Fish farming leads the transformation... Is the import substitution phase about to begin?

Fisheries wealth in the Kingdom: Production accelerates and added value awaits

For many years, the fisheries sector was viewed as a traditional activity linked to boats, ports, and local markets, not an industry capable of reshaping part of the food security map in the Kingdom. But the numbers for 2025 completely overturn this picture: production approaching 290 thousand tons, growth exceeding 17% in one year, and fish farming now accounting for nearly two-thirds of production. These are all clear indicators that we are no longer facing a small sector quietly improving, but rather an industry expanding rapidly and revealing investment, food, and export opportunities far greater than they appear. Total fisheries production in the Kingdom during 2025 reached about 289.9 thousand tons, compared to 246.9 thousand tons in 2024, a growth of nearly 17.4%. This increase was achieved through two main tracks: first, fish farming, which produced 192.4 thousand tons, and second, marine catch, which reached 97.6 thousand tons. Notably, the sector’s growth no longer depends solely on what the seas provide, but increasingly on organized production projects that can be expanded, their outputs controlled, and their operational efficiency improved.

Fish farming leads the scene

Fish farming production increased from 161.6 thousand tons in 2024 to 192.4 thousand tons in 2025, a growth of over 19%, meaning that nearly two-thirds of the Kingdom's fisheries production now comes from projects, not traditional fishing. This proportion reflects an important economic shift because fish farming is closer to industry than to known fishing activity; it requires capital, feed, technologies, operational management, health monitoring, and cold chains, transportation, and marketing. Therefore, the growth of this activity not only increases fish production but also opens a wide range of investment opportunities and ancillary services around it, starting from hatcheries and feed, extending to processing, packaging, and distribution.

Saltwater projects lead... Inland projects expand the map

Saltwater projects accounted for the largest share of fish farming production in 2025, with production reaching 114.6 thousand tons, equivalent to about 59.6% of the total. In contrast, inland water projects produced 77.8 thousand tons, approximately 40.4%. This diversity gives the sector good flexibility, reduces reliance on one type of project, and expands the production map to include inland areas that were not traditionally part of fisheries activity. Fisheries wealth is no longer tied solely to the coast; it has become an industry that can grow in multiple regions as long as technology and operational efficiency are available.

Shrimp and tilapia lead

Shrimp topped fish farming production with a quantity of 86.8 thousand tons, followed by tilapia with 71.2 thousand tons, then sea bass with about 18.8 thousand tons, and sea bream with about 7.6 thousand tons. This concentration is understandable economically; shrimp has a high market value and good export opportunities, while tilapia enjoys wide local demand and can be produced efficiently in inland water projects. However, continued growth requires diversification of species, products, and markets, so that the sector does not become dependent on a limited number of products or vulnerable to demand and price fluctuations.

The real challenge: Added value

The most important question is not how many fish the Kingdom produces, but how much economic value it extracts from this production. Increasing quantities is an important step, but it is not enough if processing, freezing, packaging, cold transport, marketing, and export activities do not expand along with it. A ton sold as a primary product yields a direct return, but a ton that enters processing, preparation, and packaging creates a longer chain of income and jobs. Hence, the success of the sector in the coming period will be measured not only by rising production, but by its ability to build an integrated industry around this production.

Marine fisheries continue to grow

Marine catch increased to 97.6 thousand tons in 2025, compared to 85.3 thousand tons in 2024, a growth of 14.4%. The Arabian Gulf led with a catch of 61.4 thousand tons, compared to 36.2 thousand tons from the Red Sea. This gap between the two coasts deserves study; it may reflect differences in fishing intensity, species abundance, infrastructure, or the number of boats and ports. The Red Sea may also hold greater opportunities for fishing, logistics services, manufacturing, and coastal projects, provided that expansion is balanced with environmental sustainability requirements. The goal is not to catch the largest possible quantity, but to achieve the highest economic return while preserving fish stocks.

Import gap reveals the size of the opportunity

The Kingdom's imports of marine products during 2025 amounted to about 180.3 thousand tons, while exports reached only 49.4 thousand tons. This means that despite strong growth in domestic production, the Kingdom remains a net importer of marine products with a large gap. This gap may seem negative, but it actually reveals a clear investment opportunity: the local market absorbs large quantities, demand is existing, and production infrastructure is expanding. If local projects can increase efficiency, reduce costs, diversify products, and improve packaging and processing, part of the imports can be replaced with national production, with the possibility of expanding exports later. However, import substitution does not mean only producing more; it requires understanding the nature of imported products, their prices, and the reasons for consumer preference, and then directing investment toward the real gaps in the market.

From a traditional sector

To an integrated food industry

The sector possesses strong elements, including long coastlines, local demand, government support, agricultural financing, and major aquaculture projects. However, it also faces challenges related to feed, diseases, technologies, water quality, cooling, marketing, operating costs, and environmental sustainability. Here lies the difference between rapid growth and sustainable growth; unregulated expansion may temporarily boost production, but it may squeeze margins and increase risks. Growth based on technology, efficiency, and planning is capable of lasting. The current numbers confirm that the sector is moving in the right direction, but they also confirm that the space ahead remains wide. Production of 289.9 thousand tons is an important achievement, but the next phase must shift from increasing quantities to improving profitability, quality, productivity, and added value. The question is no longer: Is the fisheries sector in the Kingdom growing? The numbers have settled that. The real question is: Can we transform this growth into an integrated industry that reduces imports, boosts exports, creates jobs, and provides a new pillar for food security? If that is achieved, the fisheries sector could become one of the most transformative food sectors in the Kingdom in the coming years, not only because of the seas we possess, but because of our ability to turn these resources into sustainable economic value.