Fish Oil Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Application (Human Consumption, Aquaculture, Pet Food, Others), By Species (Tuna, Salmon, Pangasius, Tilapia, Others), By Region, By Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 3.67 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	4.61%
Fastest Growing Segment	Human Consumption
Largest Market	Europe
Market Size (2031)	USD 4.81 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Fish Oil Market will grow from USD 3.67 Billion in 2025 to USD 4.81 Billion by 2031 at a 4.61% CAGR. The Global Fish Oil Market involves the extraction of lipids rich in eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids, primarily from pelagic fish species like anchovy and menhaden. Market expansion is substantiated by the industrial necessity of aquaculture, where fish oil serves as a critical feed input, and the pharmaceutical demand for omega-3 concentrates. These structural drivers differ from transient consumer trends as they represent essential biological requirements for livestock development and human health, ensuring inelastic demand across global supply chains.

However, the sector faces a significant impediment arising from raw material volatility and climatic dependence, specifically El Niño events that disrupt fishing quotas and yield. This environmental instability causes severe supply shortages and price inflation that strain downstream manufacturers. According to the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s, in 2024, the total global volume of omega-3 ingredients reached 131,183 metric tons, reflecting restricted volume growth of 2.5 percent while market value surged 10.2 percent due to supply constraints. This discrepancy highlights the market's vulnerability to ecological factors which can restrict long-term expansion despite robust consumption needs.

Key Market Drivers

Rapid expansion of the commercial aquaculture sector and aquafeed demand constitutes the primary structural engine for the Global Fish Oil Market. As the aquaculture industry intensifies production of carnivorous species such as salmon and trout, the reliance on lipid-rich marine ingredients for essential fatty acids remains acute. Fish oil provides the necessary nutritional profile to ensure optimal growth rates and disease resistance in farmed stock, creating a rigid demand curve that closely tracks aquaculture output. This industrial dependency is highlighted by trade flows in key production hubs; according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), October 2025, in the 'Global Fishmeal and Fish Oil Trade Update', Norway’s fish oil imports rose to 38,400 tonnes in the first quarter of 2025, a 26 percent increase year-on-year to support its massive salmon farming operations.

Simultaneously, the rising global awareness of omega-3 cardiovascular and cognitive health benefits is shifting the market toward high-value human consumption. Consumers are increasingly prioritizing preventative healthcare, driving the uptake of refined EPA and DHA supplements and functional foods. This trend effectively decouples value from volume, as pharmaceutical-grade oils command premium pricing compared to feed-grade commodities. The scale of this consumer-driven segment is substantial; according to the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s, July 2025, in the 'EPA and DHA Omega-3 Finished Product Report', the global finished product market for these ingredients reached USD 52.4 billion in 2023. Supporting this dual demand from both feed and food sectors, supply conditions have begun to stabilize; according to IFFO - The Marine Ingredients Organisation, October 2025, in its 'Monthly Market Intelligence Report', cumulative global fish oil output through August 2025 showed a year-on-year increase of approximately 4 percent.

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Key Market Challenges

The Global Fish Oil Market is severely hindered by raw material volatility stemming from its acute dependence on climatic stability. Since the industry relies heavily on wild-caught pelagic species, production is inextricably linked to oceanographic conditions that dictate fish biomass and oil yields. Environmental phenomena such as El Niño disturb marine ecosystems, resulting in lower catch quotas and reduced lipid content in the available harvest. This unpredictability disrupts the supply chain at its foundation, making it difficult for refiners to maintain consistent output levels required by the aquaculture and pharmaceutical sectors.

Consequently, these supply shocks create an imbalance between availability and consumption needs, leading to inventory deficits and market instability. The inability to predict production volumes restricts long-term planning and forces the market to contract during periods of environmental stress. This volatility is illustrated by recent production figures. According to the Marine Ingredients Organisation, in the first quarter of 2024, cumulative global fish oil production declined by approximately 30 percent compared to the same period in the previous year. This substantial drop underscores how ecological factors directly constrain market growth by physically limiting the raw materials available for processing.

Key Market Trends

The valorization of seafood processing by-products has emerged as a critical strategy to decouple lipid production from wild-catch volatility. Manufacturers are increasingly upcycling nutrient-rich heads, viscera, and frames from the filleting industry, effectively transforming waste into a stable supply of omega-3s. This circular economy approach mitigates the operational risks associated with fishing quotas and environmental fluctuations by utilizing raw materials that would otherwise be discarded, thus stabilizing the industrial input for feed and refinement. According to IFFO - The Marine Ingredients Organisation, April 2024, in the 'Update on by-product marine ingredients', the share of global fish oil production derived from by-products reached 54 percent of the total output in 2023.

Simultaneously, the sector is undergoing a structural shift toward eco-certified and traceable supply chains driven by stringent demands from aquaculture and premium pet nutrition buyers. Stakeholders are adopting third-party verification standards to guarantee that marine ingredients are sourced from non-IUU fisheries and responsibly managed stocks, converting transparency into a fundamental market-access requirement. This trend is compelling refiners to implement rigorous auditing systems to secure long-term contracts with major feed producers who mandate sustainability credentials. According to MarinTrust, May 2024, in its 'Annual Report', approximately 43 percent of global fishmeal and fish oil production was certified against the MarinTrust Standard in 2024.

Segmental Insights

The Human Consumption segment is positioned as the fastest growing category within the Global Fish Oil Market due to rising global awareness regarding the health benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids. Consumers are increasingly prioritizing preventative healthcare, leading to a surge in demand for dietary supplements and functional foods fortified with high-quality fish oil. This shift is strongly supported by guidelines from reputable organizations such as the American Heart Association, which recommend Omega-3 intake for maintaining cardiovascular health. Consequently, manufacturers are redirecting production efforts from animal feed toward higher value refined oil products suitable for direct human ingestion.

Regional Insights

Europe maintains the leading position in the global fish oil market primarily due to the substantial demand from the aquaculture sector, particularly for salmon farming in Norway. The region also possesses a mature pharmaceutical industry that incorporates omega-3 fatty acids into dietary supplements and functional foods. Furthermore, the European Food Safety Authority establishes rigorous quality standards and health claim regulations, which secures consumer trust and product safety. This favorable regulatory environment, combined with high awareness of cardiovascular health benefits, sustains the strong market performance across the continent.

Recent Developments

• In November 2024, Vita Actives established an exclusive business-to-business partnership with Brudy Technology, a Spanish biotechnology firm. This collaboration facilitated the market launch of a high-concentration DHA ingredient, which is available in both fish-sourced and algal-sourced formats. The fish oil variant is derived from certified sustainable stocks, providing brands with a verified marine option, while the algal version offers a plant-based alternative. A technical marketing manager from Vita Actives noted that this agreement enables the company to provide manufacturers with flexible, high-purity omega-3 solutions that cater to varying consumer preferences for sustainability and origin.
• In October 2024, the KD Pharma Group completed the acquisition of the Marine Lipids business from dsm-firmenich. This strategic transaction included the transfer of the MEG-3 brand and production facilities located in Piura, Peru, and Mulgrave, Canada, to the KD Pharma Group. As part of the agreement, dsm-firmenich received a minority equity stake in the expanded company. The CEO of the KD Pharma Group described the completion of this deal as a historic milestone that positions the organization as the largest global manufacturer of omega-3 fish oils for the pharmaceutical, dietary supplement, and food markets.
• In June 2024, GC Rieber VivoMega announced the completion of a significant $75 million expansion at its manufacturing facility in Norway. This development involved the construction of a new factory designed to double the company's production output of high-grade triglyceride and ethyl ester omega-3 concentrates. The expansion also featured the installation of advanced electric heating technology, allowing the company to operate its production exclusively on renewable energy sources. The Managing Director stated that this investment secures a robust supply chain for their fish oil concentrates and meets the growing global demand for sustainable marine ingredients.
• In March 2024, Bioriginal Food & Science Corp. launched a new line of sustainable omega-3 oils derived from fish, algal, and plant sources. This product development was executed in collaboration with POS Biosciences, utilizing their specialized concentration and refinement technologies to ensure superior sensory properties. The new line enables the company to offer fully traceable products from farm to shelf, directly addressing consumer demand for responsible sourcing. The President of Bioriginal emphasized that this initiative expands their global supply capabilities and supports the reduction of pressure on wild fish populations by integrating diverse omega-3 sources into their portfolio.

Key Market Players

• Hyphens Pharma International Limited
• Croda International plc
• GC Rieber AS
• Pelagia AS
• BASF SE
• Koninklijke DSM N.V.
• Sürsan S.A.
• Omega Protein Corporation
• TripleNine
• OLVEA Group

By Application	By Species	By Region
Human Consumption Aquaculture Pet Food Others	Tuna Salmon Pangasius Tilapia Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Fish Oil Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Fish Oil Market, By Application:

• Human Consumption
• Aquaculture
• Pet Food
• Others

• Fish Oil Market, By Species:

• Tuna
• Salmon
• Pangasius
• Tilapia
• Others

• Fish Oil Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE