How Indian legume processors became Norway's aquaculture backbone

Norway just zeroed out tariffs on Indian fish feed — and India has delivered a knockout punch that nobody saw coming. While fishing nations duel over salmon quotas, India quietly outflanked Vietnam and China to dominate global aquafeed exports, now owning 99.5% of Norway's $154 million legume-based fish feed market.

This isn't your typical seafood story. TEPA took effect October 1, 2025, creating India's first European beachhead in a trade agreement that eliminates tariffs on 42% of Norwegian exports to India immediately, rising to 85% after five years. But the real action is flowing the other direction — from Indore processing hubs to Norwegian salmon farms.

The Soy Powerhouse Nobody Talks About

Prestige Group, one of India's leading soybean export houses with over four decades of legacy, processes about a million tons annually from facilities based in Dewas, the industrial hub of Indore. Patanjali Foods (formerly Ruchi Soya), the largest manufacturer of edible oils in India, is headquartered in Indore.

Adani Wilmar leads the edible oil industry as a joint venture incorporated in 1999, offering products under its flagship 'Fortune' brand including soybean oil, palm oil, and rice bran oil. The company operates over 70 manufacturing units including India's largest port-based refinery at Mundra in Gujarat, supported by 98 stock points and over 10,000 distributors.

"We at Prestige, adhere to the belief that as exporters we not only represent our Group, but also our nation."

The numbers spell dominance. SOPA (Soybean Processors Association of India) was established in 1979 with headquarters at Indore in Madhya Pradesh, the main soybean-growing region of India. Gujarat Ambuja Exports, incorporated in 1991, has India's second-largest soybean crushing capacity of 4,600 TPD.

From Madhya Pradesh to Norwegian Fjords

The supply chain reads like an industrial symphony. Prestige's production facilities are based in Dewas, the industrial hub of Indore, Central India. Soya Bean Meal (SBM) is mainly used in Poultry Farm and Animal farm as high protein feeder, exported from India with protein content of 46-48% and fibers of 5-6%.

The geographical footprint spans manufacturing locations from Navlakha in Indore to Mundla Nayta Industrial Area on Nemawar Road, while Rajkot hosts multiple soybean meal processors offering products processed using supreme grade soybean and advanced processing techniques.

Oilseed meals have been increasingly utilized in aquaculture feed formulations, with usage expected to grow 37% by 2034 reaching 11 Mt, while fishmeal usage is projected to rise only 16% to 4.9 Mt. Soybean meal, corn gluten, wheat, and rice bran are increasingly used to replace fishmeal in partial or complete formulations, especially in tilapia, catfish, and carp farming.

Jobs Float on Feed Pellets

The math behind the boom creates ripples across rural India. Based on agricultural sector multipliers, $154 million in feed exports could support approximately 15,400 direct jobs and 27,700 indirect positions across processing, logistics, and supporting industries. West Bengal's fisheries sector employs over 1.7 million individuals, while the sector sustains nearly nine million livelihoods nationally, ensuring food and nutritional security.

Fish feed constituted 53.78% of India's aquaculture feed market share in 2025, driven by production of carp, tilapia, and catfish, with extensive carp farming operations in West Bengal and Odisha maintaining consistent demand. Women comprise an estimated 30% of this workforce, particularly in packaging and quality control operations.

India's aquaculture feed market was valued at USD 3.25 billion in 2025, demonstrating resilience in managing supply-chain disruptions while maintaining India's position as a key player in Asia-Pacific aquaculture.

"The India-EFTA TEPA is one of India's most significant trade arrangements with a group of high-income and innovation-driven economies."

India represents the world's fifth-largest economy and a huge market that provides big export opportunities for Norwegian businesses. India is on track to become the world's third-largest economy and is the fastest-growing large economy, while together India and the EFTA States represent a combined GDP of about USD 5.4 trillion.

The timing couldn't be better. EFTA countries have removed or reduced tariffs on a variety of Indian seafood exports including fish feed, with measures expected to increase India's share in EFTA's seafood import market. As Norwegian salmon farmers grapple with 15% tariffs on exports to the United States, India's zero-tariff feed solution offers both cost savings and supply diversification.