COUNTRY PROFILE FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE March 2026 85 Aquaculture Sector Despite high consumption levels, the U.S. aquaculture sector is characterized by a heavy reliance on imports due to limited domestic production capacity. Current estimates indicate that 75–90% of seafood consumed in the U.S. is met through imports. While annual commercial fishing production reached approximately 8.4 billion pounds (3.8 million tons) in 2023, aquaculture production stands at around 688 million pounds (approximately 312,000 tons). Annual per capita seafood consumption was recorded at approximately 20.8 pounds (9.4 kg) in 2022. Nevertheless, the aquaculture sector stands out as a relatively small but one of the most technologically innovative segment of the U.S. agri-food system. Investments in high-value species (salmon, trout, bass, and shrimp), Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), precision feeding technologies, and sustainable feed ingredients—such as insect protein and algae oil—are enhancing the sector's long-term growth potential. INDUSTRIAL FEED PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION IN THE USA The United States is the world’s second-largest producer of compound feed. According to the 2025 Alltech Agri-Food Outlook report, global compound feed production reached approximately 1.4 billion metric tons in 2024. North America accounted for 291 million metric tons (20.8%) of this global total. As the largest producer in the region, the US alone accounted for 270 million metric tons (approximately 92.8%) of this production, representing a slight increase of 0.68% compared to the previous year. This massive volume is the collective output of approximately 5,650 feed mills, supported by advanced logistical networks and an abundance of raw materials. U.S. ruminant feed production represents approximately 41.6% of the country's total feed output. In 2024, out of the total ruminant feed production of around 112 million metric tons, the largest portion—approximately 71 million metric tons—was attributed to beef feed. During the same period, the total amount of dairy feed produced in the country was approximately 42 million metric tons. The production within the U.S. ruminant feed segment is supported by modern feed optimization technologies and nutritional programs that enhance animal performance. Through feed quality control and ration optimization, farms aim for maximum performance in both growth and milk yield. Furthermore, sustainability trends are gaining prominence in the sector; some producers are implementSource: Freepik.com
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