Fish Meal Exporter from India
Indian fish meal for aquaculture feed mills — 60%+ protein, processed from coastal fish-processing by-catch and trimmings.
Quick answer: Green Plus EXIM exports Indian fish meal, primarily 60–65% crude protein, produced at coastal processing plants for use in shrimp and fish aquaculture feed. China is India's largest market by a wide margin, with Vietnam, Japan, Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia the other major destinations. This is fundamentally an aquaculture feed-mill product — not general livestock feed — and buyers are almost always shrimp or fish farm feed manufacturers rather than poultry or cattle feed producers.
Indian fish meal for aquaculture feed
Fish meal is one of the less-visible parts of India's seafood export trade — produced from processing by-catch and trimmings at the same coastal plants that handle shrimp and other seafood for export, then steam-dried, pressed and milled into a high-protein feed ingredient. The buyer at the other end is almost always an aquaculture feed mill, not a poultry or cattle feed producer.
We source from coastal processing clusters in Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, with production running through the year as it tracks each region's fishing season rather than a single harvest window.
Who buys Indian fish meal — and why it matters for your spec
China takes roughly a third of India's fish meal exports by value, and Vietnam is the second-largest market — both countries have large shrimp-aquaculture sectors, and fish meal is a core ingredient in shrimp starter and grower feeds. Japan, Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia round out the top markets. This buyer profile matters because it shapes what "quality" means in practice: aquaculture feed mills generally care most about protein level, freshness (low TVN, indicating the raw material wasn't degraded before processing) and consistent moisture control — not the broader nutritional-balance concerns a livestock feed formulator might prioritize.
If your use case is livestock or poultry feed rather than aquaculture, tell us — the product can serve that market too, but it's worth confirming your specific requirements since our default production and QC focus follows where the bulk of Indian fish meal actually goes.
How should I specify fish meal?
- Protein level. 60% and 65% minimum crude protein are the two standard export grades. Higher-protein feed formulations (shrimp starter feed, for example) typically call for the 65% grade.
- Freshness indicators. TVN (total volatile nitrogen) is the standard proxy for how fresh the raw material was before processing — ask for a test result if this matters for your formulation.
- Salt and moisture. Both affect shelf life and handling. Standard export specs cap salt at 3% and moisture at 10%, but confirm your tolerance if your feed mill has tighter requirements.
Pricing and lead time
Fish meal pricing tracks both the underlying raw-material (by-catch/trimmings) availability and global protein-meal markets more broadly. Send your required protein grade, quantity and destination port and we'll come back with a current FOB/CIF quote.
Key facts
- HS code: 2301.20 (fish meal, unfit for human consumption)
- Standard grades: 60% and 65% minimum crude protein
- Primary buyer type: aquaculture (shrimp/fish farm) feed mills, not general livestock feed
- Packed in 25–50 kg bags or 1 MT jumbo bags; ~20–22 MT per 20ft container
- Sourced from coastal processing clusters: Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh
- Leading markets from India: China (~36% of value), Vietnam, Japan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia
- India's 2024 world fish meal exports: USD 257.99M across ~208,151 MT (WITS/UN Comtrade)
Shipping to China, our largest fish meal market? See the dedicated fish meal to China route page for the GACC registration detail specific to that lane.
Step 1 of 2 — takes 60 seconds
Fish Meal specifications
| Parameter | Typical specification |
|---|---|
| Product | Fish meal, steam-dried, mechanically pressed and milled |
| Crude protein | 60% min or 65% min (buyer-specified) |
| Moisture | ≤ 10% |
| Crude fat / oil | ≤ 10–12% |
| Salt (NaCl) | ≤ 3% |
| Sand / silica | ≤ 2% |
| TVN (total volatile nitrogen) | ≤ 120 mg/100g typical |
| Histamine | Within destination-market limits; testing on request |
Typical specs — final specifications as per contract. Tell us your required grade when you request a quote and we'll confirm availability.
Packaging & container loading
| Detail | Options |
|---|---|
| Packaging | 25 kg and 50 kg PP/laminated bags; 1 MT jumbo bags (FIBC) |
| Minimum order quantity | 1 × 20ft container; trial orders discussed |
| Loading capacity (20ft) | Approx. 20–22 MT in a 20ft container (bagged) |
| Loading capacity (40ft) | Approx. 24–26 MT in a 40ft container |
| Shelf life & storage | 6–9 months in cool, dry, well-ventilated storage; protect from moisture and rancidity |
Loading figures are typical estimates — use the fish meal container load estimator for a planning figure, and confirm exact figures with us before booking.
Availability calendar
Typical availability for fish meal from India, by month:
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
Availability shifts year to year with weather and growing conditions — ask for current availability before planning a shipment window.
Where India exports fish meal
India's top destination markets for fish meal (HS 2301.20 (flours, meals and pellets of fish, unfit for human consumption)), 2024 (calendar year). India exported $257,989,850 of fish meal worldwide that year:
| Destination country | Export value (USD) | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| China | $93,080,790 | 70,344,000 Kg |
| Vietnam | $40,458,240 | 33,007,500 Kg |
| Other Asia, nes | $35,576,420 | 27,727,200 Kg |
| Japan | $25,388,390 | 17,191,300 Kg |
| Bangladesh | $23,793,650 | 29,890,300 Kg |
| Turkey | $9,545,500 | 6,964,000 Kg |
| Australia | $8,862,990 | 6,071,150 Kg |
| Saudi Arabia | $8,042,170 | 5,416,000 Kg |
| Korea, Rep. | $3,954,770 | 3,228,180 Kg |
| Oman | $2,806,610 | 2,240,000 Kg |
Source: WITS (World Bank) / UN Comtrade — India exports by partner, calendar year 2024 — view source. Data year: 2024 (calendar year). Retrieved: 2026-09-17.
Notes on this data
HIGH CONFIDENCE — primary-tier (WITS/UN Comtrade). India world total 2024: USD 257.99M across ~208,151 MT. China ~36% of value, Vietnam second — aquaculture feed demand is the driver, so buyer personas are shrimp/fish farm feed mills rather than livestock. 'Other Asia, nes' in Comtrade normally denotes Taiwan. Together with groundnut kernels and fish meal, this strengthens the case for a Vietnamese-language animal-feed cluster.
Indian sourcing regions
India's fish meal supply is anchored in the coastal processing clusters of Gujarat (Veraval, Porbandar), Kerala (Kochi, Kollam), Tamil Nadu (Tuticorin, Chennai) and Andhra Pradesh — the same coastline that supplies India's frozen-shrimp export trade, since fish meal is largely produced from processing by-catch and trimmings. Production runs year-round, tracking the fishing seasons in each region rather than a single harvest window.
Export documentation
Export documentation prepared to match destination-country and buyer requirements — phytosanitary certificate, certificate of origin, fumigation certificate, lab test reports and more, as applicable.
- Phytosanitary or veterinary health certificate (destination-dependent)
- Certificate of origin
- Certificate of analysis — protein, moisture, fat, salt, TVN
- Commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading
- Fumigation certificate where required
Share your compliance checklist and we will confirm the documentation for your shipment. Third-party inspection (SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek or your nominated agency) can be arranged on request.
Get a quote for Fish Meal
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Fish Meal export FAQs
Yes — aquaculture feed mills, particularly for shrimp and fish farming, are the primary buyers of Indian fish meal. China and Vietnam, India's two largest markets, both have large shrimp-farming sectors that fish meal supplies directly.
60% and 65% minimum crude protein are the standard export grades. Tell us your target protein level and intended use (shrimp starter feed typically wants the higher grade) and we'll quote against it.
The product itself can serve multiple feed uses, but our export volume is overwhelmingly bought by aquaculture feed mills rather than poultry or livestock feed manufacturers — that's reflected in where India's fish meal actually goes (China, Vietnam, Japan). If you need a livestock-feed-specific spec or certification pathway, tell us and we'll confirm what's achievable.
It's made from fish processing by-catch and trimmings at coastal plants — steam-dried, pressed to remove oil, then milled. Production tracks each coastal region's fishing season rather than one national harvest window, so year-round supply is normal.
Around 20–22 MT bagged in a 20ft and 24–26 MT in a 40ft. Jumbo (FIBC) bags are available for feed-mill customers with bulk-handling setups.
Yes, on request — both matter for fish meal quality and some destination markets set specific limits. Tell us your market and required test panel and we'll confirm.
China's own aquaculture feed demand is enormous, and Indian fish meal is price-competitive against other Asian and South American origins for that market. Vietnam's shrimp-farming sector drives the second-largest volume.
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