Welcome to the Market Pulse, our weekly summary of the developments that matter to shrimp hatcheries, feed formulators, and artemia buyers. This edition covers three verified stories: IFFO's first quantified read on the South American fishmeal shortfall, continued growth in Vietnam's shrimp exports, and a major new shrimp-farm project in Indonesia. Each item links to its original source so you can read the full reporting yourself.
1. IFFO: Peru & Chile Fishmeal Output Down 49% in H1 2026
The Marine Ingredients Organisation (IFFO) reports that fishmeal production in Peru and Chile fell 49% year-on-year in the first half of 2026, while fish oil output dropped 30%. Peru's anchovy landings declined 20%, with exports down 19.7%, according to reporting on IFFO's analysis (BioBioChile; Trendconomy).
The decline is attributed to El Niño conditions. Enrico Bachis, IFFO's head of market research, noted that the South American shortfall could be partly offset by the fourth-quarter fishing season in Asian producing regions, including China, India, and Oman (BioBioChile).
In China, port inventories of fishmeal continued to decline through week 38, with newly arrived Peruvian material accounting for less than 30% of stocks. On pricing, Peruvian super-steam fishmeal was quoted at US$3,450/tonne CNF, with domestic port super-grade at around RMB 12,600/tonne; the market was described as broadly steady and wait-and-see (FeedTrade; ChinaJCI).
Why it matters: a tighter, more expensive fishmeal market raises feed costs across shrimp production. Artemia cysts are not a fishmeal replacement — they serve a different role as the essential first-feed for larvae — but the cost environment is sharpening hatchery focus on reliable, high-performance inputs and on functional nutrition.
2. Vietnam Shrimp Exports Reach US$3.3 Billion, Up 12%
Vietnam's shrimp exports totalled US$3.3 billion in the first eight months of 2026, up 12% year-on-year, according to Vietnam customs data compiled by VASEP. Exports to China surpassed US$1.07 billion, up 38.2%, making China the strongest growth driver. Whiteleg shrimp exports exceeded US$2 billion (+7.6%) and black-tiger shrimp reached nearly US$318 million (+7.4%) (VASEP).
Exports to the United States, however, fell 11.7% to US$436 million, following the 12.5% Section 301 tariff applied to Vietnamese goods from July 24, 2026 (VASEP). Separately, Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade reported that Vietnamese goods faced 27 new trade-remedy investigations in the first nine months — already exceeding the full-year total for 2025 (VietnamPlus).
Why it matters: expanding shrimp production, particularly the fast growth in shipments to China, supports structural demand for the cysts used to produce post-larvae. Hatchery buyers planning Q4 procurement should also track how U.S. tariffs and trade cases shift Vietnam's export mix.
3. Indonesia Prepares Its Largest Integrated Shrimp Farm
Indonesia's Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries is preparing the country's largest integrated shrimp farm (ISF), slated for East Sumba in East Nusa Tenggara. The project covers 2,085 hectares total, with 448 hectares of production area, and is planned around 14 clusters with 1,792 ponds, plus 224 reservoirs and 52 wastewater-treatment facilities. It is expected to create around 2,671 jobs (Sakti Biru Indonesia).
At a forum in Qingdao, Rokhmin Dahuri, chair of the Indonesian Aquaculture Society, cited FAO figures indicating that aquaculture now accounts for 53% of global aquatic-animal production. He put Indonesia's annual aquaculture potential at US$210 billion, of which only 18.4% has been developed, and called for expanded cooperation with China in smart aquaculture, offshore farming, seed production, and digitalization (Kontan; Newss.id).
Why it matters: large-scale farm expansion implies future demand for post-larvae — and therefore for hatchery inputs. With under a fifth of its aquaculture potential developed, Indonesia is a market worth watching over the medium to long term.
What We're Watching Next Week
- Progress in Peru's southern fishing season and whether Asian landings in Q4 narrow the fishmeal gap
- Week 39 changes in China's port fishmeal inventories and prices
- Vietnam's Q4 shrimp export trend ahead of the expected November trade-case ruling
- Timing and procurement plans for the East Sumba shrimp-farm project
Editorial note: This roundup is a sourced summary of third-party reporting; figures and statements are attributed to the publications linked above and have not been independently audited by Muyi Artemia. Dates and figures reflect reporting available as of September 21, 2026.
Muyi Artemia has supplied artemia cysts to hatcheries since 2009, sourcing directly from salt lakes in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia. If you'd like current pricing or a specification sheet for our Premium, Standard, or Decapsulated grades, get in touch.