Imports of fishmeal dropped in the first eight months of this year to 630,000 metric tons, down from around 880,000 metric tons in the first eight months of 2014.
So far this year, Peru remained the main supplier of fishmeal with 50 percent, followed by Chile, the United States, Russia and Vietnam with 7 percent each.
Fish oil imports were up 23 percent year-on-year from 30,500 metric tons through August last year, to 37,600 metric tons in the first eight months this year.
Vietnam was the biggest supplier of fish oil so far in 2015 with about 41 percent, but falling from a 53 percent share between January and December last year. Xu explained this dominance is down to the relatively low cost of Vietnamese fish oil.
India is now the second biggest supplier of fish oil to China, taking up a 22 percent market share from 8 percent last year. Peru lost some ground, falling from a market share of 23 percent last year to 13 percent in the first eight months this year.
According to official information, the Chinese feed market moved from a massive growth period into "an area of saturated growth" which is down to environmental challenges (weather conditions), as well as lower margins due to a slowdown of the economy.
China's domestic feed production hovers at around 170,000 to 180,000 metric tons. The hog industry is using up the biggest shares, followed by the meat and egg poultry industry, only then comes aquaculture.
The average annual growth rate is now at about 1.5 percent, compared to 7 percent some years ago.
Overall Chinese fishmeal consumption was down 50 percent between January and May this year, but showed signs of recovery since the beginning of June. Demand is expected to be at between 1.2 and 1.4 million metric tons.
China's officials expect that the aqua feed market will lead the growth in demand in the next years, but 2015 showed signs of a slowdown due to environmental and disease challenges.
Nevertheless, Xu said, aquaculture will continue to be the "powerhouse" of China's feed consumption. But it is not going to expand very fast due to rising labor and production cost.
Demand from the shrimp sector was down this year, as farmers "did not have a good start to the year" with mortality rates "as high as 50 to 80 percent by April" this year. This was down to hot temperatures, lower broodstock quality. Conditions have been improving August.

IFFO Annual Conference blog: Bakkafrost making a case for higher fishmeal, fish oil inclusion rates