Last year has gone by with short supply and high prices. Leading fish feed producers are sceptical of a repeat of last year in spite of the existing crisis and concerns.
The focus is now shifting to the dynamics of a global feed market that is marked by short supply and high prices over the past year.
Anchovy fishing is now underway in Peru. 2.475 million metric tons is the current season’s quota in Peru’s north-central fishing zone.
This is in line with industry expectations, Rabobank Senior Analyst Gorjan Nikolik told IntraFish. This was applauded by the feed producers who had to bear the brunt of last year’s early season cancellation in an effort to protect fish stocks.
Rabobank Senior analyst, Nikolik is expecting a significant drop in fishmeal prices.
The short supply catapulted the fishmeal prices to $2,000 (€1,883) per metric ton last year, bordering on $2,500 ((€2,352) per metric ton in China, Nikolik expects those prices to drop to $1,600 -1,650 (€1,505 – €1,552) per metric ton in 2024.
With future prices for soymeal alternatives expected to fall around $420 (€395) per metric ton there will be some relief to feed producers.
The big dilemma is around Fish oil this year. There is some concern in the industry that lower fish oil yields caused by higher water temperatures last year could, as it did in 2023, result in anchovy with lower-than-normal fat content.
Pesquera Exalmar of Peruvian fisheries and processing firm said the Fish Oil Prices will depend on the fat content of this year’s fish
“I expect fishmeal prices to remain stable, and fish oil prices will depend on the fat content of the fish, which we won’t see until we start fishing,” Exalmar CFO Raul Briceno told IntraFish.
Peru holds great significance in the global feed industry. The country accounts for about 20 percent of global fishmeal supply in spite of annual variations in the oil yields. There is a guarded sense of optimism as the fishing season begins this year that both the fishing and the feed markets are likely to rebound and stabilize www.growelgroup.com
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Dr. Sathish Prasad
Senior Scientist – Aquatic Animal Health
Growel Innovation Center,
RS NO.57, Chevuru Village, Sriharipuram Panchayat, Mudinepalli Mandal, Krishna District – Andhra Pradesh India – 521329
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