Also known as: FM · LT94 fish meal · Anchovy meal
Cooked, pressed and dried fish (primarily anchovy). 62–72% CP with the most digestible amino-acid profile in commercial feed.
Short answer: Feed-grade fish meal is normally traded at 60–67% crude protein (super-prime grades reach 70–72%), with Peru, Chile, Vietnam, India and Morocco the main origins for aquaculture, pig and poultry rations. FeedMatch Group compares independent fish meal suppliers on your specification and CIF landed cost after a person reviews your request; timing depends on supplier responses.
Compare origins on the same delivered basis for your discharge port and shipment window with the landed-cost calculator, then request offers through a reviewed RFQ.
Schemes buyers often ask suppliers to document for this ingredient — not a statement that any supplier holds them. FeedMatch asks for the current certificate in the RFQ; check that its scope covers the product and activity in the scheme's own register (see GMP+ and FAMI-QS).
Buyer-input calculator
Put a fish meal offer on one delivered basis. Use the figures in the supplier quote and your own logistics estimate.
Source: buyer-entered figures only · Date: calculated now · Currency: selected above · Reliability: preliminary arithmetic estimate. Confirm duties, taxes, losses and charges with qualified advisers before contracting.
Each point quotes the original source, with its date and the period it covers. Confirmed data, member-based reports, forecasts and speakers' views are labelled separately. Sources checked 2026-10-21. FeedMatch does not quote fishmeal or fish oil prices here.
By-products (processing trimmings) supplied 34% of global fishmeal production and 54% of global fish oil production in 2024.
Shares of production volume, not of supply to any one market. A separate IFFO-hosted magazine article (August 2026) gives about 35% and 57% without stating the data year, so quote the figure with its year and source.
Source: IFFO, By-product (Dr Enrico Bachis) · March 2026 · data: 2024
Through August 2026, cumulative fishmeal output in the countries IFFO tracks ran 45% behind the same period of 2025, and fish oil output 26% behind, while Peru's North-Centre anchovy season stayed closed.
Based on IFFO members' data from 12 producing countries covering about 40% of global fishmeal and 50% of fish oil output.
Source: IFFO, El Niño remains a concern, with expectations of prolonged coastal warming in Peru · 5 October 2026 · data: January–August 2026
IFFO expects 2026 global supply below 4.6 million t of fishmeal and around 1.15 million t of fish oil — the lowest since 2016 for both.
A projection published before the season outcome is known; check the next IFFO update before using it in a contract or budget.
Source: IFFO, El Niño remains a concern, with expectations of prolonged coastal warming in Peru · 5 October 2026 · data: 2026 (forecast)
At the IFFO Annual Conference in Buenos Aires, a DNB Bank speaker said record-high fishmeal and fish oil prices are changing aquafeed recipes, with more poultry, GMO and novel ingredients.
A reported view, not a price series: IFFO's summary gives no price level, benchmark or comparison period, so FeedMatch quotes no price.
Source: IFFO, IFFO Conference 2026: Key takeaways from the Opening session (19 October) · 19 October 2026
In the 20 October session, a Rabobank speaker said biofuel demand is reshaping price relationships between oils and proteins, and that relative prices and co-product availability will increasingly decide which ingredients enter feed formulas.
An outlook from one speaker, not a forecast with figures.
Source: IFFO, IFFO Conference 2026: Key takeaways from Challenges & Opportunities · Session of 20 October 2026 (date on IFFO's session slides)
MarinTrust's Executive Chair said responsible sourcing covers product safety, manufacturing practice, social safeguards and full traceability, and that a certificate is one tool and a snapshot in time.
Reported in the same 20 October session summary.
Source: IFFO, IFFO Conference 2026: Key takeaways from Challenges & Opportunities · Session of 20 October 2026 (date on IFFO's session slides)
MarinTrust (formerly IFFO RS) certifies marine-ingredient factories under its Global Standard Version 3.0, which assesses whole-fish and by-product raw materials; all facility audits have used Version 3 since 1 May 2025.
A factory certificate covers the named site and scope; ask for the certificate, its scope and expiry.
Source: MarinTrust, MarinTrust Standard Version 3.0 · Issued 23 October 2023; effective 1 May 2024
MarinTrust Chain of Custody Standard Version 2.1 (issued February 2026, effective 1 May 2026) covers processing, storage and trading of certified marine ingredients.
Relevant when buying through a trader or blender rather than directly from a certified factory.
Source: MarinTrust, MarinTrust Chain of Custody Standard · February 2026
FeedMatch guidance based on the points above — not a source statement.
These questions turn a broad market search into a comparable procurement brief. Values, doses, substitutions and performance expectations must be approved by the buyer's qualified nutrition, veterinary, feed-science, safety and regulatory advisers.
State the protein source and processing method, guaranteed analysis, moisture, fibre, relevant digestibility basis, anti-nutritional limits, contamination limits and the species or feed phase. Crude protein alone does not make two offers equivalent.
Normalise offers to the same delivered moisture and nutrient basis, then compare usable nutrient value, quality variability, testing, freight, duties and rejection terms. A lower price per tonne can be more expensive when digestibility or consistency differs.
Request a current specification, technical and safety data, recent batch certificates of analysis, manufacturing and feed-safety certification, destination registration where required, allergen or GMO status where relevant, traceability details, shelf-life evidence and a clear procedure for non-conforming lots. Verify documents and claims before approval.
The quoted result can change with feedstock or active-material availability, production concentration, plant outages, energy and freight costs, packaging, order size, Incoterm, destination registration, testing requirements and delivery window. FeedMatch does not publish a live price; buyers should request a firm, time-bound quotation against one controlled specification.
Confirm the current rule for the exact product, target species and destination market before contracting. Private assurance schemes may support supplier qualification but do not replace applicable law.
Crude protein is nitrogen content multiplied by a conversion factor (usually 6.25); it estimates total protein but says nothing about amino-acid quality or digestibility.
The amino-acid profile — and above all digestible lysine, methionine, threonine and tryptophan — is what protein ingredients are actually bought for in modern formulation.
Digestibility expresses the proportion of a nutrient the animal can actually absorb; it converts an analytical composition into a nutritional value.
Ash is the inorganic residue after complete combustion; it indicates total mineral content and, in protein meals, is a practical marker for bone, shell, sand or mineral adulteration.
Moisture is water content expressed as a percentage; it dilutes every other nutrient, drives mould and mycotoxin risk in storage, and is the single most disputed parameter in bulk feed trade.
Microbiological specifications control Salmonella, Enterobacteriaceae, moulds and yeasts, protecting animal health, plant hygiene and — for several species — the human food chain.
Each parameter is explained in the specification library — what it measures, how it is tested and what to verify.
| Test | Why buyers run it |
|---|---|
| Crude protein (Kjeldahl or Dumas) | Contractual value; confirm nitrogen factor and moisture basis |
| Amino-acid profile, digestible basis | The real formulation value; detects heat damage crude protein hides |
| Urease / KOH solubility / protein dispersibility index | Processing intensity proxy for soy and heat-treated proteins |
| Total and acid-insoluble ash | Bone, shell, soil and mineral dilution indicator |
| Salmonella and Enterobacteriaceae | Protein meals are the classic entry point for pathogens into a mill |
| Moisture and water activity | Storage stability and short-weight economics |
6–12 months when antioxidant-treated at production and stored below 30 °C. Untreated material can self-heat within weeks; treatment type, dose and date belong on the specification.
Formulation stages, KPIs and the ingredient basket for poultry — broilers operations.
Formulation stages, KPIs and the ingredient basket for aquaculture operations.
Formulation stages, KPIs and the ingredient basket for swine operations.
Certificates of analysis, sampling, inspection, origin, traceability and import documentation.
Step-by-step buying guides and printable verification checklists.
Least-cost, inclusion and landed-cost tools for procurement planning.
Technical articles, market context and regulatory background.
Educational reference maintained by FeedMatch Group. We do not rank, recommend or endorse manufacturers; values are indicative industry references and never replace testing of the delivered lot.
Next steps for a fish meal purchase — verifying what actually arrives and structuring the tender:
Purchase specification and commercial terms
Short answer: suppliers can only quote like-for-like when the specification and the commercial terms are written down. Use the two checklists below. Your nutritionist sets the nutrient values; this page does not suggest any limits, prices or tolerances.
| Product identity | Exact name, origin and process (e.g. solvent-extracted soybean meal), not a generic category. |
|---|---|
| Analytical specification | Parameters with limits and basis: protein, moisture, fat, fibre, ash or the key nutrient for that ingredient. |
| Contaminant limits | Mycotoxins, salmonella, heavy metals and residues under your local feed regulation. |
| Sampling and test method | Who samples, where (loading or arrival), how many samples, which laboratory and method. |
| Packaging and handling | Bulk, big bag or bags; storage and handling conditions in transit. |
| Documents per lot | Certificate of analysis, phytosanitary or health certificate and certificate of origin, as required. |
| Price basis | Price per tonne in one currency with an Incoterms® 2020 rule and named place (e.g. CIF named port). |
|---|---|
| Quantity and tolerance | Contract tonnage, delivery schedule and the agreed quantity tolerance. |
| Payment terms | Deposit, letter of credit or open account, and the documents that trigger payment. |
| Quality acceptance | Which analysis is final (loading or arrival), how a referee sample is resolved, and price adjustment or rejection rules. |
| Claims window | How many days after delivery a quality or quantity claim can be raised, and what evidence is needed. |
| Delivery and delay | Delivery window, who bears late-delivery costs and force majeure wording. |
| Validity | How long the offer stays valid and how price changes are handled for later deliveries. |
Compare offers on cost per kg of output, not price per tonne alone: a cheaper ingredient that worsens feed conversion can cost more per kg produced.
Calculators and checklists are free. Plant and equipment projects start from USD 250,000; ingredient and feed supply has no such minimum. Our team reviews each request before contacting suppliers. Incoterms® is a trademark of the International Chamber of Commerce.
Pick the lane that matches where you are in the purchase — each link goes to the exact tool or page for that step.
What exactly am I buying?
How much, and at what landed cost?
Is this supplier and lot acceptable?
Finished ration sourcing, including bulk and bagged formats, runs through the aqua feed panel.
Aquaculture feed suppliersMarine oil is quoted on its own specification and price basis.
Fish oil sourcingLow-temperature (<70 °C) processed, ≥94% digestibility (TVN-based). Premium standard for salmon and shrimp diets.
Peruvian catch cuts of 30–60% push CIF prices 40–100% higher. Hedging via forward contracts or partial substitution with insect protein is recommended.
Not yet in most commercial applications. Replacement of 25–50% has shown parity in trials; 100% requires supplemental attractants and DHA.
For commercial farm feed buyers
FeedMatch helps farm buyers compare feed suppliers, nutrition providers, additives suppliers and related solutions. FeedMatch is an intermediary and does not manufacture feed or provide financing directly.
Choose your path
Poultry, dairy & beef, pig and aquafeed, plus bulk feed contracts.
Soybean meal, grains, DDGS, fish meal, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, premixes and additives.
Suppliers are contacted only after authorized human review. Plant and equipment projects generally from USD 250,000; feed and ingredient supply has no such minimum.
How it works
| Fish Meal | Evidence to request |
|---|---|
| Product-specific specification | Species and raw-material origin; processing and freshness evidence; protein, ash, oxidation and microbiology. |
Turn the product checks into a written specification approved by your technical team. Separate guaranteed contractual values from typical information; state units, moisture basis, analytical methods and tolerances. Request a dated, lot-linked certificate of analysis and representative sampling plan. Agree who releases the lot, what happens after an out-of-spec result, and how retained samples and claims are handled. A generic technical sheet is not evidence for the shipment you receive.
Use the same grade, quantity, named delivery place, Incoterm, currency and quote date. Separate product, freight, insurance, duties, testing, handling and payment costs; never count included freight twice or unknown charges as zero. Concentrates require an agreed active-content or activity basis. Moisture correction and nutritional equivalence must use measured analysis and qualified approval, not a kilogram-for-kilogram swap. Ask for quote validity and confirm inclusions before comparing totals.
State quantity and units per shipment, frequency, requested arrival window, packaging and unloading constraints. Record warehouse temperature/humidity needs, remaining shelf life at arrival, segregation and traceability requirements. Ask the team to obtain dated lead-time proposals and contingency terms; this is not a stock or supplier-availability claim. Product eligibility and import documents must be checked for the actual destination and animal species, not inferred from another market.
A lower ingredient invoice does not prove a lower cost of animal production. Use the FCR calculator with your own feed consumed, liveweight gain and complete-feed cost over the same period. Keep species, phase, feed basis and measurement method consistent. Do not attribute an FCR change to an additive without comparable evidence; the calculator evaluates inputs, not product efficacy. Any inclusion or reformulation decision belongs to your qualified nutritionist.
Buyer use is free. Ingredient and recurring feed supply are assessed by specification, viable volume/frequency, destination and logistics—not the plant/equipment capital minimum. FeedMatch reviews your request, contacts suitable suppliers and presents responses through the team; no direct buyer–supplier handoff and no guaranteed offers.
Send your specification, quantity and destination for human review; the US$250,000 minimum applies only to plant and equipment projects. FeedMatch reviews and organises your brief before contacting suitable suppliers, then presents responses through FeedMatch—not through direct buyer-to-supplier contact.
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