Skretting China doubles down on growth with new LifeStart facility, product launch

CHINA – Marking a major milestone in its expansion strategy, Skretting China celebrated the grand opening of its first dedicated LifeStart production line in Asia on April 17, 2025, at its Zhuhai facility. 

Alongside the launch, the company unveiled five new hatchery feed products tailored for diverse species, including salmon, tilapia, golden pompano, snakehead, and catfish, signalling a strong commitment to driving the future of China’s aquaculture industry.

The event underscores Skretting’s confidence in China, the world’s largest animal protein market, where seafood ranks second only to pork. 

By investing in specialised production capabilities, Skretting and its parent company, Nutreco, aim to solidify their position as the most value-driven nutrition provider in the country’s aquaculture sector.

“China is one of the most dynamic and competitive markets globally, not just in scale, but in speed of development, diversity of species, and evolving customer needs. Within the global Nutreco organisation, China plays an increasingly strategic role as a key market,” said Bastiaan van Tilburg, CEO of Skretting. 

“Our ambition in LifeStart in China is high. We aim to be the undisputed leader in this space by 2030, particularly for salmonids, shrimp and marine fish,” he added.

LifeStart products, essential for larvae and juvenile stages of aquaculture species, are designed to improve fry resilience, disease resistance, and growth rates, with the potential to enhance the quality of the entire production cycle. 

The feeds can also be given to parent animals to increase egg production quality and yield, addressing several key challenges within China’s fast-evolving aquaculture sector.

“We believe Skretting has strong opportunities in China and across greater Asia because the industry is shifting toward more advanced, sustainable and performance-oriented farming practices,” said Jason Yang, General Manager of Nutreco China. 

“Customers are looking for more precise nutrition, better health support, and trusted brands. All of these align with Skretting’s global strengths.”

The launch marks the beginning of a two-phase project. The initial phase focuses on salmon, tilapia, golden pompano, snakehead, and catfish, while the second phase, set for the latter half of 2025, will expand production to include shrimp and other key domestic species.

Skretting inks 15-year sustainable vessel lease deal

In a parallel development emphasising its focus on sustainability, Skretting recently signed a 15-year agreement with Vertom and Strand Shipping for the lease of four diesel-electric vessels. 

These ships, scheduled for delivery beginning in 2026, are designed with energy-efficient hulls and diesel-electric, multi-fuel propulsion systems, aiming to cut fuel consumption and emissions by around 30% compared to conventional vessels.

“This 15-year partnership underscores a shared commitment to sustainability, innovation, and operational excellence,” the companies stated in a joint release. 

The collaboration, supported by logistics partner Kuehne + Nagel, marks another step in Skretting’s drive toward greener supply chain operations.

Skretting, headquartered in Stavanger, Norway, produces over 3 million tons of feed annually across 18 countries, supporting more than 60 aquaculture species globally.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.