Global Aquaculture Industry Production Expected To Grow Significantly in 2025

After a challenging 2024, the global aquaculture industry is expected to achieve stronger production growth in 2025.

This annual survey on fish and shrimp production, conducted by Zhejiang Zhoushan International Agricultural Products Trading Center (China) in partnership with the Global Seafood Alliance (GSA), highlights the key trends affecting the industry.

The report predicts significant increases in yields of key species.

Freshwater fish, such as catfish and tilapia, are expected to grow at 7% and 5% annually respectively; Atlantic salmon, sea bass and snapper are expected to grow by 3%-4%; shrimp production is expected to show slow but steady growth , the annual growth rate is about 2%.

Falling aquafeed prices and recovering demand are likely to support aquaculture operators. However, trade restrictions and increased tariffs remain significant challenges for the industry.

After two consecutive years of decline, Atlantic salmon production is expected to return to growth, driven by improved biological stability and higher harvest weights.

Norway will lead this recovery, with output expected to increase by 2.2% and 5.3% in 2025 and 2026, respectively, to 1.56 million tons and 1.64 million tons respectively.

Chile is also expected to resume growth, with output rising by 1.4% in 2025 and 3.2% in 2026.

Chilean production is unlikely to return to pre-2020 levels before 2026.

Global shrimp production is expected to maintain positive growth, albeit at a slower rate. After years of rapid expansion, growth rates have slowed, with production expected to grow by 1% and 2% in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

Latin America is an important shrimp-producing region and is expected to grow by 2% in 2024 as prices remain low, but is expected to rebound in 2025 with a 4% increase as oversupply issues subside.

Ecuador, the world's fastest-growing shrimp producer, also expects production to slow during this period.

In Asia, output in China and India is expected to grow modestly by 1.7% and 2% respectively in 2025. Vietnam has overcome challenges such as disease outbreaks and high input costs and is on track to achieve 4% growth.

By 2025, freshwater species will be the fastest growing farmed species.

Pangasius production is expected to grow by 7%, driven by rising demand in major markets such as China, while Vietnam will continue to dominate global supply. Tilapia production is expected to exceed 7 million tonnes, up 5% year-on-year, driven by strong growth in China and Indonesia.

Despite good growth forecasts, the aquaculture industry faces uncertainty due to global economic and geopolitical challenges. Market prices will remain the main concern for the aquaculture sector in 2025, followed by aquafeed costs and market access, including Trade restrictions and market uncertainty in key regions including China, Japan and Europe continue to pose challenges to the global aquaculture industry.