China Aqua Feed Market Assessment, By Species, By Life Stage, By Form, By Distribution Channel, By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, 2018-2032F

China aqua feed market is projected to witness a CAGR of 3.90% during the forecast period 2025-2032, growing from USD 20.42 billion in 2024 to USD 26.97 billion in 2032. Advanced formulation and innovation are the key factors that are driving market growth. The development of advanced feed formulations fostering market growth helps in providing tailored nutrients that are specific to the requirements of species. As investment in research and development continues to increase in the aquafeed industry, this industry will go into a new era, ensuring the persistent growth of aquaculture in China, satisfying the increasing consumption by Chinese consumers. These developments point toward a robust and interlinked growth of the seafood and aquafeed sectors in China.

For instance, in September 2025, Louis Dreyfus Company inaugurated a joint laboratory in China to enhance animal feed and nutrition solutions, signaling a renewed focus on value creation across the supply chain.

The adoption of precision farming technologies, such as feed management systems and automated feeding, has helped optimize feed use, reduce waste, and improve the overall efficiency of aquaculture operations. The use of probiotics and other functional feed additives to enhance fish health and reduce the need for antibiotics, aligns with sustainable practices, aiming to minimize environmental impacts and ensure the long-term viability of the aquafeed market in China.

In addition, governmental initiatives by the Chinese government in special efforts to enhance food security in the nation by reducing dependence on imports or introducing local feed processing to stimulate the aquafeed market.

Moreover, rapid urbanization and growth of the middle-class in China raised the demand for cheap, protein-rich food, which contributed to the further growth in fish farming and other forms of aquaculture, propelling the demand for aquafeed in the country. These combined factors have solidified China's position as a leader in global aqua feed market.

Seafood Production to Propel Market Growth

Changes in consumer dietary patterns towards more protein-rich, health-oriented foods are the key reasons aquafeed market has grown in unison with increased seafood consumption in China. The rapid growth of the middle-class and urbanized population in China is the main contributing factor to changing dietary consumer patterns. Consumers are seeking healthy protein seafood as it provides a diverse diet containing omega-3 fatty acids and valuable trace-metals.

This demand for quality and nutritionally balanced aquafeeds will increase with the growth of aquaculture production to fill those needs. Special feeds are required to ensure the rapid growth of the fish, but also to maintain their health for the overall sustainability and efficiency of aquaculture practices.

As per the China Fishery Products Report release in March 2025, China remained the world's largest seafood producer in 2023 and 2024, supported by its large-scale aquaculture base and strong domestic consumption. According to category-wise production data, China's total seafood output increased from 39.39 million metric tons in 2023 to 41.13 million metric tons in 2024, reflecting a year-on-year growth of about 4.4%. Fish continued to dominate China's seafood production mix, with output rising from 29.77 million metric tons in 2023 to 30.82 million metric tons in 2024, accounting for nearly 75% of total seafood production. Production of shrimp, prawn, and crab also witnessed healthy growth, increasing from 7.38 million metric tons to 7.88 million metric tons during the same period, driven by expanding intensive and semi-intensive farming practices in southern and eastern regions. The other seafood category, which includes molluscs and minor aquatic species, rose from 2.23 million metric tons in 2023 to 2.44 million metric tons in 2024.

Fish Production to Drive the Market Growth

Higher fish production in China is driving the growth for aquafeed market in the country compared to other aquatic animals. Farmed fish species such as carp, tilapia, and catfish that include bulk of fish farming are done mostly on land, corresponding well to the different conditions given in fresh and coastal waters in China, which help achieve the highest possible yield.

Fish are relatively easy and inexpensive to farm in comparison to many other aquatic animals, such as crustaceans or mollusks, which often thrive best in special conditions and usually require higher maintenance. As per the China Fishery Products Report released in March 2025, China's aquaculture sector continued to be dominated by fish production, which remained the largest farmed category in the country. In 2024, fish output increased to 30.82 million metric tons, up from 29.77 million metric tons in 2023, reflecting a year-on-year growth of around 3.5%. Fish accounted for approximately 75% of China's total seafood production in 2024, highlighting its central role in the country's aquaculture industry.

Also, the consumers' preference for fish in food and traditions that bring large-scale fish farming has always been part of China. Government policies and incentives were designed to increase fish production through subsidies, research support, and programs aimed at improving technology and sustainability in aquaculture.

Sustainable Aqua Feeds to Expand Market

Sustainability movements in the aquafeed market in China are gaining momentum as the country seeks to balance its leading position in aquaculture with environmental conservation. One of the primary focuses is reducing the reliance on traditional fishmeal and fish oil that are sourced from wild fish stocks. To address it, Chinese researchers and companies are increasingly investing in alternative protein sources such as plant-based proteins, algae, and insect meal. These alternatives reduce the environmental impact and help reduce costs associated with feed production.

Moreover, the Chinese government has implemented policies that encourage sustainable aquaculture practices. These include supporting research and development in eco-friendly feed ingredients and technologies and promoting integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) systems. IMTA involves growing different species together, such as fish, shellfish, and seaweed, which can naturally balance the ecosystem by recycling nutrients and reducing waste.

In January 2024, Calysta's FeedKind protein gained a green signal from the Chinese government for the usage of aquafeeds. The company uses methane to feed microbes that can be turned into protein for aquafeed. According to the company, the product provides the opportunity for the Chinese aquaculture sector to set new standards in sustainable feed practices.

Future Market Scenario (2025 - 2032F)

The aquafeed market in China is anticipated to expand due to the support from the Chinese government. The support promotes the scope of innovation, which fosters the protection of endangered species and the introduction of alternative and sustainable aquafeed in the marketplace. China is trying to push compound feed with the aim to protect the juvenile fish. An initiative of the Chinese government to stop the aquaculture feed being made from merely young or low-value fish and to instead start producing compound feed, which is feed mixed with ingredients harvested from the land, opening a greener future for the sector.

Key Players Landscape and Outlook

The key players are facilitating expansion in the market with the help of strategic partnerships and the introduction of innovative products. The key players are striving to enter into newer markets and regions to gain a competitive edge.

In April 2025, Skretting China inaugurated its first dedicated LifeStart production line in Zhuhai marking its first such facility in Asia and accompanying the launch of five new hatchery feed products for species including salmon, tilapia, golden pompano, snakehead, and catfish. This move reflects Skretting's confidence in the long-term growth prospects of China's aquaculture industry and the company's ambition to become a leading provider of early-life stage nutrition solutions in the region