Market Trends of Blood Meal Industry
Growing Demand for Animal Meat
- The global blood meal market is being driven by the surging demand for animal meat, due to blood meal's significance as a high-protein component in animal feed. With rising meat consumption worldwide, particularly in developing regions like Asia-Pacific and Latin America, the livestock industry is witnessing rapid expansion. Blood meal, boasting a protein content of up to 90% and enriched with amino acids such as Lysine (offering a distinct advantage over plant-based proteins that have lower lysine content), plays a pivotal role in enhancing feed efficiency and accelerating growth in poultry, swine, and aquaculture.
- Additionally, urbanization and rising incomes are fueling a global increase in meat consumption, leading to a robust demand for efficient feed ingredients like blood meal. For instance, poultry meat consumption rose from 133.2 million metric tons in 2020 to 139.7 million metric tons in 2023. Similarly, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), global fish production hit a record 186.6 million metric tons in 2023, marking a 4.9% increase from 2020. The rising demand for animal meat and related products has led to increased animal slaughtering, opening new avenues for blood meal manufacturers. As a natural source of high-quality protein and essential nutrients, blood meals are poised to gain traction, driven by the growing demand for natural feed ingredients.
Asia Pacific is the Fastest Growing Market
- The Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region in the blood meal industry. This expansion is driven by increasing demand for livestock and aquaculture production. China, India, Vietnam, and Thailand are key contributors to this growth, with rapidly expanding agricultural sectors. For instance, China, the world's largest pork producer, reported pork production of 57.94 million metric tons in 2023, according to the National Bureau of Statistics China. This production increase has increased demand for nutrient-rich feed ingredients like blood meal, valued for its high protein content and ability to support rapid growth, particularly in response to challenges such as African Swine Fever.
- Aquaculture in countries like Vietnam and Indonesia has also seen substantial growth. Between 2018 and 2023, aquaculture production in the region increased by 31%, from 4.1 million metric tons to 5.4 million metric tons. A blood meal is widely used as a protein source in fish feed to improve productivity and meet export demands. The growth in aquaculture production has led to increased demand for blood meal, due to its cost-effectiveness compared to alternatives such as soybean meal and fishmeal.
- Blood meal is increasingly utilized as a high-nitrogen organic fertilizer in agriculture. The rising trend towards organic farming in the region supports this shift, particularly in developed markets like Australia and Japan. According to the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, in 2023, Australia accounted for over 35 million hectares of organic agricultural land. Farmers in these markets are using blood meal to enhance soil fertility without depending on chemical fertilizers, further driving demand.