Fish Oil Omega-3 Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends and Forecast (2026 - 2031)

Global Fish Oil Omega-3 Market Trends and Insights

Functional-food boom in EPA/DHA-fortified beverages

In a bid to navigate "softgel fatigue," global beverage giants are infusing EPA and DHA concentrates into their ready-to-drink dairy and plant-based offerings. These liquid formats not only boost bioavailability but also allow for smaller dosages without compromising on label claims, making them a convenient and efficient alternative to traditional supplements. Unilever's 2024 micro-encapsulation patents underscore a strategic push towards taste-masking, effectively eliminating the fishy aftertaste that has hindered widespread acceptance and paving the way for broader consumer adoption. By strategically placing these products in convenience retail outlets, brands are capitalizing on impulse buys, extending their reach beyond traditional pharmacy aisles, and tapping into a wider audience. With a focus on cognitive and cardiovascular benefits, these brands are successfully attracting non-supplement users, broadening the consumer base for the fish oil omega-3 market and driving growth in this segment.The United States Food and Drug Administration's approval of qualified health claims for Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Decosahexanoic acid (DHA) consumption about reduced risk of hypertension and coronary heart disease represents a pivotal shift in regulatory stance^{[1]U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “FDA Announces Qualified Health Claims for EPA and DHA,” fda.gov}.

Prescription-grade EPA gaining cardiology guideline support

 The American Heart Association recommended high-dose EPA for patients with triglycerides, even if they're on statins^{[2]American Heart Association, “Prescription Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Triglyceride Management,” heart.org}. This endorsement paves the way for icosapent ethyl to be recognized as a reimbursable therapy, leading to a notable shift of volumes from over-the-counter shelves directly into hospital formularies. When insurers make bulk purchases, it not only enhances price visibility for refiners but also prompts upgrades at refineries, focusing on achieving concentrates with ≥96% purity. With the European Society of Cardiology's endorsement anticipated in 2026, a similar trajectory is expected in Germany, France, and Italy, mirroring the U.S. trend. All these developments underscore the strengthening of prescription adoption, bolstering the clinical revenue stream for the fish oil omega-3 market.

Emergence of supercritical co₂ purification hubs in South America

Chile’s Golden Omega and Peru’s TASA have set up supercritical CO₂ plants, ensuring compliance with European Pharmacopoeia monographs and eliminating solvent residues. These advanced facilities enable the production of high-purity pharmaceutical-grade fish oil omega-3, which commands 3-4 times the price of crude oil. This significant price premium supports capital-intensive expansions, allowing the companies to enhance and consolidate regional production capacity. By forging direct supply agreements with Japanese and South Korean pharmaceutical firms, they bypass European toll refiners, thereby capturing additional margins and improving profitability. Furthermore, financial support from multilateral lenders reduces their cost of capital, strengthening South America's competitive position in the global market. These strategic initiatives collectively embed long-term supply security and resilience into the fish oil omega-3 market.

Aquafeed reformulations to preserve omega-3 levels in salmon

Norwegian formulators Skretting and BioMar have re-engineered diets to ensure farmed salmon fillets contain 2-2.5 g of EPA/DHA per 100 g, restoring the fish's nutritional appeal and addressing consumer demand for healthier food options. By using retention agents to curb fatty acid oxidation, they've managed to lower marine oil inclusion rates without sacrificing flesh quality, which is critical for maintaining the product's market competitiveness. Retailers promoting "high-omega-3 salmon" command price premiums, channeling added value back to feed suppliers and incentivizing innovation in feed formulations. Cargill's EWOS division employs precision-feeding protocols, adjusting dosages based on growth phases to optimize feed-conversion efficiency and reduce waste. This heightened demand for aquafeed, driven by the need for sustainable and efficient production, in turn, bolsters upstream crude-oil use in the fish oil omega-3 market.

Volatile Peruvian anchoveta biomass and quota suspensions

Late in 2023, El Niño events led to a significant decline in anchoveta recruitment, prompting quota suspensions that caused crude oil prices to surge by 34% in just two months. This disruption highlighted the vulnerability of the anchoveta supply chain to climatic events. While a 3 million-tonne quota set for the first half of 2025 indicates a recovery in biomass, ongoing trends of ocean warming pose a long-term threat to the stability and predictability of this supply. Pharmaceutical companies, which depend on consistent EPA/DHA inputs for their validated dossiers, face challenges as any variance in supply can disrupt production and regulatory compliance. Although there is a shift towards using Norwegian herring or Chilean jack mackerel as alternative sources, this approach merely transfers the ecosystem risk rather than resolving it. Consequently, the volatility of anchoveta continues to exert significant pressure on the fish oil omega-3 market in the short term, raising concerns about the sustainability of the supply chain.

Surging microalgae capacity lowering entry barriers

Evonik and Corbion's Veramaris unit boosted Nebraska's fermentation capacity from 15,000 tons to 25,000 tons, significantly increasing the production of vegan EPA/DHA oils free from marine contaminants. These oils provide a sustainable alternative to traditional fish oils, catering to the growing demand for plant-based and environmentally friendly products. With declining costs in algae units, buyers are positioned to limit fish-oil prices, creating a shift in market dynamics. DSM-Firmenich predicts algae oils might capture 18-22% of supplement volumes by 2030, heightening competition and pressuring traditional fish oil producers to innovate. Modular bioreactors, bypassing coastal siting limitations, are streamlining supply chains by enabling production closer to demand centers. Meanwhile, the looming threat of commoditization is undermining upstream pricing power in the fish oil omega-3 market, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape.

Segment Analysis

By Ingredient Type: EPA Ascends to Pharmaceutical Status

With a projected CAGR of 10.04%, EPA-based ingredients are poised to outpace the broader fish oil omega-3 market, eclipsing the growth of DHA, even though DHA commands a dominant 63.42% revenue share in 2025. Hospitals and prescription channels are increasingly gravitating towards EPA concentrates with a purity of ≥96%. These premium concentrates, priced at about three to four times more than balanced EPA/DHA blends, are enabling an expansion in value capture, even if the volumes remain modest. To cater to these specialized demands, refiners are harnessing advanced chromatography columns and fractionation systems. These technologies adeptly segregate crude fish oil into distinct EPA-rich and DHA-rich streams, ensuring compliance with the varied pharmaceutical and nutritional regulations. While DHA maintains its supremacy in infant formulas and cognitive-health products like gummies, its growth trajectory is notably slower. This deceleration underscores a strategic shift towards the more lucrative therapeutic EPA within the fish oil omega-3 landscape. Collectively, this dual demand profile bolsters pricing power for specialty-grade outputs in contrast to their commodity-grade counterparts.

The shifting product landscape is sculpting unique supply-chain dynamics for both EPA and DHA. Pharmaceutical-grade EPA is mandated to traverse GMP-compliant facilities, adhering to stringent cleaning and documentation standards. In contrast, DHA supplements generally align with dietary and nutraceutical benchmarks. Processors adept in managing both streams enjoy a strategic advantage, allowing them to pivot capacity between wellness and clinical applications as market regulations and reimbursement avenues shift. Research and development efforts are increasingly focusing on EPA pro-drugs and advanced delivery mechanisms. These innovations promise heightened bioavailability and the potential to expand approved medical indications in the coming decade. Meanwhile, capital markets are showing a pronounced preference for companies boasting dual-stream capabilities and advanced purification technologies, perceiving them as prime candidates to harness the full spectrum of opportunities within the fish oil omega-3 market.

By Species: Salmon Oils Rise Amid Anchoveta Volatility

In 2025, anchovy-derived oils dominated the fish oil omega-3 market, capturing a 27.03% volume share. This dominance was driven by bountiful Peruvian harvests and well-established supply chains, which efficiently deliver cost-effective EPA/DHA concentrates for both supplements and aquaculture feeds. When sourced sustainably, these small pelagic fish yield high omega-3 levels with minimal contaminants. This quality supports a wide range of applications, from nutraceuticals to animal nutrition, even in the face of quota fluctuations in the South Pacific. While herring and jack mackerel offer additional volumes, they face challenges with tightening quotas in the North Sea and Pacific. This dynamic reinforces the anchovy's stable baseline. In Norway, producers not only rely on wild catches but also refine salmon processing trimmings into low-contaminant oils. These oils, certified by MSC and Friends of the Sea, command sustainability premiums, helping to buffer revenue volatility. This diverse species mix guarantees a consistent throughput, even amidst the unpredictable nature of fishery yields.

Salmon oils are on a rapid ascent, with projections indicating a 9.51% CAGR growth rate through 2031. This surge is largely attributed to advancements in aquaculture, which are refining feed formulations and boosting the omega-3 content in farmed salmon fillets. Norwegian operations are turning salmon viscera by-products into premium concentrates. By leveraging dual certifications, they not only command elevated prices but also seamlessly integrate into retail marketing, positioning their salmon as a direct health benefit due to its high omega-3 content. This vertical integration fosters unique synergies: heightened demand for salmon fillets amplifies the availability of by-products, and the reverse is equally true. Such dynamics solidify salmon's pivotal role in the fish oil omega-3 value chain. Refiners are capitalizing on this trend, achieving monetization across multiple products and balancing the inherent risks of wild captures with the stability of farmed supplies. The overall trajectory highlights salmon's escalating significance in addressing the world's growing appetite for omega-3s.

By Application: Infant Nutrition Surges Ahead of Supplements

In 2025, dietary supplements dominated the fish oil omega-3 market, securing a 46.66% revenue share. This surge was fueled by consumer preference for convenient formats, such as capsules, soft gels, and liquids, delivering EPA/DHA benefits for heart, brain, and joint health. The segment's strength lies in the widespread awareness of omega-3 advantages and its diverse formats, appealing even to those averse to pills. This has allowed it to maintain its lead amidst consistent growth in both retail and e-commerce. While prescription therapies, like Lovaza, offer concentrated formulations for hypertriglyceridemia and command a premium value per unit, their overall market share remains limited due to lower sales volumes compared to over-the-counter alternatives. Functional foods and beverages, such as fortified milks and smoothies, make incremental contributions by targeting casual consumers. This blend of over-the-counter accessibility and pharmaceutical premium pricing underscores the market's diverse landscape.

Infant nutrition is the market's fastest-growing segment, projected to expand at a 10.44% CAGR through 2031. This growth is largely driven by mandates from the WHO and EFSA, emphasizing DHA's role in brain and eye development. To align with these stringent standards, formulators are focusing on low-odor, 24-month stable concentrates, carving out high-margin niches despite the smaller volumes. Regulatory changes, notably the EU's 2021 mandate for 20-50 mg DHA per 100 kcal, have further spurred adoption, especially among working parents seeking products that closely mimic breast milk. In response, processors are innovating with micro-encapsulated powders and pharma-grade formulations, catering to both the infant nutrition and prescription markets. This strategy not only hedges against market cyclicality but also ensures a foothold in both wellness and clinical sectors. By diversifying their portfolios, suppliers are well-positioned to reap benefits from both mainstream supplements and niche nutrition markets.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By End User: Seniors Drive Value, Infants Drive Growth

In 2025, adults commanded a dominant 78.44% share of the fish oil omega-3 market, driven by a surge in wellness-focused softgel adoption and an uptick in EPA prescriptions for heart health. This segment not only emphasizes heart and cognitive health but also taps into the burgeoning "beauty from within" trend, offering skin hydration solutions. These products, presented in user-friendly formats, resonate with a diverse audience. Meanwhile, children's gummies serve as a popular transition, bridging the gap between infant products and adult supplements, ensuring consistent family usage. Though infants represent a smaller segment, their fortified formulas command premium prices. The adult-centric focus highlights omega-3's preventive health significance, especially in countering lifestyle-induced deficiencies.

Geriatric consumers, the market's fastest-growing segment, are projected to expand at a 6.52% CAGR through 2031. As the elderly increasingly prioritize cognitive health and cardiovascular safety, their spending on clinical-grade products rises. This is evident in their focus on joint mobility, memory enhancement, and anti-inflammatory benefits. Recognizing the diverse needs, the industry tailors offerings - from flavored gummies for kids to potent capsules for seniors. This specialization, backed by rigorous research and development and claim validation, raises entry barriers. While established players navigate this intricate landscape to protect their market share, it's the infants, with their DHA-fortified formulas, who contribute the most incremental revenue. By diversifying portfolios to cater to all age groups, stakeholders effectively hedge against demand fluctuations in the fish oil omega-3 market.

Geography Analysis

In 2025, Medicare Part D's reimbursement of icosapent ethyl helped North America secure 34.10% of the revenue. IMS Health highlighted this momentum, noting a robust 47% year-over-year growth with 2.3 million prescriptions recorded in Q4 2025. While Canada's over-the-counter market and Mexico's fortified-food initiatives bolster demand, the U.S. shines brightest, thanks to its advanced clinical infrastructure, which supports the development and distribution of high-quality omega-3 products. As generics enter the fray, competition heats up, leading to price pressures and increased innovation among manufacturers. Yet, premium formulations, endorsed by GOED and MSC seals, maintain a pricing advantage due to their superior quality and certifications, solidifying North America's dominance and profitability in the fish oil omega-3 market.

Asia-Pacific is poised to take the lead, eyeing a projected 10.80% CAGR through 2031. China's SAMR aligns contaminant limits with EU standards, guiding imports towards purer oils and ensuring compliance with stringent quality benchmarks. Japan's FOSHU initiative, championing EPA/DHA health benefits, and its aging demographic, ensure consistent demand, as older populations increasingly seek health supplements. In India, the integration of omega-3s into staple edible oils expands market reach, catering to a growing health-conscious consumer base. E-commerce platforms like Tmall and Rakuten are reshaping direct-to-consumer sales, allowing smaller global brands to access vast audiences without the overhead of physical stores, thereby democratizing market entry and fostering competition.

Germany, the UK, and Scandinavia, known for their supplement-centric cultures, anchor Europe's robust presence in the industry. These regions have a long-standing tradition of prioritizing health and wellness, which drives the demand for dietary supplements. Despite navigating stringent regulations, including compliance with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) standards, and championing sustainability through eco-friendly practices and packaging, Europe continues to assert its dominance in the global market. With the European Food Safety Authority at the helm, the region is making strides in global novel food approvals and safety evaluations^{[3]European Union, "EFSA's updated guidance on novel food applications," european-union.europa.eu}. Norway reaps rewards from its integrated approach, merging herring catches with salmon processing and top-tier purification. Though Southern Europe trails in per-capita consumption, there's a noticeable uptick, especially with functional drinks targeting heart health. Overall, Europe's regulatory landscape solidifies its role as a cornerstone in the global fish oil omega-3 market.