Key Insights• According to the research report, "China EPA & DHA Market Outlook, 2031," published by Actual Market Research, the China EPA & DHA Market is anticipated to add to more than USD 141.08 Million by 2026-31. The Chinese EPA & DHA market is expanding rapidly as the country faces an accelerating demographic transition, the world's largest absolute burden of cardiovascular disease, and a fast-growing consumer health sector in which fish oil ranks as the leading supplement category online. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China's population stood at 1.40489 billion at the end of 2025, declining by 3.39 million during the year, with 323.38 million people aged 60 and older, representing 23% of the population, and 223.65 million aged 65 and older, representing 15.9%. Births fell to 7.92 million in 2025, down from 9.54 million in 2024, the lowest level in the modern era. Approximately 330 million people in China live with cardiovascular disease, which remains the country's leading cause of death. GOED's 2026 Ingredient Market Report identified China as the fastest-growing omega-3 market globally in 2025, driven by its expanding supplement market and rising pet nutrition demand. The growing clinical burden is placing additional pressure on China's healthcare system and consumer health sector to strengthen access to EPA and DHA through health foods, infant formula, fortified foods, and pet nutrition.• China's EPA & DHA market is characterized by a vast and digitally driven ecosystem comprising domestic fish oil refiners, algal oil fermentation companies, krill harvesters, domestic and international supplement brands, infant formula manufacturers, and one of the world's largest pet care industries.

China's online nutraceutical market reached approximately USD 17 billion in 2025, up 14%, with online channels accounting for 51% of consumer spending on supplements, while cross-border e-commerce supplement sales reached USD 566 million in 2025, up 20%, led by Tmall and Douyin. More than 54% of consumer spending on health supplements goes to foreign brands, with Australian and American brands leading. International companies are benefiting from this demand, with Jamieson Wellness reporting China revenue growth of more than 56% in 2025 and Aker BioMarine citing China as a key driver of its krill-based Human Health Ingredients growth. China is also a major supplier of algal DHA and ARA to global formula manufacturers, with Wuhan-based Cabio Biotech's Schizochytrium sp. (CABIO-A-2) oil authorized as a novel food in the European Union in July 2024.• Regulatory oversight for EPA and DHA products is administered by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and the National Health Commission (NHC). Health foods (baojian shipin) containing EPA and DHA require either registration or filing with SAMR under the Food Safety Law and the Measures for the Administration of Health Food Registration and Filing, with the blue hat logo signifying approved health foods. SAMR has added fish oil, along with nine other functional raw materials, to the filing-based health food raw material catalog, lowering compliance costs and shortening time to market.

Algal oils and other novel sources require approval as new food raw materials by the NHC, while infant formula recipes must be registered with SAMR and comply with national food safety standards. China is also the second-largest krill harvesting nation, with Chinese vessels catching 231,083 tonnes, or 37% of the Antarctic krill catch, in 2025.Market Outlook• A defining characteristic of China's EPA & DHA market is the rapid digitalization and premiumization of omega-3 consumption. Fish oil ranks first among China's top supplement categories, ahead of probiotics, calcium, and multivitamins, with consumers increasingly purchasing high-concentration triglyceride fish oils, krill oil, algal DHA, and combination products through Tmall, JD.com, Douyin, and cross-border platforms. Younger urban consumers are driving demand for omega-3 positioned around cognitive performance, eye health for screen-intensive lifestyles, and cardiovascular prevention, while middle-aged and older consumers favor krill oil and high-strength fish oil for heart and joint health. SAMR's inclusion of fish oil in the filing-based health food raw material catalog is expected to accelerate product launches by domestic and international brands, while SAMR has also signaled support for new ingredients and functions for marine health foods, with priority on antioxidant, memory-improvement, and fatigue-relief claims.• The market also reflects China's growing emphasis on population health and demographic policy. The Healthy China 2030 initiative prioritizes the prevention and control of cardiovascular and chronic diseases, while the national childcare subsidy program introduced in July 2025, which provides CNY 3,600 per child per year for children under the age of three, aims to support families and stabilize births.

In infant nutrition, the decline in births to 7.92 million in 2025 is intensifying competition among infant formula manufacturers, encouraging premiumization through DHA- and ARA-enriched formulations that more closely mirror human milk composition. Simultaneously, China's pet sector continues to expand, with urban dog and cat consumption reaching CNY 312.6 billion in 2025, up 4.1%, and the cat population rising to 72.89 million, according to the China Pet Industry White Paper.Market DynamicsDriver: Rapid population aging, massive cardiovascular disease burden, and digital supplement adoptionChina's EPA & DHA market is primarily driven by rapid demographic aging and the high prevalence of cardiovascular and metabolic disease. People aged 60 and older numbered 323.38 million at the end of 2025, representing 23% of the population, and approximately 330 million people live with cardiovascular disease. Rising incomes, greater health awareness, and the expansion of e-commerce have made supplements mainstream, with China ranking as the world's second-largest nutraceutical market after the U.S. Fish oil is the leading supplement category, supported by consumer recognition of benefits for cardiovascular, cognitive, and eye health. Cross-border e-commerce and social commerce platforms such as Douyin have accelerated the discovery and adoption of omega-3 products, particularly among younger consumers.

As health awareness continues to grow, online platforms and pharmacies are witnessing sustained demand for high-quality EPA and DHA products, which made China the fastest-growing omega-3 market globally in 2025, according to GOED.Challenge: Declining births, intense price competition, and raw material supply constraintsOne of the principal challenges facing China's EPA & DHA market is the steep decline in births, which fell from 9.54 million in 2024 to 7.92 million in 2025, reducing the addressable market for DHA-fortified infant formula, historically one of the largest application segments in China. Infant formula manufacturers face intense competition and inventory pressure, which is affecting demand for DHA and ARA ingredients from domestic suppliers. Cabio Biotech reported that it adjusted production plans in 2025 in response to overseas market sentiment and new regulatory requirements, resulting in a decline in performance. Additionally, intense price competition on e-commerce platforms is compressing margins, while raw material costs remain volatile. Peru's first 2026 north-central anchovy quota was set approximately 36% lower than in 2025, and the Antarctic krill fishery closed early in both 2025 and 2026 after reaching its catch trigger level, constraining krill oil supply despite China's large harvesting fleet. Together, these factors contribute to volume pressure in infant nutrition and margin pressure across the supplement category.Trend: Expansion of pet nutrition, algal DHA leadership, and marine health food innovationChina is experiencing a significant shift in omega-3 demand toward pet nutrition, adult supplements, and innovative marine health foods.

Pet nutrition was identified by GOED as a key driver of China's omega-3 growth in 2025, supported by more than 120 million pet dogs and cats and urban pet consumption of CNY 312.6 billion. Premium pet foods and supplements incorporating fish oil and krill oil for skin, coat, joint, and cognitive health are gaining share on e-commerce platforms. Simultaneously, Chinese fermentation companies are strengthening their position as global suppliers of algal DHA, with multiple Chinese algal oil strains authorized in the EU and other international markets. SAMR's support for new marine health food ingredients and functions is expected to encourage innovation in omega-3 formats such as gummies, emulsions, and functional beverages. The growing emphasis on traceability, purity testing, and sustainable sourcing is also boosting demand for certified fish oil and algal alternatives.Policies• Health Food Registration and Filing: Health foods containing EPA and DHA require registration or filing with SAMR under the Food Safety Law and the Measures for the Administration of Health Food Registration and Filing. Registered and filed products carry the blue hat logo and may make approved function claims.

SAMR has added fish oil to the filing-based health food raw material catalog, enabling a faster and lower-cost filing route for fish oil health foods.• New Food Raw Material Approval: Novel omega-3 sources, including algal oils from specific microalgae strains and krill oil, require approval as new food raw materials by the NHC, with specified quality requirements and usage conditions. The NHC continues to approve new microalgal oils, broadening the range of permitted DHA and EPA sources.• Infant Formula Recipe Registration and Standards: Infant formula recipes must be registered with SAMR, and products must comply with national food safety standards for infant and follow-on formula, which govern the addition of DHA and ARA. The national childcare subsidy program introduced in July 2025 provides CNY 3,600 per child per year for children under three, supporting family spending on infant nutrition.• Food Fortification and Additive Standards: The addition of DHA to general foods, such as dairy and beverages, is governed by national food safety standards for nutrient fortification and food additives, specifying permitted food categories and levels.• Cross-border E-commerce Retail Import Regime: Imported omega-3 supplements sold through cross-border e-commerce platforms may enter China under the cross-border retail import positive list, with preferential tax treatment and simplified requirements compared with general trade imports, supporting the strong presence of foreign brands.Segment AnalysisChina EPA & DHA Market By Product Type• Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) maintains an important position within China, particularly in infant formula, children's supplements, prenatal products, and cognitive health products. China is a leading global producer of algal DHA, although declining births are constraining domestic infant formula demand.• Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) represents the fastest-growing product type segment in China, driven by increasing interest in high-EPA concentrates for cardiovascular health, triglyceride management, and healthy aging among the 323 million people aged 60 and older.China EPA & DHA Market By Source• Fish Oil represents the leading revenue-generating source category in China due to its cost-effectiveness and its status as the leading online supplement category. SAMR's inclusion of fish oil in the filing-based health food raw material catalog is expected to accelerate domestic fish oil health food launches.• Algae Oil represents an important and growing source category in China, particularly in infant formula, children's products, and vegetarian supplements, supported by strong domestic fermentation capacity and international approvals such as the EU authorization of Schizochytrium sp. (CABIO-A-2) oil in July 2024.• Krill Oil is a premium source category with strong consumer recognition among middle-aged consumers for cardiovascular and joint health. China accounted for 37% of the Antarctic krill catch in 2025, and Aker BioMarine cited China as a key growth market for krill oil.• Other Marine Sources hold a niche position in the Chinese market, including seal oil, squid oil, and marine phospholipids, primarily used in specialty supplements and pet nutrition.China EPA & DHA Market By Application• Dietary Supplements represent the largest application segment in China, supported by an online nutraceutical market of approximately USD 17 billion in 2025 and fish oil's position as the leading supplement category.• Infant Formula represents a historically significant application segment, with DHA widely included in infant and follow-on formulas, although births fell to 7.92 million in 2025, constraining volumes and intensifying competition.• Pharmaceuticals represent a smaller application segment, including omega-3 medicines for hypertriglyceridemia and prescription EPA products distributed through hospitals.• Food & Beverages encompasses DHA-fortified milk, yogurt, children's snacks, and functional beverages, governed by national fortification standards.• Clinical Nutrition & Medical Foods includes fish oil-based lipid emulsions for parenteral nutrition and foods for special medical purposes, a regulated category growing with hospital nutrition programs.• Pet Nutrition represents the fastest-growing application segment in China, identified by GOED as a key driver of China's 2025 omega-3 growth and supported by urban dog and cat consumption of CNY 312.6 billion in 2025.Major EPA & DHA Manufacturers Operating in China• By-health, H&H Group (Swisse), Cabio Biotech, Xiamen Huison Biotech, Sinomega, Feihe, Yili, Junlebao, Nestlé, Danone, Abbott, Jamieson Wellness, Blackmores, Aker BioMarine, and dsm-firmenich are leading players in the Chinese EPA & DHA market, offering fish oil and krill oil supplements, algal DHA and ARA ingredients, DHA-fortified infant formula, and refined omega-3 oils.

Jamieson Wellness reported more than 56% revenue growth in China in 2025. Their strong presence, e-commerce capabilities, cross-border channels, and established relationships with formula manufacturers and retailers have driven adoption across the Chinese market.• The market is also supported by domestic fish oil refiners, krill harvesting companies, contract manufacturers, and pet food producers that provide formulation, encapsulation, and distribution support. With strong algal fermentation capacity and a large krill harvesting fleet, China plays a central role in both domestic consumption and global omega-3 supply.China EPA & DHA Supply and Pricing Economics• EPA and DHA products in China represent value-added nutritional products whose pricing depends on source, concentration, brand origin, channel, and regulatory status. Pricing varies considerably between domestic fish oil, imported cross-border brands, krill oil, and algal oil.• Refined fish oil prices normalized by late 2024 after the El Niño-related disruption, according to GOED, but the reduced 2026 Peruvian anchovy quota is expected to place renewed upward pressure on raw material prices.• Supplements are paid out-of-pocket, with intense price competition and promotional events on e-commerce platforms shaping retail pricing. Cross-border imports benefit from preferential tax treatment.• Algal DHA ingredient pricing is influenced by domestic fermentation capacity and infant formula demand, while krill oil pricing reflects harvesting constraints and premium positioning.Market Outlook by Consumer Health Spending and Supply Infrastructure• China's EPA & DHA market growth is strongly linked to rising consumer health spending, rapid population aging, and the dominance of e-commerce, although declining births and price competition remain significant factors influencing the infant nutrition and supplement segments.• Private consumer spending drives the supplement and pet nutrition segments, while foreign brands capture more than half of health supplement spending through cross-border and domestic e-commerce channels.• The future growth opportunity for EPA and DHA in China depends on expanding healthy aging and cardiovascular prevention, faster health food filing for fish oil, continued growth of pet nutrition, and innovation in marine health foods. China's strengths in algal fermentation and krill harvesting are expected to further support its role as both the fastest-growing omega-3 market and a key global supplier.Global EPA & DHA MarketConsidered in this report• Historic Year: 2020• Base Year: 2025• Estimated Year: 2026• Forecast Year: 2031Aspects covered in this report• EPA & DHA Market with its value and forecast along with its segments• Various drivers and challenges• Ongoing trends and developments• Top profiled companies• Strategic recommendationsBy Product Type• Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA)• Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)By Application• Dietary Supplements• Infant Formula• Pharmaceuticals• Food & Beverages• Clinical Nutrition & Medical Foods• Pet NutritionBy Source• Fish Oil• Algae Oil• Krill Oil• Other Marine Sources.