Shrimp Feed Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends and Forecast (2026 - 2031)

Global Shrimp Feed Market Trends and Insights

Rising Seafood Consumption and Protein-Rich Diet Demand

Global shrimp feed demand is supported by rising aquaculture output, with farmed shrimp production reaching around 6 million metric tons in 2025^{[1]Source: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “Shifts in the Global Shrimp Trade and Production,” fao.org}. The shrimp feed market has directly benefited as farmers increase stocking densities and adopt high-protein diets to accelerate grow-out cycles. Ecuador’s shrimp exports reached 1.39 million metric tons in 2025, with China accounting for approximately 48% of total shipments, underscoring Asia’s significant role in driving global shrimp consumption growth. Feed manufacturers are incorporating probiotics and immunostimulants to reduce antibiotic usage and comply with sustainability standards in the European Union and the United States. 

Expansion of Intensive Shrimp Aquaculture in Key Regions

Indonesia is developing an integrated aquaculture hub focused on shrimp farming and feed production to decrease feed imports and enhance value chain efficiency. In 2025, Vietnam is focusing on expanding recirculating aquaculture systems in Ca Mau, particularly for shrimp farming, with an emphasis on obtaining Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification. Similarly, China is adopting biofloc pond systems to enhance shrimp farming, aiming to improve water quality and feed utilization efficiency. Meanwhile, Ecuador's commercial shrimp farms are striving to optimize feed-conversion ratios, and pilot ponds in India for black tiger shrimp farming are setting new efficiency benchmarks.

Advances in Functional Additives and Immunostimulants Usage

Advancements in functional additives and immunostimulants are driving growth in the shrimp feed market by enhancing disease resistance and improving farm productivity. A 2024 study published in Aquaculture Reports demonstrated that β-glucan supplementation significantly increased shrimp survival rates under Vibrio harveyi challenge, underscoring its role in boosting immune response and mitigating pathogen effects. These enhancements in survival and health outcomes support improved production efficiency and profitability, promoting the broader use of functional feed additives among shrimp farmers.

Adoption of AI-Enabled Precision Feeding Systems

Producers in Ecuador, Vietnam, and Thailand utilize smart blowers connected to dissolved-oxygen probes and camera systems that halt feeding when activity decreases. Nutreco N.V. (Skretting)'s 360 Plus suite improves feeding efficiency by utilizing precision feeding, real-time data analytics, and automated feeding systems. These features help optimize feed usage and minimize overfeeding losses. A research and development center in Singapore, managed by the Singapore Food Agency and supported by organizations including Singapore Aquaculture Technologies, is developing machine-learning algorithms for tropical aquaculture systems. The focus areas include predictive analytics, feeding optimization, and water quality management.

Volatility in Fishmeal and Fish Oil Prices

Peru's fishmeal free-on-board quotations have been rising over the past few years. The prospect of lower supply in the final quarter created a "new normal" for higher fishmeal prices. In December 2025, fishmeal prices continued to rise, even with the revised USD 1.63 million mt quota. This is primarily due to reduced anchovy quotas, which constrained the supply of raw materials^{[3]Source: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “Quarterly Fishmeal and Fish Oil Analysis”, fao.org}. China accounts for a significant share of global supply, maintaining a higher price floor than earlier levels. Avanti Feeds reported that domestic fishmeal prices have risen substantially over time. These price surges have compressed profit margins and driven a shift toward alternative protein sources such as soybean, insect, and single-cell proteins. 

Disease Outbreaks Disrupting Shrimp Feed Demand

Disease outbreaks have a substantial impact on shrimp feed demand by adversely affecting shrimp health, survival rates, and feeding behavior. A 2024 study published by researchers from the University of Malaya found that infected shrimp often exhibit anorexia (reduced feeding), lethargy, and impaired growth, leading to decreased feed intake and inefficient feed utilization during disease events. These health issues diminish overall productivity and profitability, leading farmers to reduce stocking densities or delay production cycles. Consequently, feed consumption decreases during and after outbreaks, leading to demand fluctuations and hindering consistent market growth.

Segment Analysis

By Feed Type: Functional Blends Outpace Commodity Diets

Grower feed is projected to account for the largest market share of 45.5% in the shrimp feed market by 2025, as it corresponds to the longest production phase when daily feed intake is at its peak. The functional and medicated feed market size is projected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 9.0% from 2026 to 2031, driven by stricter residue limits in the United States and European Union, which encourage the use of additives that boost immunity. Starter formulas, while generating lower revenue, command premium pricing due to the high mortality risk during the initial days. Feed mills, such as Grobest, have reported field feed-conversion ratios below 1.3 when using proprietary functional ingredients, demonstrating the economic benefits that support their continued adoption.

Functional blends contribute to improved manufacturer margins. Vietnamese ponds utilizing beta-glucan fortified diets have demonstrated profitability, highlighting farmers' readiness to invest in disease mitigation strategies. In India, the growing production of black tiger post-larvae is projected to drive demand for nursery diets with customized amino acid profiles. While finisher diets remain a niche segment, they are being reformulated to enhance pigmentation and flesh firmness, attributes increasingly sought by premium retailers. These developments collectively signify a qualitative transformation in the shrimp feed market.

By Form: Liquid Delivery Gains Traction

Pellets are projected to account for the largest market share of 66% in the shrimp feed market by 2025, driven by established extrusion processes and compatibility with automated feeders. However, the liquid feed market size is anticipated to grow at the fastest CAGR of 10.0% from 2026 to 2031. The spray-coating process enables the addition of heat-sensitive vitamins, enzymes, and probiotics after extrusion, preserving the bioactivity of these ingredients. Additionally, precision dosing minimizes leaching, which is particularly beneficial in recirculating systems where water stability is critical.

AI-enabled blowers are capable of metering liquid shots based on real-time biomass estimates, contributing to reduced feed usage. Indonesia's newly established integrated hub focuses on liquid supplements tailored for its biofloc modules. Crumbles are designed for post-larvae and early juveniles, with optimized particle sizes enhancing ingestion rates, while powdered diets remain limited to hatchery Artemia replacement. The high service intensity and additive content of liquid feeds support premium pricing, expanding the value potential within the shrimp feed market.

By Shrimp Species: Black Tiger Resurgence Widens Species Mix

The Pacific white shrimp is projected to account for the largest market share of 62.5% in the shrimp feed market by 2025. However, the market share for Pacific white shrimp may experience a slight contraction as farmers diversify to mitigate species-related risks. Meanwhile, the black tiger shrimp market size is projected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 7.6% from 2026 to 2031. This growth surpasses the overall market, driven by advancements in specific-pathogen-free genetics. Additionally, Indian shrimp production has increased, with corresponding feed volumes rising proportionally.

Premium export prices partly offset higher stocking costs and create opportunities for the adoption of pigment-enhanced diets, which are increasingly preferred for their ability to enhance shrimp quality. Revival programs in the Philippines replicate this approach, ensuring a steady rise in incremental demand for shrimp feed. Kuruma and other niche shrimp species continue to serve as specialty products in markets like Japan and Australia, where they utilize customized feeds tailored to their specific needs, though they contribute only modest volumes.

Geography Analysis

In 2025, the Asia-Pacific region accounted for the largest market share of 70% in the shrimp feed market. This dominance was driven by China’s target and India’s increasing shift toward black tiger shrimp production. Vietnam introduced recirculating ponds, while Indonesia invested in a shrimp production hub, contributing to structural volume growth. Regional governments are promoting antibiotic-free protocols to meet European Union and United States market standards, encouraging the adoption of functional feeds. Multinational feed mills are expanding their capacities in China, Vietnam, and India, reinforcing Asia’s leading position in the shrimp feed market.

The African shrimp market size is projected to grow at a CAGR of 9.0% from 2026 to 2031. Tanzania’s World Bank-funded TASFAM program, launched in 2026, aims to expand aquaculture production, including shrimp output, while Egypt continues to dominate continental aquaculture^{[2]Source: World Bank, “Tanzania Scaling-up Sustainable Marine Fisheries and Aquaculture Management Project (TASFAM)”, worldbank.org}. New feed plants in Nigeria and Kenya are reducing supply chain distances and freight costs, making commercial shrimp diets more accessible to small-scale farmers. With low baseline adoption, incremental capacity increases directly translate into new demand, positioning Africa as a key growth frontier in the shrimp feed market.

South America ranks as the second-largest shrimp feed market, with Ecuador achieving shipment growth in 2025. Precision feeding systems are becoming widespread, reducing feed conversion ratios and driving formulation improvements across the region. Brazil’s northeast coast is expanding semi-intensive shrimp ponds to meet domestic retail demand, while Central American farms are shifting toward value-added headless-shell-on shrimp packs, which require specific diet pigmentation. These advancements solidify South America’s position as the fastest-growing mature market for shrimp feed.