, high-volume production to meet local and export needs.

Application Analysis
Ornamental fish applications grow at 3-4%, driven by the pet and aquarium trade, with trends toward specialized feeds enhancing color and vitality in species like koi and goldfish. Farmed fish applications grow at 4-5%, fueled by commercial aquaculture, with trends toward feeds optimizing growth and feed conversion ratios (FCR) in species like tilapia and salmon. Others, including crustaceans and specialty aquatic species, grow at 3-4%, with steady demand for tailored feeds in shrimp and niche markets.

Product Type Analysis
Wet feed grows at 3-4%, favored for its palatability and use in early-stage fish farming, with trends toward adoption in hatcheries and ornamental fish breeding. Dry feed grows at 4-5%, driven by its shelf stability and ease of storage, with trends toward widespread use in large-scale farmed fish operations and improved extrusion technologies.

Key Market Players
Aller Aqua AS: A leading provider of aquatic feeds, Aller Aqua AS specializes in high-performance formulations for farmed fish. Known for its sustainable, species-specific products, it serves global aquaculture markets with a focus on efficiency.
Alltech: Alltech offers innovative feed solutions for ornamental and farmed fish. Renowned for its nutritional expertise, it targets producers with feeds enhancing health and growth across North America and beyond.
Scoular: Scoular supplies raw materials and compound feeds for aquaculture. It excels in reliable, cost-effective solutions, supporting farmed fish producers with a strong presence in the Americas.
ANDRITZ GROUP: ANDRITZ GROUP provides feed production equipment and dry feed solutions. Known for its advanced extrusion technology, it serves global aquaculture with scalable, efficient feed systems.
Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM): ADM delivers a range of aquatic feeds for commercial farming. Renowned for its nutritional innovation, it targets large-scale producers with sustainable, high-quality products.
BioMar AS: BioMar AS focuses on premium feeds for farmed fish like salmon. Known for its research-driven formulations, it serves Europe and beyond with feeds optimizing FCR and sustainability.
Biomin GmbH: Biomin GmbH offers feeds with health-enhancing additives. It excels in biosecure, performance-focused solutions, targeting aquaculture producers with a global footprint.
Ridley Corporation: Ridley Corporation provides dry and wet feeds for farmed fish. Known for its tailored, high-quality products, it serves Asia Pacific and export markets with a focus on growth.
Cargill: Cargill supplies a wide range of aquatic feeds for diverse species. Renowned for its global supply chain and nutritional expertise, it supports farmed fish and ornamental markets with scalable solutions.
Land O' Lakes: Land O' Lakes offers feeds for aquaculture and ornamental fish. It stands out for its practical, farmer-friendly products, targeting North American producers with reliable offerings.
Nutreco: Nutreco provides advanced feeds for farmed fish and shrimp. Known for its sustainable, research-backed formulations, it serves global markets with a focus on efficiency and quality.
These companies compete on nutritional quality, sustainability, and cost, driving the market through R&D and regional customization.

Porter’s Five Forces Analysis
The threat of new entrants is moderate, requiring expertise in feed formulation and significant investment, though smaller players can emerge with niche products. Substitutes are low, with natural feeds impractical for large-scale aquaculture. Buyer power is medium, with aquaculture producers negotiating based on price and quality, but reliance on specialized feeds limits switching. Supplier power is moderate, with raw materials like fishmeal and soy widely available, though price volatility can impact costs. Rivalry is high, with players differentiating through sustainability certifications, nutritional innovation, and production efficiency, fostering continuous advancements.

Market Opportunities and Challenges
Opportunities
Rising global aquaculture production boosting demand for compound feeds.
Advancements in feed formulation improving efficiency and sustainability.
Government support for aquaculture in Asia Pacific and Europe driving expansion.
Challenges
High raw material costs impacting feed pricing and profitability.
Environmental regulations on fishmeal sourcing limiting supply options.
Competition from alternative protein sources challenging market share.

Merger and Acquisition News
BioMar Acquires Full Ownership of Norwegian Aquaculture Research Center (Date: October 2023): BioMar AS completed its acquisition of full ownership of a leading Norwegian aquaculture research center, strengthening its R&D capabilities. This move enhances BioMar’s ability to develop cutting-edge feed formulations for farmed fish, solidifying its position in Europe’s salmon market.
Merck Animal Health Completes Acquisition of Elanco’s Aqua Business (Date: March 2024): Merck Animal Health finalized its acquisition of Elanco’s aquaculture division, expanding its portfolio with aquatic feeds and health products. This deal boosts Merck’s presence in the farmed fish sector, targeting global producers with integrated solutions.
Aqua Bridge Group Completes Acquisition of Avramar’s Greek Assets (Date: July 2024): Aqua Bridge Group acquired Avramar’s Greek aquaculture assets, including feed production facilities. This acquisition enhances Aqua Bridge’s foothold in Mediterranean farmed fish markets, focusing on sustainable feed supply for regional producers.

Growth Trend Analysis
The Agri-Food Outlook 2023 report by Alltech indicates that aquatic compound feed accounted for 4.2% (52.9 million tons) of the global compound feed tonnage, which reached 1.266 billion metric tons in 2022. The aquaculture sector’s global feed production grew by 2.7%, reflecting steady expansion driven by increasing farmed fish output, particularly in Asia Pacific and Europe. This growth supports demand for dry feeds, favored for their stability and use in large-scale operations, and wet feeds for hatcheries and ornamental fish, aligning with companies like Cargill and Nutreco’s offerings.
In Asia Pacific, China’s dominance in tilapia and shrimp farming drives volume, boosting dry feed adoption, while Europe’s salmon-centric market favors premium formulations from BioMar and Aller Aqua. North America’s focus on trout and ornamental fish sustains steady demand for both wet and dry feeds. The 2.7% growth rate, projected to align with the 3.5-4.5% CAGR through 2030, reflects aquaculture’s role in meeting global seafood needs, supported by innovations in feed efficiency and sustainability. The market’s upward trajectory is bolstered by rising per capita fish consumption and aquaculture’s shift toward intensive, feed-dependent systems, ensuring robust growth despite raw material cost pressures.