16-20 T/H FISH FEED mill
Customized 16-20 ton per hour fish feed mill turnkey project for sale, including fish feed factory process design, fish feed production plan design, and a full set of fish feed production equipment.
What is 16-20 t/h fish feed mill?
A 16–20 ton/hour fish feed mill refers to
a medium-scale facility where a single production line can process and produce 16 to 20 tons of finished fish feed per hour.
Calculated at 8 hours of full-capacity operation per day, its daily output can reach 128 to 160 tons. This capacity is sufficient to meet the feed demands of regional, large-scale aquaculture bases. It also allows for undertaking OEM/ODM orders, making it suitable for an integrated business model that combines “self-use and external sales”.
In terms of equipment, such a plant requires a highly automated, complete production line. This includes:
large hammer mill, high-efficiency ribbon mixer, a ring die pelletizer or twin screw extruder, continuous dryer and cooler, oil coating machine, grading screen, and fully automatic packaging machine.
Additionally, it must be equipped with environmental systems like dust collectors and wastewater treatment units to meet local regulatory requirements.
What are its key features?
Large-Scale Production Capacity
Can centrally supply feed to multiple farms or aquaculture bases, enabling unified production and distribution, which improves management and operational efficiency.
Highly Automated Production
Uses an intelligent control system to achieve continuous operation in raw material grinding, mixing, pelleting, drying, cooling, screening, oil spraying, and packaging—ensuring high productivity with easy operation.
Flexible Production of Multiple Feed Types
Can process floating, sinking, and slow-sinking pellets, and can be flexibly adjusted according to different fish species or formulas to meet diverse aquaculture needs.
Complete Equipment Configuration
Includes grinders, mixers, pellet mills, dryer-coolers, oil coating machines, grading screens, packaging machines, and necessary environmental protection facilities, ensuring a complete, efficient, and safe production line.
Stable and Efficient Performance
Optimized equipment design ensures reliable operation, low failure rate, and continuous, efficient production, guaranteeing stable output and consistent product quality.
Scalability and Multi-Channel Operation
Can be upgraded or expanded for future capacity or new feed types, while also supporting OEM/ODM services and self-produced sales, enabling multi-channel revenue.
What Can a 16–20 T/H Fish Feed mill?
A fish feed mill line with a capacity of 16-20 t/h falls within the medium-to-large scale range. It can produce various types of aquatic feed and, depending on formulations and processes, be adjusted to manufacture specialized functional feeds.
Floating Fish Feed
Floating pellets are currently the fastest-growing market segment. Using advanced extrusion technology, high-fat fish feed pellets can be produced, which stay suspended in water for longer periods.
Target species: Tilapia, carp, catfish, ornamental fish, etc.
Pelletizer type: Extruders (dry type extruder, wet type extruder, twin screw extruder)
Sinking Fish Feed
Conventional sinking fish feed is usually produced using pelletizing technology. However, with advancements in feed production technology, fish feed plants now also use extrusion to produce sinking fish feed, overcoming the shortcomings of traditional pelletized sinking feed.
Target species: Sturgeon, grouper, marine fish, shrimp
Pelletizer type: Pellet mill, extruder
Slow-Sinking Feed
There is also considerable market demand for slow-sinking fish feed, which consists of pellets that fall between floating and sinking types, suitable for mid-to-bottom-feeding species.
Target species: Catfish, yellow catfish, snakehead fish, seabass, turbot
Pelletizer type: Single/Twin screw extruder
Custom Aquatic & Pet Feeds
A 3–5 ton/hour fish feed plant isn’t limited to just fish feed; it’s a versatile production line capable of handling fish feed, shrimp feed, and even pet food.
Types: Shrimp, crab feed, specialty aquatic feed, mid-to-high-end pet food
Pelletizer type: Extruders, often twin screw extruders
composition of A 16-20 t/h fish feed mill
To build a 16-20 t/h fish feed mill, beyond basic requirements like factory layout and process design, the most crucial step is selecting a stable and efficient, complete fish feed production line.
A mature fish feed production line enables automated and continuous operation from raw material reception to finished pellet packaging, thereby increasing the efficiency of fish feed pellet production.
With years of experience in building fish feed plants, RICHI has successfully created hundreds of proven fish feed production solutions for clients worldwide.
Here is the typical production process we designed for a 16-20 t/h fish feed pellet production line:
●
Raw material processing
Raw materials first undergo cleaning, impurity removal, and weighing. This ensures that the materials entering the production line are clean, consistent, and free of contaminants, laying a solid foundation for subsequent grinding and formula control.
●
Crushing of raw materials
A grinder processes materials like corn, soybean meal, and fishmeal down to the required fineness. The more uniform the grind, the better the stability of the feed’s floatability, binding properties, and digestibility.
●
Automatic batching and mixing
All ingredients are thoroughly mixed according to the formula ratio. This critical step ensures every batch has uniform nutrition and no separation, guaranteeing feed quality.
●
Pelleting/Extrusion
Pellet formation takes place in a pellet mill or an extruder. An extruder can also control the expansion level, density, and floating/sinking properties, which determine the final quality of the product.
●
Drying
Freshly made wet pellets are quickly and evenly dried to reduce their moisture content to a safe level, preventing mold and extending shelf life.
●
Spraying
Sensitive nutrients like fats, probiotics, and attractants are added evenly at low temperatures. This enhances the energy value, palatability, and market appeal of the product.
●
Cooling & Screening
Hot pellets are cooled to set their shape. At the same time, powder and broken pellets are sifted out, ensuring the finished pellets have a uniform size, a cleaner appearance, and greater stability for packaging.
●
Packaging
The line automatically weighs, bags (typically in 50kg or larger sizes), and seals the final products, creating packaged feed ready for sale.
Main equipment used in A 16-20 t/h FISH feed
MILL
A complete fish feed pellet line requires many pieces of equipment, including main machines like grinder, mixer, extruder, and belt dryer, as well as many auxiliary devices such as conveyor, silos, and cleaning equipment.
RICHI can provide all the necessary feed production equipment, and we manufacture these machines ourselves. With a production workshop of over 60,000 square meters, modern manufacturing facilities, and a professional team, we can guarantee the quality of every piece of feed machinery.
Our factory welcomes every customer to visit at any time. We also invite you to come to our company to discuss your ideas.
6 Different 16–20 T/H Aquatic Feed Mill with Multi-Application Options
16-20 Ton/Hr Fish Feed Mill
A medium-capacity line that can stably produce floating, sinking, and various other types of aquatic feed.
It features a mature, highly adaptable process, suitable for factories with multiple formulas or those serving various farmed species.
Can be configured with single-screw, wet, or twin-screw extrusion systems to meet different density and quality requirements.
16-20 Ton/Hr Floating Fish Feed Pellet Line
This production line specializes in high-expansion, strongly-floating fish feed pellets, often used for markets like tilapia, grass carp, carp, and perch.
Its core equipment is an extruder, which allows for stable control of cooking level, pellet density, and expansion rate.
It’s ideal for clients looking to create brand-oriented, differentiated floating feeds.
16-20 Ton/Hr Sinking Fish Feed Mill Line
Meets the production needs for conventional or premium sinking fish feed, offering a choice between a ring die pellet mill or an extruder.
Ring die is suitable for high-volume, cost-sensitive products; extrusion is better for high-protein, high-fat, and more palatable formulas.
The entire line can support the large-scale production of sinking feed for species like tilapia, catfish, blunt-snout bream, and marine fish.
16-20 Ton/Hr Shrimp Feed Production Line
Specialized in producing high-density, water-stable shrimp feed pellets (semi-floating or sinking).
The line typically includes a twin-screw extruder or a ring die pellet mill, allowing for precise control over pellet hardness, shape, and micro-level size.
It’s designed for the shrimp farming market, including species like Pacific white leg shrimp, giant freshwater prawn, and tiger shrimp.
16-20Ton/Hr Pet Food Pellet Production Line
Used for producing pet food pellets like dog and cat food.
It comes equipped with a twin-screw extruder, a precision coating system, and controlled drying/aging processes to meet the demands for high-fat, high-palatability, and high-expansion products.
It can manufacture various types of pet food, such as complete diets, grain-free kibble, high-protein foods, and puffed snacks, making it a mainstream capacity for entering the pet food market.
16-20 Ton/Hr Multi-functional Feed Plant
This is a hybrid production line compatible with both aquatic and livestock/poultry feed.
It’s suitable for the large-scale production of aquatic feeds (for fish, shrimp, crab) as well as common animal pellets (for chicken, duck, goose, cattle, sheep).
The line uses a modular design: the aquatic feed section can use an extruder, while the livestock/poultry section uses a ring die pellet mill. This setup allows for switching between different product lines based on orders.
How to Build or Select a Cost-Effective Fish Feed mill?
When building a new fish feed mill or selecting equipment, many people focus on minimizing the initial investment. However, this isn’t true cost-effectiveness. True value means spending a reasonable amount to ensure your factory has the ability to generate consistent profits over the long term.
① Clarify Your Market Position and Production Needs
The type of fish farmed in your area, the farming density, and whether the feed is for personal use or for sale will all directly influence the production capacity you need. The requirements for daily output, product types (floating, sinking, shrimp feed, etc.), and delivery stability are completely different for small-scale farmers, regional feed mills, and large commercial plants. When your production capacity is well-planned, your equipment can maintain high utilization rates, which naturally lowers the cost per ton of feed.
② Match the Process to Your Product Requirements
Some believe that more complex technology is safer, while others try to cut costs at every corner. Both extremes miss the point of value. For example, you might only produce floating feed now, but could you add sinking feed, shrimp feed, or even specialty aquatic feeds in the future? These possibilities will affect your choice of pelletizing equipment, drying systems, and automation level. If your initial process selection is too narrow, future upgrades often require reinvestment. In contrast, a production line with some flexibility can adapt to different feed types without a significant increase in cost.
③ The Difference Between an Integrated Line and Buying Single Machines
Many seemingly cheap solutions only focus on the price of the core machine, ignoring the synergy between processes like grinding, batching, mixing, cooling, screening, and packaging. A fish feed production line that has been holistically designed will be significantly better than one that is pieced together, especially in terms of material flow, energy efficiency, equipment compatibility, and failure rates. In the long run, stable operation, low maintenance costs, and a high rate of finished products are what truly represent value.
④ Evaluate Long-Term Operational Return, Not Just Initial Cost
Factors like equipment durability, energy consumption, labor requirements, after-sales service, and technical support will continuously impact your factory’s future operating costs. A well-designed, mature fish feed plant solution may have a slightly higher initial investment, but it offers stable operation, lower cost per ton, and consistent product quality, leading to a faster return on investment.
16-20 TPH Fish Feed Plant: Cost-Benefit Breakdown
Building a fish feed production line is a major, high-investment decision for anyone in the aquaculture industry. Getting it wrong by mismatching your plant’s capacity with costs and market needs can result in serious financial problems, including high capital costs and operating losses.
That’s why the 16-20 t/h production line is so important. As a standard mid-sized option, it serves as an excellent benchmark for understanding the real-world economics of this business. By analyzing its initial investment and ongoing operational costs, we can model its potential returns and payback period under different production levels. This provides a solid foundation for smart decisions.
(1) Initial Investment: Equipment and Facility Construction Costs
① Equipment Procurement Costs
A 13–15 t/h fish feed production line is a large-to-medium scale capacity, requiring high-specification, integrated systems for grinding, mixing, extrusion/pelleting, drying, and cooling.
The cost for the complete equipment package of a 13-15 T/H fish feed line is approximately 1.6M–2.0M USD (around CNY 11-14 million).
| Key Equipment | Estimated Cost (USD) | Necessity & Functionality |
| Ultra-fine Grinder | $67,000 | Ensures raw material fineness reaches 80-120 mesh, enhancing digestibility and absorption rates for fish and shrimp. This is essential for high-end feed. |
| Extruder | $197,790 | Determines the forming quality and floating/sinking characteristics of the feed, directly impacting product quality and market competitiveness. |
| Belt Dryer | $218,000 | Precisely controls feed moisture content to 10%-12%, ensuring shelf life and reducing the risk of mold. |
| Twin Shaft Paddle Mixer, Cooler, Vibrating Screen, Packaging Machine | The mixer ensures formula uniformity; the cooler prevents caking of hot pellets; the screen filters qualified particle sizes; the packaging machine enables standardized dispatch. | |
| Automation Control System, Dust Collection System, Oil Spraying System | The automation system reduces labor dependency; the dust collector meets environmental regulations; the oil spraying system improves feed palatability. |
② Infrastructure and Installation Fees
Beyond equipment procurement, the following costs must be considered:
- Buildings: You’ll need space for raw materials, the main factory floor, storage for finished products, and offices.
- Utilities: You’ll need a lot of power (a ~1000KVA transformer), water, and steam. If your area has tough environmental rules, you might also need a wastewater treatment system.
- Installation: This includes setting up the foundations, running pipes and wires, and testing the whole line to make sure it works. Your supplier will usually help with this.
These extra costs will change based on where you build and how big your facility is.
(2) Operational Costs: Expenses for Smooth Production
Operational costs directly determine the profit margin per ton of feed. The cost breakdown, from highest to lowest, is as follows:
① Raw Material Costs
Feed ingredients (such as soybean meal, corn, fishmeal, rapeseed meal, and bran) typically account for 60%–70% of total production costs.
The price of these raw materials is highly susceptible to seasonal variations and fluctuations in the global market. Establishing long-term supply chain partnerships is crucial for effective cost control.
② Labor Costs
A 13–15 t/h production line features a high degree of automation, allowing for significant staff reduction.
| Position | Number of Staff |
| Production Operators | 8-10 |
| Quality Control (QC) | 2-3 |
| Warehousing & Logistics | 3-5 |
| Management & Technical Support | 3 |
③ Energy and Maintenance
Electricity, steam, and routine maintenance for large-scale extrusion/pelleting lines are essential ongoing expenses that must be included in the long-term operating budget.
④ Packaging and Logistics
Costs associated with packaging (bagged/bulk), warehousing finished products, and transportation to customers are also integral components of operational expenditure.
(3) Capacity and Profitability
① Production Output Calculation
A 16–20 T/H line, operating 10–16 hours per day, can produce approximately 160–320 tons daily. Based on about 300 days of operation per year, the annual output can reach 48,000–96,000 tons.
② Revenue & Profit Estimation
Using average market prices and profit margins (assuming a net profit of 15–40/ton):
Estimated Daily Net Profit: 160–320 tons/day × 15–40/ton ≈ 2,400–$12,800/day
Estimated Annual Net Profit (300 days): ≈ 720,000–$3,840,000/year
Note: Actual profit will vary depending on local market prices, raw material cost fluctuations, product types, and sales channels.
③ Return on Investment (ROI) Period
For a medium-to-large 16–20 T/H production line with stable sales channels and reliable raw material supply, the investment payback period is typically faster than for smaller lines. This is because:
High capacity helps you serve a larger market.
Automation reduces labor costs and waste from defective products.
High equipment utilization lowers the cost per ton.
Considering the scale of operations and profit margins, the investment can be recovered in 1 to 3 years, depending on actual sales volume and gross profit.
(4) Key Drivers of Cost-Effectiveness
① Level of Automation
A highly automated production line (with features like a central control system and automatic batching) allows for precise control over ingredient ratios, pelletizing parameters, and drying temperatures. This not only lowers labor costs per ton but also reduces defect rates caused by human error, leading to more consistent product quality. This, in turn, strengthens your ability to negotiate better prices in the market.
② Product Diversity
If your production line can quickly switch between making floating feed, sinking feed, and shrimp feed, you can adjust your product mix based on market demand. For example, you can focus on regular fish feed during peak season for freshwater fish farming, and then switch to high-end shrimp feed during the peak shrimp farming season. This helps avoid the risk of being stuck with unsold inventory of a single product. Additionally, producing multiple types of feed helps spread out the equipment’s depreciation cost and increases overall capacity utilization.
③ Raw Material Supply & Cost Risks
Fluctuating raw material prices are a major risk in the feed industry. Therefore, it’s crucial to establish long-term, stable supply channels (like signing annual contracts with soybean or fishmeal suppliers) and use financial tools like futures hedging to manage price risks. These are key strategies to ensure long-term profitability.
④ Environmental ComplianceAs environmental regulations become stricter, failing to meet standards for dust and wastewater discharge can lead to production shutdowns and forced upgrades. While investing in environmental protection equipment upfront will increase initial costs, it prevents even larger expenses from potential fines later on and ensures your production line can operate continuously.
What capacity fish feed plants have we built?
In our 30 years of building feed plant projects, RICHI has constructed numerous feed mills and pellet production plants in over 140 countries worldwide.
Uzbekistan: 1 Ton/Hr Floaing Fish Feed & Animal Feed Factory
Capacity: 1 t/h
Country: Uzbekistan
The factory can produce floating fish feed, as well as feed for chickens, cattle, and sheep.
Russia: 5 Ton/Hr Floating Fish Feed Plant
Capacity: 5 t/h
Country: Russia
It mainly produces fish feed pellets using advanced extrusion technology for high-end aquatic feed.
Indonesia: 5 Ton/Hr Floating & Sinking Fish Feed Plant
Capacity: 5 t/h
Country: Indonesia
This plant focuses on producing floating and sinking fish feed pellets and is equipped with an extruder to create 1-7mm fish feed pellets.
Malaysia: 3 Ton/Hr Fish & Shrimp Feed Factory
Capacity: 3 t/h
Country: Malaysia
It uses pelletizing technology to produce both fish and shrimp feed pellets. The pellet mill is equipped with a three-layer conditioner.
US: 1.5-2 Ton/Hr Fish Feed & Pet Food Mill
Capacity: 1.5-2 t/h
Country: the Us
The line is used to produce both fish feed and pet food pellets, maximizing the efficiency and profitability of the plant.
Norway: 10 Ton/Hr Salmon & Trout Feed Production Line
Capacity: 10 t/h
Country: Norway
This plant is dedicated to producing high-end salmon and trout feed pellets in 3-6mm.
Can’t Find Fish Feed Plant You Want?
Contact Us To Customize For You
Other Fish Feed Production Line Capacities
We have compiled fish feed production line solutions with different capacities below. If there is a configuration that matches your needs, you can click to view the details directly. If no suitable option is available, feel free to click the “Customize” button and fill in your requirements. Our team will contact you as soon as possible.
Why Choose RICHI to Help You Build Your Fish Feed Plant?
As a leading manufacturer of feed production equipment, RICHI provides high-quality machinery and professional services for the agriculture and aquaculture industries. Since our founding in 1995, we have continuously innovated and updated our feed equipment to stay ahead of the times. With advanced processing technology, superb craftsmanship, and strict quality inspection systems, we strive to provide our customers with excellent products.
30
RICHI Machinery
has been around for 30 years
We can offer clients turnkey projects for 1-100 ton/hour general feed plants and 1-50 ton/hour fish feed plants. Our comprehensive service includes factory layout design, manufacturing of the complete set of equipment, on-site installation, and staff training. Choosing the right partner can help you start your aquatic pellet feed production business more smoothly.
300+
We have helped build hundreds of
fish/shrimp feed
production lines from scratch.
International Certification
All our equipment has passed ISO9001:2008, CE,
CU-TR
and other certifications.
140+
Our feed pelletizing equipment has been sold to
more than 140 of the
more than 200 countries and regions in the world
1000+
We now offer our
related services to so many feed
producers worldwide.
CUSTOMER VISIT
We warmly welcome every customer who comes from afar. Face-to-face talks bring us closer as partners and build stronger trust.
Oman Customer Visit
Oman Customer Visit
In 2024, Omani customers visited our factory to discuss details of the feed pellet production line and sign a contract.
Russian Customer Visit
Russian Customer Visit
In 2023, long-term Russian customer visited our factory to inspect their previously ordered fish feed pellet production line equipment and discuss follow-up matters.
Thai Customer Visit
Thai Customer Visit
In 2022, Thai customers came to our factory to discuss customized details for our aquatic feed pellet production line.
South African Customer Visit
South African Customer Visit
In 2019, South African customers toured our factory equipment and discussed the engineering design for a fish feed pellet production line.
