ABOVE: The 2024 Alltech Agri-Food Outlook revealed global feed production survey data and trends.
Global animal feed production remained steady in 2023 at 1.29 billion metric tons, a slight decrease of 2.6 million metric tons – or 0.2 percent – from 2022’s estimates, according to the 2024 Agri-Food Outlook released by Alltech recently.
The annual survey, now in its thirteenth year, includes data from 142 countries and more than 27,000 feed mills.
The overall lower demand for feed was due in part to the more efficient use of feed made possible by intensive production systems that focus on using animal nutrition, farm management and other technologies to lower feed intake, while producing the same amount of protein or more.
A slowdown in the overall production of animal protein, in response to tight margins experienced by many feed and animal protein companies, also contributed to lower feed demand.
Changing consumption patterns caused by inflation and dietary trends, higher production costs and geopolitical tensions also influenced feed production in 2023.
Top 10 countries
The top 10 feed-producing countries are China (262.71 MMT, +0.76 percent), the US (238.09 MMT, -1.13 percent), Brazil (83.32 MMT, +1.84 percent), India (52.83 MMT, +13.43 percent), Mexico (40.42 MMT, +0.02 percent), Russia (35.46 MMT, +3.83 percent), Spain (27.53 MMT, -11.88 percent), Vietnam (24.15 MMT, -9.63 percent), Japan (23.94 MMT, -1.15 percent) and Türkiye (23.37 MMT, -11.48 percent).
Together, the top 10 countries produced 63.1 percent of the world’s feed production (same as in 2022), and almost half of the world’s global feed production is concentrated in four countries – China, the US, Brazil and India.
Notable species results and outlook
Poultry experienced an increase in broiler feed production (385.04 MMT, +13.10 MMT, +3.5 percent) and remained steady with a slight increase for layers (170.88 MMT, +0.01 MMT, 0 percent).
Some markets around the globe were significantly impacted by macroeconomic challenges and disease outbreaks, which can disrupt production cycles.
The global pig feed production sector faced many challenges in 2023, which led to an overall decrease in pig feed production of 1.23 percent (320.80 MMT, -4.01 MMT).
Latin America stood out as the only region that achieved an increase in pig feed production in 2023, while Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America – which have traditionally been the top pig feed-producing regions in the world – all faced challenges.
African swine fever continues to wreak havoc on pig production in China and southeast Asia, where repopulation efforts are slowly proceeding.
The trends highlight the complex relationship between economic factors, supply dynamics and disease management in the global pig feed industry.
Addressing these challenges will be crucial for sustaining animal agriculture and ensuring food security.
Dairy feed tonnage decreased by 2.3 percent (126.23 MMT, -2.28 percent), primarily due to the high cost of feed combined with low milk prices, which led farmers to make strategic adjustments that included reducing their cow numbers and/or relying more on non-commercial feed sources.
In Europe, dairy producers will continue to grapple with stricter environmental policies in the years ahead, and they will need to find new ways to continue growing.
Asia-Pacific managed to buck the downward trend and emerged as the only region that increased its dairy feed tonnage in 2023.
This growth was fuelled by a continued increase in the consumption of milk products, as well as an expansion of feed production in cooperatives.
This shift reflects the delicate balance between economic factors and the need to sustain dairy production.
Lower feed costs and higher milk prices would help right the ship.
Beef feed production decreased by 4.36 percent (117.49 MMT, -5.35 MMT) globally – the most pronounced downward change among all species sectors last year.
Changes in cattle cycles in the US and stricter sustainability policies in Europe had major impacts, with the Asia-Pacific beef sector notably surpassing Europe’s in 2023.
The substantial decline in North America was the result of lingering droughts and high production costs, among other issues.
While the European and North American beef industries are expected to continue declining in 2024, growth is expected in China, Brazil and Australia – highlighting the complex dynamics and landscape of beef-feed production around the world.
The aquaculture sector experienced a decline of 4.4 percent (52.09 MMT, -2.42 MMT).
This decline was driven in part by a significant drop in China’s supply of aqua feed due to lower fish prices, which had a far-reaching impact.
Latin America grew by 0.27 MMT (3.87 percent).
Despite adverse weather conditions in that region, the demand for aqua products is still strong in Latin America, which helped aqua producers there remain resilient.
The global pet feed industry continues to grow, albeit at a slower pace of 0.74 percent (34.96 MMT, +0.26 MMT) in 2023.
Demand for high-quality pet products and services remains high from pet owners who want only the best for their animal companions.
The Latin American and North American markets were the primary drivers of this growth, with the pet food sector in North America surpassing Europe’s this year.
Europe was the only market experiencing a decline in pet food production in 2023.
Supply-chain disruptions and inflationary pressures were the key factors contributing to this decrease.
The equine feed industry experienced a decrease of 3.9 percent (7.98 MMT, -0.32 MMT) in 2023.
The top challenges in the equine sector include high labour and material prices.
The top technologies impacting the sector are biosecurity, microchipping, genetics and nutritional solutions.
Survey respondents said the biggest opportunities for nutritional solutions are gut health management and feed efficiency.
Equine feed is expected to decrease both in price and in volume during the coming year.
Notable regional results
North America saw a decrease of 2.8 MMT (259.26 MMT, -1.1 percent), with beef feed tonnage down significantly.
The pig and dairy sectors also slipped slightly, but the broiler, layer and pet sectors more than made up the difference.
Feed tonnage in the broiler sector was up nearly 2.9 percent.
Latin America experienced growth in 2023 by 2.46 MMT (200.67 MMT, +1.24 percent).
Despite high production costs, geopolitical tensions and changing consumer behaviour due to economic reasons, the region continues to lead global growth, mainly because of its export-driven aquaculture, poultry and pork markets.
Europe continued its downward trend in feed production, with a decrease of 10.07 MMT (253.19 MMT, -3.82 percent) due to issues that included the invasion in Ukraine and the spread of animal diseases such as African swine fever and avian influenza.
Asia-Pacific led feed production growth in 2023, with an increase of 6.54 MMT (475.33 MMT, +1.4 percent).
Feed production growth in the region’s ruminant sectors offset a setback in the aqua sector.
The region is home to several of the top 10 feed-producing countries, including China, India, Vietnam and Japan.
Africa experienced continued but slower growth with an increase of 1.95 percent, nearly 1 MMT to total 51.42 MMT.
The Middle East saw a slight decrease of 0.12 MMT (35.93 MMT, -0.32 percent).
Oceania had the third-highest growth, 3.71 percent or 0.39 MMT to total 10.78 MMT.
Alltech works together with feed mills and industry and government entities around the world to compile data and insights to provide an assessment of feed production each year.
Compound feed production and prices were collected by the Alltech global sales team and in partnership with local feed associations in the first quarter of 2024.
These figures are estimates and are intended to serve as an information resource for industry stakeholders.
To access more data and insights from the 2024 Alltech Agri-Food Outlook, including an interactive global map, visit alltech.com/agri-food-outlook
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