China Aqua Feed - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2026 - 2031)

According to Mordor Intelligence, the China aquafeed market size in 2026 is estimated at USD 25.29 billion, growing from 2025 value of USD 24 billion with 2031 projections showing USD 32.82 billion, growing at 5.36% CAGR over 2026-2031.

This report is Segmented by Animal Type (Fish, Crustaceans, and More), by Ingredient Type (Cereals and Grains, Fishmeal, Soymeal, and More), and by Form (Pellets, Extruded Feed, and More). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

China Aqua Feed Market Trends and Insights

Expanding Domestic Seafood Consumption Per Capita

Urban households consumed 41.6 kilograms of seafood in 2024, up 9.5% from 2020, as cold-chain networks extend shelf life and e-commerce improves access. Demand is shifting toward shrimp, tilapia, and salmon, species that require nutrient-dense feeds with higher fishmeal inclusion, thereby increasing revenue per metric ton for premium formulations. Coastal residents already exceed 50 kilograms, while inland consumers average 30 kilograms, indicating runway for volume in the central provinces. Subsidies under the "Big Food" plan offset pond-modernisation costs, steering farmers toward high-quality extruded diets that shorten grow-out cycles. Online platforms such as JD Fresh booked 30% year-on-year seafood sales growth in 2024, validating a logistics-driven consumption shift.

Government Dual Circulation Policy Supporting Agritech

The 14th Five-Year Plan earmarked CNY 15 billion (USD 2.1 billion) in subsidies for feed-mill automation, breeding upgrades, and recirculating aquaculture systems, accelerating technology adoption. Provincial pilots that blend Internet of Things (IoT) sensors with automated feeders cut labor costs by 40% and feed conversion ratios by 15% on demonstration farms. Regulators now require that 80% of commercial feeds meet national quality standards by 2026, squeezing out sub-scale mills and propelling consolidation. Tongwei and Guangdong Haid Group tapped these incentives to launch extrusion lines exceeding 100,000 metric tons per year, capturing energy savings near 25%. The policy's focus on domestic ingredient self-sufficiency has spurred soybean-crushing capacity and insect-protein pilots, buffering firms against import volatility.

Volatility of Fishmeal and Soybean Prices

Peruvian fishmeal traded from USD 1,500 to USD 1,600 per metric ton in 2024 as El Nino cut anchovy quotas, knocking 200 to 300 basis points off mill margins during the Q2 price spike. Soybean meal fluctuated between USD 450 and USD 550 amid Brazilian harvest uncertainty and U.S.-China policy shifts, forcing mills on 30-day inventory cycles to ration working capital. Larger players lock supply through hedging and long-term contracts, but smaller independents face acute cash-flow stress that fuels consolidation.

Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:

1. Rising Export-oriented Aquaculture Clusters in Coastal Provinces
2. Rapid Consolidation of Feed Mills Boosting Capacity Utilization
3. Outbreaks of Aquatic Animal Diseases

For complete list of drivers and restraints, kindly check the Table Of Contents.

Segment Analysis

Fish feeds underpinned 45.60% of 2025 revenue, sustained by resilient demand in Hubei, Hunan, and Jiangxi. The crustacean category is the fastest riser, projected at a 7.45% CAGR due to vannamei shrimp intensification in Guangdong and Guangxi. The China aquafeed market size for crustacean diets is set to outpace herbivorous species as export premiums justify higher fishmeal inclusion rates. Tilapia feeds, servicing 1.8 million metric tons of harvest in 2024, retain export tailwinds but face disease risks that squeeze margins. Land-based salmon farms in Shandong turned out 15,000 metric tons and require high-protein formulations priced 30% above carp equivalents, a niche with strong upside. Trout diets in Qinghai and Gansu, though minor, command premium pricing tied to cold-water lipid profiles. Mollusk and miscellaneous species together hold under 10% of demand, yet open micro-algae additive opportunities.

Technological upgrades in breeding drove an 8% to 10% gain in conversion efficiency for improved carp and tilapia strains approved in 2024. Meanwhile, crustacean diets wrestle with balancing >25% fishmeal inclusion against profit margins. Companies investing in species-specific research and joint breeding programs can tap segments where nutritional precision commands price premiums. Consequently, the China aquafeed market share for high-value species feeds should rise even as carp maintains volumetric dominance.

Complete Report Scope:

• By Animal Type
  • Fish
    • Carp
    • Tilapia
    • Salmon
    • Catfish
    • Other Fish Species
  • Crustaceans
    • Shrimps and Prawns
    • Crabs
  • Mollusks
    • Oysters
    • Mussels
    • Scallops
  • Trout
  • Other Animal Types
• By Ingredient Type
  • Cereals and Grains
  • Fishmeal
  • Soymeal
  • Additives
    • Vitamins
    • Minerals
    • Enzymes
  • Alternative Proteins (e.g., insect, microbial)
• By Form
  • Pellets
  • Extruded Feed
  • Powder
  • Liquid

List of Companies Covered in this Report:

1. Tongwei Co. Ltd.
2. Guangdong Haid Group Co. Ltd.
3. New Hope Liuhe Co. Ltd.
4. Cargill Inc.
5. BioMar Group (Schouw & Co.)
6. Charoen Pokphand Foods PCL
7. Nutreco NV - Skretting (SHV Holdings NV)
8. Alltech Inc.
9. Archer Daniels Midland Co.
10. Aller Aqua Group A/S
11. Biomin (DSM-Firmenich AG)
12. Hanpel Tech Co. Ltd.
13. Wellhope Agri-Tech Co. Ltd.
14. Guangdong Evergreen Feed Industry Co. Ltd.

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support