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Marine

Export fishmeal and fish oil

Fishmeal and fish oil from sardine and small pelagic fish, sold to feed makers in Asia. The EU route needs an EIC-approved plant.

Free to exportHS 2301
HS code
2301
Flours, meals and pellets of fish (2301 20) used in aqua and animal feed; fish body oil and fish liver oil fall under 1504.
Export policy
Free to export
Free under ITC(HS). For the EU, fishmeal and fish oil must come from an EIC-approved establishment with an EIC health certificate. Confirm the 8-digit line on DGFT.
Registrations
4
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 608 mn
to 37 countries

What is exported

Fishmeal plants on the west coast — Karnataka, Kerala, Goa and Gujarat — turn oil sardine, mackerel and fish processing waste into meal and oil. Most meal goes to aqua-feed and poultry-feed makers in South-East and East Asia; fish oil goes to feed and supplement refiners. Supply swings with the sardine catch, so prices move a lot from year to year.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Fishmeal, 55–60% proteinStandard grade from mixed small fish and processing waste, used in poultry feed.
  • Fishmeal, 60–65% protein and aboveSteam-dried meal from whole sardine, preferred by shrimp and fish feed mills.
  • Crude fish body oilSardine oil for aqua feed and for refining into omega-3 oils.
  • Fish liver oil and refined oilsSmaller volumes for supplements.

Where it is grown or made

  • KarnatakaMangaluru, Udupi and Malpe — the largest cluster of fishmeal and oil plants.
  • Kerala and GoaPlants near Kochi, Alappuzha and Goa ports.
  • GujaratVeraval and Porbandar.
  • Tamil Nadu and OdishaThoothukudi and smaller plants on the east coast.

Season

Production follows the oil-sardine and small pelagic catch, which falls during the monsoon fishing ban and varies a lot from year to year.

Export packing

  • Fishmeal in 50 kg polypropylene bags, loaded in 20-ft or 40-ft dry containers, cooled and stabilised before packing.
  • Fish oil in flexitanks, ISO tanks or drums.

Who buys abroad

  • Shrimp and fish feed mills in Vietnam, Bangladesh and Indonesia
  • Feed-ingredient traders in China and Japan
  • Fish oil refiners and supplement makers

The quality buyers ask for

Crude protein
Typically 55–65% or above, as contracted
Moisture and fat
Moisture usually below about 10%; fat usually below about 10–12%
Salt and sand
Kept low as per contract; price adjusted for excess
Histamine and TVN
Within buyer limits as freshness indicators
Microbiology
Salmonella absent; Enterobacteriaceae within limits for the EU

Certificates

  • EIC approvalOften askedEIC-approved establishment and health certificate for fishmeal and fish oil to the EU and other markets that require it.
  • MarinTrustOften askedResponsible-sourcing standard for marine ingredients, asked for by large feed companies.
  • RCMCRequiredRegistration with the export promotion council or board for your product (not needed up to ₹3 lakh FOB per consignment since 15 Sep 2026).
  • ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000Often askedFood-safety management system certification asked for by larger buyers.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

20-ft or 40-ft dry containers; a 20-ft typically takes about 20–25 tonnes of bagged meal. Fish oil in flexitanks of about 20–24 tonnes.

How it travels

Sea freight from Mangaluru, Kochi, Mormugao and Mundra.

Storage

Cool, dry, ventilated warehouse; meal must be cooled and stabilised to prevent self-heating.

Shelf life

Typically 6–12 months for stabilised meal.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Bags: product name, protein grade, lot, production date, net weight, plant name and approval number, “Not for human consumption” and country of origin.
  • Dangerous-goods marking where fishmeal is shipped as a regulated cargo under the IMDG Code — ask your shipping line.
  • Every carton or bag: product, grade, lot or batch number, net and gross weight, exporter name and “Made in India” / “Product of India”, matching the invoice and packing list.
Where to get it tested

EIC/EIA laboratories and EIC-approved labs test seafood and fishmeal for export certification (eicindia.gov.in); MPEDA runs quality-control labs; NABL-accredited private labs are also used (nabl-india.org).

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • MPEDAExporter registration (manufacturer or merchant exporter) and RCMC under the MPEDA Act, 1972. Every exporter of marine products must be registered.e-mpeda.nic.in ↗
  • Export Inspection Council (EIC)Approval of the processing plant and a health certificate (Certificate for Export) for each consignment to markets that require it, such as the EU and China.eicindia.gov.in ↗

Quality and checks

  • Crude protein, fat, moisture, salt/sand and histamine to the contract; buyers test on arrival.
  • Salmonella-negative results and an antioxidant (such as ethoxyquin) where the buyer’s country allows it; the EU has suspended ethoxyquin in feed, so ask before using it.
  • Fish oil: free fatty acids, peroxide value, dioxins and PCBs for feed and supplement use.
How to start small

Buy from an established fishmeal plant in Mangaluru, Udupi or Veraval that already ships to Asia, and sell one container of 60–65% protein meal to an aqua-feed mill on LC. Agree the protein and moisture basis and the testing lab in the contract. Since 15 September 2026, a consignment worth up to ₹3 lakh FOB does not need an RCMC (DGFT Notification 36/2026-27). Registrations that a law requires for the product still apply.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Hot, poorly stabilised meal can self-heat and catch fire in the container; insist on proper cooling and antioxidant treatment as the buyer allows.
  • Protein falling short of the contract after sand or salt contamination — the price is cut per percentage point.
  • Sending meal to the EU from a plant that is not on the EU-approved list.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (5)
  1. DGFT — ITC(HS) export policy search (Schedule 2)
  2. MPEDA — Become an exporter (registration)
  3. EIC — Export of fresh, frozen and processed fish and fishery products
  4. DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10 Oct 2024 (Notification 32/2024-25)
  5. Department of Commerce — TradeStat export data by commodity and country

Trade data

Indian fishmeal and fish oil exports in numbers

From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, Indian financial years (April–March).

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 608 mn
+47.6% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↑ +91.8%
US$ 317 mn → US$ 608 mn
Buyer countries
37
Average export price
US$ 1.41
per kg · 4,31,823 tonnes shipped · US$ 1.31 the year before
China: US$ 175 mnVietnam: US$ 126 mnDenmark: US$ 79 mnTürkiye: US$ 61.7 mnTaiwan: US$ 36.4 mnAustralia: US$ 31.4 mnJapan: US$ 24.9 mnBangladesh: US$ 22.6 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 9.2 mnChile: US$ 6.9 mnGreece: US$ 6 mnCanada: US$ 5.4 mnOman: US$ 4.5 mnThailand: US$ 4.3 mnSouth Korea: US$ 3.3 mnSpain: US$ 3 mnFrance: US$ 1.9 mnIndonesia: US$ 1.1 mnGermany: US$ 950kNepal: US$ 810kMalaysia: US$ 750kNigeria: US$ 670kUnited States of America: US$ 530kUnited Kingdom: US$ 410kItaly: US$ 320kChina: US$ 175 mnChinaVietnam: US$ 126 mnVietnamDenmark: US$ 79 mnDenmarkTürkiye: US$ 61.7 mnTürkiyeTaiwan: US$ 36.4 mnTaiwanAustralia: US$ 31.4 mnAustraliaJapan: US$ 24.9 mnBangladesh: US$ 22.6 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 9.2 mnChile: US$ 6.9 mnGreece: US$ 6 mnCanada: US$ 5.4 mnOman: US$ 4.5 mnThailand: US$ 4.3 mnSouth Korea: US$ 3.3 mnSpain: US$ 3 mnFrance: US$ 1.9 mnIndonesia: US$ 1.1 mnGermany: US$ 950kNepal: US$ 810kMalaysia: US$ 750kNigeria: US$ 670kUnited States of America: US$ 530kUnited Kingdom: US$ 410kItaly: US$ 320kIndia
Where Indian fishmeal and fish oil goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 86.8 mn872020-212021-22: US$ 96.4 mn962021-222022-23: US$ 458 mn4582022-232023-24: US$ 523 mn5232023-242024-25: US$ 317 mn3172024-252025-26: US$ 608 mn6082025-26
India’s fishmeal and fish oil exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2022-23, lowest in 2021-22 — a 59% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 1.07 per kg2021-22: US$ 1.01 per kg1.012022-23: US$ 1.60 per kg1.602024-25: US$ 1.31 per kg2025-26: US$ 1.41 per kg1.412020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian fishmeal and fish oil · US$ per kg · dotted = year in between not available

What next: a projection from the trend

The past trend carried forward — not a forecast by any authority. Sudden changes in policy, prices or demand are not in it.

2020-21: US$ 86.8 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 96.4 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 458 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 523 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 317 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 608 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 1.03 bn (US$ 494 mn – US$ 2.17 bn)1.0k2026-272027-28: US$ 1.52 bn (US$ 666 mn – US$ 3.46 bn)1.5k2027-28
India’s fishmeal and fish oil exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 1.52 bn

Likely range US$ 666 mn to US$ 3.46 bn.

Trend
+46.8% a year
Fit (R²)
0.69
Based on
6 years of official figures

Method: a straight line through the logarithm of yearly exports (log-linear regression); range = ±1 standard error.

Biggest buyer countries

By value in 2025-26. Change is against 2024-25.

Name2025-26Change
1ChinaUS$ 175 mn+51.8%
2VietnamUS$ 126 mn+218.5%
3DenmarkUS$ 79 mn—
4TürkiyeUS$ 61.7 mn+534.6%
5TaiwanUS$ 36.4 mn+7.6%
6AustraliaUS$ 31.4 mn+28.8%
7JapanUS$ 24.9 mn+30.5%
8BangladeshUS$ 22.6 mn+10.4%
9Saudi ArabiaUS$ 9.2 mn-34.1%
10ChileUS$ 6.9 mn-49.2%
11GreeceUS$ 6 mn+67.4%
12CanadaUS$ 5.4 mn+4,400%

Where demand is rising and falling

Only countries that buy at least US$ 1 million or 1% of India’s exports of this product. Change from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

High demand

  1. TürkiyeUS$ 9.7 mn → US$ 61.7 mn+534.6%
  2. VietnamUS$ 39.5 mn → US$ 126 mn+218.5%
  3. ChinaUS$ 116 mn → US$ 175 mn+51.8%
  4. JapanUS$ 19.1 mn → US$ 24.9 mn+30.5%
  5. AustraliaUS$ 24.4 mn → US$ 31.4 mn+28.8%
  6. BangladeshUS$ 20.5 mn → US$ 22.6 mn+10.4%

Low demand

  1. ChileUS$ 13.6 mn → US$ 6.9 mn-49.2%
  2. OmanUS$ 7.6 mn → US$ 4.5 mn-41.1%
  3. Saudi ArabiaUS$ 14 mn → US$ 9.2 mn-34.1%

New buyers: Countries that bought nothing from India in 2024-25 and did in 2025-26.

  • Denmark · US$ 79 mn

Which forms sell, and at what price

India’s exports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity (TradeStat): the average of every shipment on that line, not the price of any one deal.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Powder fish meal,unft for human consumption2301 20 11 · Flours, meals and pellets, of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebratesUS$ 496 mn+90.5%3,58,335 tonnesUS$ 1.38 per kgwas US$ 1.26
Fish body oil (e.g. sardine oil)1504 20 10 · Fats and oils and their fractions, of fish,US$ 99 mn+136.8%38,895 tonnesUS$ 2.54 per kgwas US$ 2.51
Other fish,meal,unft for human consumption2301 20 19 · Flours, meals and pellets, of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebratesUS$ 8.1 mn+14.1%16,719 tonnesUS$ 0.48 per kgwas US$ 0.50
Flr meals etc. of other aquatic invertebrats2301 20 90 · Flours, meals and pellets, of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebratesUS$ 2.4 mn+136.9%15,713 tonnesUS$ 0.16 per kgwas US$ 0.63
Fats and oils and their fractions, of fish, — fish lipid oil1504 20 20US$ 1.1 mn-78.2%198 tonnesUS$ 5.77 per kgwas US$ 10.42
Meat meals and pellets(including tankage)2301 10 10 · Flours, meals and pellets, of meat or meat offal, greavesUS$ 1.1 mn+89.8%1,523 tonnesUS$ 0.74 per kgwas US$ 0.98
Other fats and oils other than liver oils1504 20 90 · Fats and oils and their fractions, of fish,US$ 310k-48.3%179 tonnesUS$ 1.73 per kgwas US$ 1.97
Other meat mealsandpellets (includinguding greves2301 10 90 · Flours, meals and pellets, of meat or meat offal, greavesUS$ 100k-69.7%248 tonnesUS$ 0.40 per kgwas US$ 0.53
Codliver oil(commercial quality)1504 10 10 · Oils of fish, fish-liver oils and their fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically modifiedUS$ 80k+33.3%13 tonnesUS$ 6.23 per kgwas US$ 2.22
Other fish liver oil and their frac1504 10 99 · Oils of fish, fish-liver oils and their fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically modifiedUS$ 0-100%0.0 tonnes—

The world market

Each country’s own recorded exports and imports in UN Comtrade, 2023 (the latest year nearly every country has reported).

World imports
US$ 14.4 bn
2023
India among exporters
#5
of 120 countries
India’s share of world exports
5%
US$ 623 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 11.8 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1USAUS$ 1.34 bn 10.8%
  2. 2PeruUS$ 1.16 bn 9.4%
  3. 3ChileUS$ 874 mn 7%
  4. 4DenmarkUS$ 752 mn 6.1%
  5. 5IndiaUS$ 623 mn 5%
  6. 6Viet NamUS$ 617 mn 5%
  7. 7IcelandUS$ 509 mn 4.1%
  8. 8NorwayUS$ 497 mn 4%
  9. 9ChinaUS$ 457 mn 3.7%
  10. 10MoroccoUS$ 450 mn 3.6%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 3.86 bn 26.9%
  2. 2NorwayUS$ 1.4 bn 9.8%
  3. 3Viet NamUS$ 736 mn 5.1%
  4. 4USAUS$ 578 mn 4%
  5. 5DenmarkUS$ 547 mn 3.8%
  6. 6TürkiyeUS$ 544 mn 3.8%
  7. 7ChileUS$ 522 mn 3.6%
  8. 8IndonesiaUS$ 457 mn 3.2%
  9. 9United KingdomUS$ 418 mn 2.9%
  10. 10FranceUS$ 381 mn 2.7%

Opportunity: what these countries buy from the world, and from India

Each country’s own recorded imports in UN Comtrade, latest year it has reported. The long light part of each bar is demand other countries are filling today.

ChinaUS$ 4.13 bnIndia 2.3% · gap US$ 4.04 bn
VietnamUS$ 888 mnIndia 7.6% · gap US$ 820 mn
United States of AmericaUS$ 579 mnIndia 0.1% · gap US$ 578 mn
United KingdomUS$ 418 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 418 mn
CanadaUS$ 416 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 416 mn
IndonesiaUS$ 392 mnIndia 0.4% · gap US$ 391 mn
FranceUS$ 355 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 355 mn
JapanUS$ 335 mnIndia 8.8% · gap US$ 306 mn
GermanyUS$ 262 mnIndia 0.2% · gap US$ 261 mn
SpainUS$ 265 mnIndia 2.2% · gap US$ 259 mn

TradeStat’s 2023-24 quantities are double-counted, so that year is left out of the price. Sources: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · UN Comtrade database (United Nations Statistics Division) · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

Step by step

How to export fishmeal and fish oil

World fishmeal trade is led by Peru, Chile, Vietnam, Mauritania and others, with China the largest buyer. India is a mid-sized exporter whose output swings with the oil-sardine catch on the west coast. Demand comes mainly from the fast-growing shrimp and fish farming industries of Asia. Openings are in higher-protein steam-dried meal, traceable raw material, and fish oil for omega-3 refining.

  1. 01Choose the plant

    Work with a plant that has steady raw material, lab testing and, for the EU, EIC approval.

  2. 02Agree the contract basis

    Fix protein, moisture, fat, salt/sand limits, price adjustments and the independent surveyor.

  3. 03Produce and stabilise

    Cook, press, dry, cool and treat the meal as the buyer’s country allows; then bag it.

  4. 04Survey and certify

    Get sampling and analysis by a surveyor and, where needed, the EIC health certificate.

  5. 05Book, stuff and file the shipping bill

    Book the container, stuff it at the factory or a CFS, file the shipping bill on ICEGATE with the correct 8-digit code and the RoDTEP/RoSCTL declaration, and get the bill of lading.

  6. 06Get paid and close the file

    Send the original documents through your bank (or to the buyer if paid in advance). Once the money arrives, get the e-BRC and claim RoDTEP, RoSCTL or drawback where they apply.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting fishmeal and fish oil

Is fishmeal a marine product for MPEDA?
MPEDA covers marine products including fish and their parts; register with MPEDA and confirm the RCMC position for your product with the council.
Why are prices so volatile?
Supply depends on the sardine catch here and on the Peruvian anchovy season abroad.
Can fishmeal catch fire?
Yes, badly cooled or unstabilised meal can self-heat. Follow the buyer’s stabilisation rules and your shipping line’s cargo rules.
Can I ship fishmeal to the EU?
Only from an EIC-approved establishment, with an EIC health certificate for each consignment.
What RoDTEP applies?
Fishmeal (2301 20 11/19) earns 2.2% capped at ₹2.6 per kg; fish oil (1504 20) 2.4% capped at ₹4.1 per kg.
Sources (5)
  1. MPEDA — Become an exporter (registration)
  2. EIC — Export of fresh, frozen and processed fish and fishery products
  3. DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10 Oct 2024 (Notification 32/2024-25)
  4. Export Inspection Council of India (EIC)
  5. NABL — laboratory search

Who buys Indian fishmeal and fish oil

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