UK Fish Meal Importers | HS Code 230120 | Verified Company Directory

The United Kingdom is a significant market for fish meal and fish-based protein ingredients in Europe. Classified under HS Code 230120, which covers flours, meals, and pellets of fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and other aquatic invertebrates, these products serve as essential high-protein ingredients in aquaculture feeds, livestock nutrition, pet food manufacturing, and specialty bait production. The UK's diverse aquatic industries, including its world-renowned salmon farming sector in Scotland, a thriving recreational angling market, and a growing pet food industry, create substantial demand for imported fish meal products. Below is a verified directory of UK companies involved in the import and utilization of fish meal products, sourced from official trade records and bill of lading data. For more information about Turkey's fish meal importers and global fish meal trade, visit the linked pages.

HS Code 230120 - Fish Meal, Fish Flour and Fish Pellets

HS Code 230120 encompasses flours, meals, and pellets derived from fish, crustaceans, molluscs, or other aquatic invertebrates. This harmonized system code is used globally by customs authorities to classify fish meal products in international trade. Fish meal is prized for its high protein content (typically 55-72%), balanced amino acid profile, essential omega-3 fatty acids, and bioavailable minerals, making it an indispensable ingredient in compound feed formulations. The UK imports fish meal from major producing countries including Peru, Chile, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, and Morocco to supply its aquaculture, livestock, and pet nutrition sectors. For detailed information on fish meal importers in Turkey under HS Code 230120 and Bangladesh fish meal importers, the related pages provide additional market context.

Verified UK Fish Meal Importers

1. AQUATICS EXPRESS DISTRIBUTION LTD

Aquatics Express Distribution Ltd is a UK-based wholesale distributor specializing in ornamental fish, aquarium equipment, and aquatics-related products. The company supplies retailers and garden centres across the UK with a comprehensive range of aquatic supplies, including fish-based feeds and nutritional products for the ornamental and pet fish market. Their involvement in the fish meal trade relates to importing and distributing fish-based food products that contain fish meal as a primary protein source for aquarium and pond fish.

2. BIOMAR LIMITED

BioMar Limited is the UK arm of the BioMar Group, one of the world's leading suppliers of high-performance aquaculture feed. Operating a feed mill in Grangemouth, Scotland, BioMar became the first ASC-certified feed mill in the United Kingdom, producing sustainable diets for salmon, trout, and other farmed aquatic species. As a major consumer of fish meal, BioMar imports significant quantities of this critical protein ingredient for their aquafeed formulations, serving the Scottish and broader UK salmon farming industry with responsibly sourced marine ingredients.

3. C C MOORE & CO LTD

C C Moore & Co Ltd, founded in 2002 and based in Somerset, England, is a specialist manufacturer of carp and coarse fishing baits including boilies, pellets, liquids, and particles. The company is globally recognized for its perfected bait formulations and applies decades of expertise in animal nutrition to product development. Their use of fish meal and marine-derived proteins in bait production, including their popular Pacific Tuna range, positions them as a notable importer of fish meal products for the recreational angling market.

4. CHEMICALS & FEEDS LTD

Chemicals & Feeds Ltd, trading as Chemifeed and based in Maidstone, Kent, is a specialist importer and supplier of animal feed ingredients, explicitly including fishmeal, rice bran, and krill meal. With established expertise in importing products for agricultural feedstuffs and fishing baits, this company is one of the most directly relevant importers under HS Code 230120, serving as a direct importer and distributor of fish meal to the UK animal feed and aquaculture sectors.

5. D-D THE AQUARIUM SOLUTION LTD

D-D The Aquarium Solution Ltd, based in London, is one of the UK's most respected suppliers of specialist marine and reef aquarium equipment, serving the saltwater and freshwater aquarium hobbyist market across Europe. Their connection to fish meal imports relates to the distribution of fish-based foods, supplements, and nutritional products for ornamental and reef aquariums, which commonly contain fish meal and marine proteins as key nutritional components.

6. EWOS LIMITED

EWOS Limited, a Cargill-owned brand operating a major feed mill in Westfield, Scotland, is a world leader in salmon aquaculture feeds. The company produces high-performance salmonid feeds for both freshwater and seawater life-cycle stages, including certified organic feeds compliant with Soil Association standards. As a major aquafeed producer, EWOS is a significant importer of fish meal and fish oil, utilizing these critical raw materials in salmon feed formulations that serve the Scottish and broader UK salmon farming industry.

7. FEEDFACTORS LTD

Feedfactors Ltd, based in London, describes itself as the leading importer of organic grains, oilseeds, and pulses in the UK, serving the pet food, organic, non-GM, and animal feed sectors. Operating as a wholesale import and export business, their involvement with fish meal relates to sourcing marine protein ingredients and feed-grade materials for their diverse animal nutrition customer base across the UK.

8. HJALTLAND SEAFARMS UK LTD

Hjaltland Seafarms UK Ltd, formerly known as Grieg Seafood Hjaltland UK, was the largest salmon farming company in Shetland, Scotland, producing Atlantic farmed salmon for export to markets across Europe, the Far East, South America, and the US. As a major salmon farming operation, the company was a significant consumer of aquafeed containing fish meal. The company was recently acquired by Scottish Sea Farms, integrating its Shetland operations into a larger portfolio.

9. J & K AQUATICS LIMITED

J & K Aquatics Ltd, based in Bridgwater, Somerset, is the leading aquatic and reptile wholesaler in England, Scotland, and Wales, distributing live fish, aquarium equipment, and reptile supplies to retail pet shops across the UK. Their connection to fish meal imports stems from distributing fish food, pellets, and nutritional products for ornamental fish and aquatic pets, which commonly contain fish meal as a primary protein ingredient.

10. M.B.K. INSTALLATIONS LTD

M.B.K. Installations Ltd (MBKI) specializes in the supply, installation, and relocation of aquatic research eco-systems worldwide, providing consumables and equipment for research aquatic facilities serving universities, government research bodies, and private aquaculture operations. Their involvement with fish meal relates to supplying fish feed, pellets, and nutritional consumables used in aquaculture research and aquatic research facilities globally.

11. MARS HORSECARE UK LTD

Mars Horsecare UK Ltd, part of Mars Inc., manufactures a comprehensive line of horse and pony feeds through the iconic SPILLERS brand, the UK's best-known horse feed with over 65 years of heritage. Operating under animal feed manufacturing codes, the company produces compound feeds, fibre feeds, functional feeds, vitamins, and supplements, utilizing protein-rich ingredients that may include fish meal as a nutritional supplement in certain feed formulations.

12. STICKY BAITS LTD

Sticky Baits Ltd, based in Goole, East Yorkshire, is a premium carp fishing bait manufacturer famous for their flagship "The Krill" product range and other high-performance baits including boilies, pellets, pop-ups, and liquids. Their products heavily feature marine-derived proteins, particularly krill meal and fish meals, as key attractants and nutritional components, making them a notable importer of fish meal and krill products for the UK carp fishing bait industry.

13. SYNCHEMICALS LIMITED

Synchemicals Limited, established over 80 years ago and based in Coalville, Leicestershire, operates as a chemicals distribution and holding entity. The company's connection to fish meal imports relates to the distribution of chemical and feed-grade raw materials used in animal nutrition and aquaculture feed production, serving as part of the broader UK feed ingredient supply chain.

14. TROUW (UK) LTD

Trouw (UK) Ltd, based in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, is the UK arm of Trouw Nutrition, a subsidiary of the Nutreco Group and a global leader in innovative feed specialities, premixes, and nutritional services for the animal nutrition industry. With a 90-year history, Trouw Nutrition provides precision-manufactured vitamin and mineral premixes, feed additives, and nutritional models, utilizing marine proteins including fish meal as key feed ingredients across livestock, poultry, and aquaculture sectors.

UK Fish Meal Market Overview

The United Kingdom's fish meal market is driven by several key sectors that create robust demand for imported fish meal products. Scotland's salmon farming industry, the largest in Europe and valued at over £1 billion annually, is the single largest consumer of fish meal in the UK, with companies like BioMar, EWOS (Cargill), and Scottish Sea Farms requiring thousands of tonnes of fish meal annually for aquafeed production. The UK's recreational angling market, worth an estimated £1.3 billion per year, also consumes significant quantities of fish meal through bait manufacturers such as C C Moore, Sticky Baits, and numerous smaller operators. For broader European fish meal trade insights, see Norwegian fishmeal and fish flour importers and Estonia steam dried fishmeal exporters.

The UK's pet food industry, one of the largest in Europe with annual retail sales exceeding £3 billion, represents another significant market for fish meal-based ingredients. Companies like Mars Horsecare and numerous pet food manufacturers utilize fish meal as a high-quality protein source in their formulations. Brexit has introduced new trade dynamics for fish meal imports into the UK, with customs procedures and regulatory requirements evolving under the UK's independent trade policy framework. The UK continues to maintain strong trade relationships with major fish meal producing nations, particularly Iceland, Norway, and Denmark. For information on Turkey's fish meal import records and Spain fish meal importers, the linked resources provide additional European market context.

Fish Meal in UK Aquaculture and Animal Nutrition

The UK's aquaculture sector is heavily reliant on fish meal as a primary protein ingredient in aquafeed formulations. Scottish salmon farming, which produces over 200,000 tonnes of salmon annually, requires approximately 400,000 tonnes of feed per year, with fish meal constituting a significant proportion of this feed. The industry's commitment to sustainability has led to increased certification under the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and Marin Trust standards, ensuring responsible sourcing of fish meal and fish oil ingredients. Companies like BioMar and EWOS have pioneered sustainable aquafeed production in the UK, incorporating responsibly sourced marine ingredients into their feed formulations. For Peru's fish meal exports and Turkish aquaculture industry exporters, the linked pages offer global supply chain perspectives.

Beyond aquaculture, fish meal finds extensive application in the UK's animal nutrition sector. The livestock, poultry, and pet food industries utilize fish meal as a concentrated protein source that supports animal growth, health, and productivity. The UK's compound feed industry, producing over 15 million tonnes annually, incorporates fish meal into formulations for various species. Additionally, the recreational angling sector's demand for fish meal-based baits has created a specialized niche market. Certifications such as Marin Trust (IFFO RS), GMP+ (Good Manufacturing Practice), and ASC Chain of Custody are increasingly important for UK companies importing fish meal, ensuring traceability and responsible sourcing throughout the supply chain. For a comprehensive directory of importers organized by country and agricultural product import demands, the linked resources provide additional reference information.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is HS Code 230120?

HS Code 230120 covers flours, meals, and pellets of fish, crustaceans, molluscs, or other aquatic invertebrates. This classification is used globally by customs authorities to identify and regulate fish meal products in international trade. It includes all forms of processed fish meal, fish flour, and fish pellets used primarily as animal feed and aquaculture ingredients.

Who are the main fish meal importers in the UK?

The verified UK fish meal importers include BioMar Limited (Scotland), EWOS Limited/Cargill (Scotland), Chemicals & Feeds Ltd/Chemifeed (Kent), C C Moore & Co Ltd (Somerset), Sticky Baits Ltd (East Yorkshire), Trouw (UK) Ltd/Nutreco (Derbyshire), Feedfactors Ltd (London), Hjaltland Seafarms UK Ltd (Shetland), Mars Horsecare UK Ltd, and several aquatics distributors and bait manufacturers.

What industries in the UK use imported fish meal?

The UK's fish meal consumption is driven primarily by the salmon aquaculture industry in Scotland, the recreational angling bait manufacturing sector, the pet food industry, livestock and poultry compound feed production, and the ornamental fish and aquarium products sector. Scottish salmon farming alone requires hundreds of thousands of tonnes of aquafeed annually, with fish meal as a key ingredient.