Krill Meal Co-Product from Krill Oil Production Market Size & Share 2026-2035

Krill Meal Co-Product from Krill Oil Production Market Size

The global krill meal co-product from krill oil production market was valued at USD 148 million in 2025. It is projected to grow from USD 158.4 million in 2026 to USD 291 million by 2035, representing 7% CAGR from 2026 to 2035, according to latest report published by Global Market Insights Inc.

CCAMLR Area 48 provides the market's underlying raw material base. Catch across Subareas 48.1–48.3 reached 624,918 tonnes in the 2024/25 season, with Norway accounting for 326,307 tonnes, China for 231,083 tonnes, South Korea for 28,622 tonnes, and Chile for 20,035 tonnes. ^{[1]CCAMLR, ccamlr.org} The catch exceeded the 620,000-tonne trigger level, creating a formal closure effective August 1, 2026. This constraint makes extraction yield, grade recovery, and regulatory compliance central sources of competitive advantage.

Extraction technology determines whether the residual meal can be positioned as conventional feed-grade material or as a higher-value ingredient for pet food and human nutrition. Ethanol-based extraction remains an established commercial route because it offers predictable lipid recovery and scalable processing infrastructure. ^{[2]Institute of Food Technologists, ift.onlinelibrary.wiley.com} Low-temperature phase-transition extraction has demonstrated meal protein content above 60%, residual fat below 2%, and stronger oxidative stability than compared conventional methods. Such differences affect the commercial value of the co-product as much as the value of the extracted oil.

Europe

Europe held approximately 38% of market revenue, or USD 56.2 million, in 2025, supported by salmon aquaculture and mature ingredient regulation. Asia Pacific accounted for approximately 32% and is expected to advance at an 8.8% CAGR, while North America represented USD 18.33 million, or 12.4%, of 2025 revenue. Latin America and the Middle East and Africa accounted for approximately 9% and 5%, respectively.

The expiry of Conservation Measure 51-07 removed a spatial distribution mechanism for the trigger-level catch after renewal negotiations failed. That development does not expand the overall catch allowance; it increases the importance of governance outcomes and localized ecosystem considerations in procurement decisions. Suppliers with efficient processing and credible sustainability documentation are better positioned to protect margins when raw-material availability cannot expand proportionately with demand.

Key Drivers

Expanding global aquaculture and demand for functional marine proteins

Aquaculture feed is the market's volume base because de-oiled krill meal combines digestible protein with marine phospholipids, astaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acids. In Atlantic salmon diets with high plant-ingredient content, krill products have been evaluated as low-trophic-level alternatives that contribute high-quality protein, astaxanthin, and phospholipid-bound EPA and DHA. ^{[3]Aquaculture, sciencedirect.com} Separate research on post-smolt Atlantic salmon found that krill meal in plant-protein-based and fishmeal-free diets maintained growth performance comparable with fishmeal controls.

The ingredient's value is strongest where feed formulators are managing the nutritional limitations of extensive plant-protein replacement. Rather than serving as an undifferentiated fishmeal substitute, krill meal can address palatability, pigmentation, lipid delivery, and early-stage nutritional performance within premium salmonid, shrimp, and marine-finfish formulations. This functional role supports aquaculture feed's 63.5% share and approximately 6.8% CAGR.

Pet food premiumization and functional marine ingredient adoption

Pet food represented 11.6% of market demand in 2025 and is expected to grow at approximately 8.5% CAGR. The U.S. FDA issued a no-questions letter for the use of *Euphausia superba* meal in dry adult dog food at up to 3% inclusion. ^{[4]U.S. Food and Drug Administration, fda.gov} That regulatory position reduces formulation risk for U.S. manufacturers seeking marine-derived proteins and omega-3-containing ingredients in premium companion-animal diets.

The opportunity is concentrated in formulations where a marine ingredient can support both nutritional positioning and product differentiation. For processors, pet food can provide a higher-value outlet than mainstream feed-grade demand, particularly where ingredient buyers seek controlled fluoride specifications and documented sourcing credentials.

Nutraceutical-grade demand and human nutrition regulatory progress

Nutraceutical-grade de-oiled krill meal accounts for approximately 10% of market value and is expected to grow at approximately 9.5% CAGR. The European Union's Novel Foods Union List includes an authorization for Antarctic krill oil lipid extract under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/108, with specified use conditions. In the United Kingdom, the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes assessed krill protein hydrolysate RP1290, a partially hydrolyzed protein isolate specified at at least 85% protein, no more than 1% fat, and no more than 7% ash.

These developments do not automatically qualify all de-oiled krill meal for food use. They establish a regulatory direction that rewards processors capable of delivering tightly controlled protein, residual-fat, sensory, and contaminant specifications. The resulting value pool favors high-purity co-products over conventional feed-grade output.

Key Restraints

CCAMLR quota constraints and the raw-material ceiling

Commercial production is constrained by CCAMLR's trigger-level management framework. The Scientific Committee reported a 620,000-tonne trigger level for Subareas 48.1–48.4, compared with a precautionary catch limit of approximately 5.61 million tonnes under the applicable decision framework. The operational trigger level, rather than the larger precautionary figure, is the relevant commercial limit for processors.

The constraint is particularly consequential for a co-product market because oil extraction cannot occur without access to krill biomass. When catches approach the trigger level, processors cannot rely on raw-material volume growth to meet new demand. Investment consequently shifts toward yield improvement, differentiated grade production, and commercial allocation toward the applications that can absorb higher ingredient prices. Research on Antarctic krill fishery management also identifies localized depletion and ecosystem requirements as unresolved governance concerns.

Fluoride content and regulatory compliance complexity

Fluoride in krill exoskeleton material restricts the use of standard meal in certain applications. Norway's VKM has reported fluoride concentrations typically ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 mg/kg dry matter in krill meal. U.S. regulation permits Antarctic krill meal as a color additive in salmonid feed subject to a 2,500 ppm fluoride limit.

Species-specific tolerance is commercially material. A study involving yellowtail found that high dietary inclusion of standard krill meal reduced growth relative to low-fluoride material and increased fluoride accumulation in vertebral bone. The low-fluoride category therefore supports a price premium, but partial deshelling, additional enzymatic treatment, and more controlled extraction can raise production costs. This trade-off limits commodity-scale adoption while favoring suppliers that can consistently meet narrower specifications.

CCAMLR supply management reinforces this separation. A quota-constrained raw-material base makes low-cost volume expansion difficult, while fluoride-sensitive species prevent unrestricted use of conventional meal. Advanced processing is not simply a technical differentiator; it is the mechanism by which suppliers can redirect a limited biomass stream toward applications with stronger margins and fewer substitution options.

Krill Meal Co-Product from Krill Oil Production Market Segment Analysis

Product Grade

Feed-grade de-oiled krill meal held 54.6% of market value in 2025 and is expected to expand at approximately 6.2% CAGR. Standard protein products remain the primary choice for mainstream salmon, shrimp, and finfish feed formulations. Their commercial role depends on delivering a combination of protein, palatability, and natural astaxanthin that complements conventional fishmeal and plant-protein inputs.

Enhanced-specification low-fluoride feed-grade material addresses species and applications for which standard krill meal cannot be used at economically meaningful inclusion levels. This sub-grade accounts for approximately 20% of market value and is expected to grow at approximately 7% CAGR. Its premium reflects additional processing and quality-control requirements rather than a simple increase in protein content.

High-protein de-oiled krill meal accounts for 35.5% of 2025 market revenue. More complete lipid removal raises protein concentration and supports use in precision-formulated diets. The salmon and salmonid-optimized sub-grade is expected to grow at approximately 8% CAGR, supported by feed formulations that require controlled macronutrient balance and functional marine lipids. Shrimp and shellfish-optimized products are expected to expand at approximately 7.4% CAGR as intensive farming systems place greater value on larval and post-larval diet performance.

Nutraceutical-grade material is the smallest major grade category but the fastest-growing. Human protein supplement base products account for approximately 6% of market value and are expected to grow at approximately 9.2% CAGR. Astaxanthin-enriched functional grades account for approximately 4% and are expected to expand at approximately 10% CAGR. Their commercial case depends on preserving bioactives and meeting more exacting quality specifications than conventional feed applications require.

Product Form

Solvent extraction remains the principal commercial product form because it is supported by established throughput and lipid-recovery infrastructure. The resulting meal is well suited to established aquafeed applications, although residual-solvent management and thermal exposure can constrain its suitability for the highest-value human nutrition applications.

Supercritical CO2 and related low-temperature extraction methods provide a higher-quality co-product profile. Comparative work has shown that continuous phase-transition extraction can produce defatted krill meal with more than 60% protein, less than 2% residual fat, and superior oxidative stability. ^{[5]Journal of Food Science, doi.org} High capital requirements and lower throughput relative to mainstream processing limit wider adoption, but the technology is strategically important in nutraceutical-oriented supply chains.

Enzymatic extraction offers an alternative route to greater co-product functionality. Rimfrost's enzymatic hydrolysis process uses low-temperature treatment and reports approximately 30% lower raw-krill use per unit of oil output than conventional processing. ^{[6]Rimfrost AS, rimfrostkrill.com} Research on two-step chitinase and protease treatment has also demonstrated a co-product containing water-soluble proteins, oligopeptides, amino acids, and bioactive carbohydrates. Aqueous methods, chromatography-based purification, and other emerging separation processes remain relevant where solvent-free processing, fractionated bioactives, or tightly specified output justifies higher cost.

Application

Aquaculture feed represented 63.5% of market demand in 2025 and is expected to grow at approximately 6.8% CAGR. Salmonid diets remain the largest application because the ingredient can support feed acceptance, pigmentation, and marine lipid delivery in formulations with higher plant-protein content. Shrimp and shellfish feed is the faster-growing aquaculture sub-application, particularly where larval nutrition and early-stage survival influence farm economics.

Pet food accounts for 11.6% of demand and is expected to increase at approximately 8.5% CAGR. Regulatory acceptance in the United States provides a basis for dry dog-food incorporation, while premium cat-food and specialty diets offer further routes to value creation. The segment rewards stable supply, controlled specifications, and credible ingredient storytelling more than bulk volume.

Livestock and poultry feed account for approximately 10% of market value and are expected to grow at approximately 5.5% CAGR. These applications face more direct competition from conventional protein ingredients and require a specific functional rationale to justify krill meal's price premium. Nutraceuticals and dietary supplements account for approximately 9% and are expected to grow at approximately 9.8% CAGR, reflecting the higher value placed on purified protein and bioactive fractions. Agricultural fertilizers, at approximately 4% of demand, provide an outlet for lower-specification material and are expected to grow at approximately 7.2% CAGR.

This creates a widening strategic divide. Conventional extraction remains appropriate for large feed markets, whereas enzymatic and low-temperature processes enable entry into premium pet food and nutraceutical channels. Processors that can flex their output mix across these channels can respond more effectively when raw-material availability, certification requirements, or application-specific quality standards change.

Krill Meal Co-Product from Krill Oil Production Market Regional Analysis

North America

North America accounted for USD 18.33 million, or 12.4%, of market revenue in 2025. Demand is concentrated in premium pet food, dietary supplements, and salmonid feed. The FDA's no-questions letter for krill meal in adult dry dog food and the fluoride restrictions applicable to salmonid feed establish a defined regulatory environment for ingredient buyers. This structure favors suppliers able to provide application-specific documentation rather than undifferentiated bulk material.

Europe

Europe is the largest regional market, holding approximately 38% share and generating approximately USD 56.2 million in 2025. Norway combines a major role in Antarctic krill harvesting with a substantial salmon-aquaculture demand base. The European Union's novel-food authorization framework for Antarctic krill oil provides regulatory clarity for krill-derived ingredient commercialization, although it should not be interpreted as blanket authorization for all co-product meal grades. Europe is expected to grow at approximately 6.2% CAGR.

Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific accounted for approximately 32% of 2025 market revenue and is projected to expand at approximately 8.8% CAGR. China's 231,083 tonnes of Area 48 catch in the 2024/25 season underpins a growing degree of vertical integration between harvesting, processing, and domestic aquafeed consumption. Industry reporting has described planned Chinese capacity as approximately twice Norway's planned 2026 capacity. Japan remains an important high-specification market because the fluoride sensitivity of yellowtail supports demand for lower-fluoride grades.

Latin America

Latin America accounted for approximately 9% of market value in 2025 and is expected to grow at approximately 5.5% CAGR. Chile is the region's central market because of its salmon aquaculture base and its Antarctic harvesting activity. Pesca Chile S.A. is authorized to operate the Antarctic Endeavour in CCAMLR Subareas 48.1–48.3. ^{[7]Subpesca Chile, subpesca.cl} The company produces approximately 2,500 tonnes of dehydrated krill meal annually for export markets including China, Canada, and South Korea. Chile's adoption of real-time streaming monitoring for krill transshipments adds a compliance and traceability dimension to regional supply. ^{[8]SERNAPESCA Chile, sernapesca.cl}

Middle East and Africa

The Middle East and Africa account for approximately 5% of 2025 market value and are expected to grow at approximately 5% CAGR. Demand is led by aquaculture investments, distributor-led ingredient supply, and premium animal-nutrition applications. Growth remains more dependent on formulators' ability to justify krill meal's functional premium than on local raw-material access, making the region a selective opportunity for feed-grade and specialty products rather than a primary volume center.

Europe retains a stronger position in premium applications where salmon-aquaculture performance data, regulatory familiarity, and sourcing expectations matter more than lowest-cost supply. Latin America's significance is different: Chile links local salmon feed demand with direct harvesting capability, but compliance scrutiny and operational monitoring will remain important determinants of buyer confidence. Across regions, the commercial advantage shifts toward suppliers that can offer both qualified specifications and reliable traceability.

Krill Meal Co-Product from Krill Oil Production Market Share & Competitive Landscape

The market is concentrated, with the top five producers accounting for approximately 72% of combined share. Aker BioMarine Antarctic AS leads with more than 12% individual share. Competition is shaped by access to harvesting capacity, extraction technology, sustainability credentials, application-grade quality control, and routes to aquafeed, pet food, and nutraceutical customers.

9.1 Aker BioMarine Antarctic AS

Aker BioMarine Antarctic AS is the market leader. Its krill fishery received MSC certification in 2010. In September 2024, Aker BioMarine divested its Feed Ingredients business, including QRILL Aqua, QRILL Pet, the harvesting fleet, and the Uruguay distribution hub, to American Industrial Partners and Aker Capital. ^{[9]Aker BioMarine ASA, akerbiomarine.com} The company's 2024 revenue was USD 199 million, with krill oil revenue increasing 15% year over year. Its post-divestment positioning is focused on human-health ingredients and krill-derived innovation.

9.2 Aker QRILL Company

Aker QRILL Company is the successor to Aker BioMarine's divested Feed Ingredients business. It operates the QRILL Aqua and QRILL Pet brands and retains the certified harvesting and feed-ingredient platform associated with the business. The QRILL Company Antarctic Krill Fishery has been MSC certified since June 2010, with certification listed to expire in September 2026. Offshore krill production reached 20,091 MT in the second quarter of 2024, up 13% year over year.

9.3 Rimfrost AS

Rimfrost AS differentiates through low-temperature enzymatic hydrolysis. Its process is designed to separate oil and co-product meal soon after harvest while reducing raw-material intensity per unit of oil output. Rimfrost reported 2024 operating revenue of NOK 141 million, compared with NOK 70 million in 2023. The company's technology-oriented positioning supports participation in premium human nutrition, pet nutrition, and aquaculture channels.

9.4 Liaoning Pelagic Fisheries / Liaoyu Antarctic Krill Tech

Liaoning Pelagic Fisheries / Liaoyu Antarctic Krill Tech is an established Chinese participant in the krill value chain. The company is a member of the Association of Responsible Krill Harvesting Companies, which includes operators participating in industry science initiatives.

9.5 Jiangsu Sunline Deep Sea Fishery Co., Ltd.

Jiangsu Sunline operates the Shen Lan factory trawler in CCAMLR waters under Chinese registration. The vessel is 115 meters long, has accommodation for 99 crew, and has freezing capacity of 100 tonnes per day. Its continuous-pumping harvest system and onboard processing capability support vertical integration from catch to ingredient production.

9.6 Pesca Chile S.A.

Pesca Chile S.A. is a Chilean Antarctic krill operator authorized to fish in CCAMLR Subareas 48.1–48.3. It exports dehydrated krill meal to China, Canada, and South Korea. Chile's Supreme Court upheld sanctions against the company and vessel captains in November 2025 concerning unauthorized discards of non-target species during Antarctic operations. The event makes operational compliance a material element of the company's commercial positioning.

9.7 Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc.

Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc. was an early participant in krill oil commercialization. Aker BioMarine acquired Neptune's krill inventory and intellectual property for USD 34 million in 2017. Neptune subsequently faced financial stress, including delayed reporting and Nasdaq delisting reported in 2024, limiting its current relevance in the de-oiled krill meal co-product market.

9.8 Hestia (Shandong) Biotech Co., Ltd.

Hestia (Shandong) Biotech Co., Ltd. supplies krill oil, meal, and peptide ingredients. Its stated certification portfolio includes GMP, ISO, HACCP, FSSC 22000, and Friend of the Sea credentials, and it reports supplying customers in more than 50 countries.

9.9 Bioextraction Technology LLC / Best Krill

Bioextraction Technology LLC / Best Krill is a krill-ingredient processing and distribution participant serving premium pet food and human nutrition channels in the North American market.

9.10 Shandong Hailongyuan Bio-Tech Co., Ltd.

Shandong Hailongyuan Bio-Tech Co., Ltd. is a China-based krill ingredient participant active in aquaculture feed supplementation, functional food fortification, and dietary supplement manufacturing.

9.11 Qingdao Kangjing Marine Biotechnology Co., Ltd.

Qingdao Kangjing Marine Biotechnology Co., Ltd. is a marine biotechnology and krill-ingredient participant within China's Shandong province ingredient cluster.

9.12 Zhongguan Biotechnology (Hunchun) Co., Ltd.

Zhongguan Biotechnology (Hunchun) Co., Ltd. is a specialty marine biotechnology ingredient participant operating in Jilin Province, with distribution access through the Hunchun Special Economic Zone.

9.13 Guangzhou Beyond Fishery Co., Ltd.

Guangzhou Beyond Fishery Co., Ltd. is a krill ingredient supply-chain participant with commercial distribution oriented toward the Pearl River Delta's food and supplement manufacturing industry.

9.14 Jeong-Il Corporation

Jeong-Il Corporation operates an MSC-certified Antarctic krill fishery. Its certification has been listed as effective since August 2021 and expiring in August 2026; the fishery reported a 2024 catch of 1,159 tonnes. Independent certification can support access to buyers that specify traceable and certified marine ingredients.

9.15 Kitin AS

Kitin AS is a pre-commercial Norwegian development company planning a krill value chain based on cold pressing, mechanical separation, filtration, and enzymatic hydrolysis. It targets operational commencement in 2028. The company remained dependent on financing for a vessel and land-based plant as of 2024, making its near-term competitive role prospective rather than operational.

Recent Industry Developments

September 2024 - Aker BioMarine feed-ingredients divestment and Aker QRILL Company establishment

Aker BioMarine divested its Feed Ingredients business in September 2024. The transaction transferred the QRILL Aqua and QRILL Pet brands, harvesting fleet, and Uruguay distribution hub to American Industrial Partners and Aker Capital; the business became Aker QRILL Company.

2024/25 season - Area 48 trigger level reached

Area 48 catch in Subareas 48.1–48.3 reached 624,918 tonnes in the 2024/25 season, exceeding the 620,000-tonne trigger level. CCAMLR reported a formal fishery closure effective August 1, 2026.

2024 - Conservation Measure 51-07 expiry

Conservation Measure 51-07 expired after members did not reach consensus on renewal. The measure had distributed the trigger-level catch geographically across relevant subareas.

2025 - Chile launches real-time krill-transshipment monitoring

SERNAPESCA implemented a real-time streaming monitoring system for Antarctic krill transshipments by Chilean vessels, covering relevant operations through October 2026.

November 2025 - Chilean Supreme Court upholds sanctions involving Pesca Chile

Chile's Supreme Court upheld sanctions against Pesca Chile and vessel captains concerning unauthorized discards of non-target species during Antarctic operations.

2025 - Chinese fleet expansion and Indian entry intentions reported

Industry reporting described planned Chinese capacity expansion and reported entry intentions by India-based firms for Antarctic krill harvesting.