Russian aquaculture feed output rises 61.5% as imports tighten

Fish feed leads industry growth

Russian production of compound feed for aquaculture reached 74,700 tonnes in January-June 2026, an increase of 61.5% from the same period a year earlier, Kommersant reported, citing calculations by the Russian Association of Fisheries Industry based on Rosstat data. Fish feed recorded the strongest growth among all compound-feed categories during the period.

The increase contrasts with the wider feed industry. Total Russian production across all compound-feed categories rose by only 0.8% year on year to 18.5 million tonnes in the first half. Aquaculture feed has expanded at an average annual rate of 50.2% over the past five years, according to the association.

Capacity could double as fish farming expands

Russia currently has 30 large feed mills with combined capacity of about 200,000 tonnes. Projects under construction could lift that figure to 400,000 tonnes. Aquaculture company Inarctica plans to complete its own feed plant, saying the facility should lower costs and provide greater flexibility in feed formulations.

The expansion is being supported by higher farmed-fish output. Russian aquaculture production totaled 393,300 tonnes in 2025, up 3.3% year on year, according to the fisheries association. Alexander Fomin, vice-president of the Association of Production and Trading Enterprises of the Fish Market, identified that growth as one of the main drivers of feed demand.

Russian fish farmers currently require about 180,000 tonnes of feed annually, the fisheries association estimates. Domestic production covered 64.4% of that requirement in 2025. Feedlot chief executive Lyubov Savkina separately put domestic self-sufficiency at 82%, showing that industry estimates differ depending on methodology and market coverage.

Salmon feed remains the main constraint

Import restrictions have also accelerated local production. Europe supplied most of Russia’s fish feed before February 2022, but sanctions and logistical constraints subsequently complicated deliveries, Fomin said. Beluga Farm co-founder Maria Smutnaya added that many imported feeds are now barred from entering Russia under requirements imposed by Rosselkhoznadzor.

Turkey and Israel remain among the suppliers identified by Fomin, while Savkina also listed Kazakhstan, Belarus and China. These countries are reducing shipment volumes and retaining positions mainly in specialized feeds, according to the report.

Russia has achieved full import substitution in feed for sturgeon and carp, Russian Association of Fisheries Industry president German Zverev said. A moderate shortage persists in salmon feed, which is more technically demanding. While carp can consume crushed grain or food by-products, salmon feed must contain at least 40% protein, with fishmeal serving as its principal source.

Fishmeal is not readily available in Russia, Smutnaya said, complicating production and affecting prices. Imported feed can consequently be cheaper than Russian material, while inconsistent domestic quality remains another concern. Zverev suggested preferential loans, purchase subsidies and targeted financing for fishmeal, fish oil and gluten. Savkina said the segment has significant potential but cautioned that feed production cannot grow faster indefinitely than the aquaculture industry it supplies.