An Insight into Global Feed Production Trends

The increasing global demand for poultry has significantly boosted world animal feed production in the past year, resulting in a growth of 1.2% to 1.396 billion metric tonnes.

Despite persistent challenges such as high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), economic uncertainties, and climate fluctuations, the figures released by Alltech in its Agri-Food Outlook show a rise from 1.380 billion metric tonnes in 2023.

The annual survey, which gathered data from 142 countries and 28,235 feed mills, revealed that the top four countries—China, the United States, Brazil, and India—are responsible for producing over half (52%) of the world’s feed.

When considering the next six largest feed producers, which include Mexico, Russia, Spain, Vietnam, Turkey, and Japan, the top ten nations collectively account for nearly two-thirds (65.6%) of all animal feed production globally.

Poultry: Key Growth Areas

The consumer’s desire for inexpensive, protein-rich poultry continues to drive production levels, particularly in broiler feed, which increased by 1.8% to 385.4 million metric tonnes, representing 27.6% of the total feed volume worldwide.

Soaring red meat prices have fueled demand in regions such as Asia-Pacific and Latin America, while rising incomes in parts of Africa have also contributed to this trend. Although HPAI remains a significant challenge, Alltech anticipates that feed volumes will rise moderately due to the affordability of poultry and enhanced export opportunities.

While the layer sector has experienced growth, it has not been as substantial as expected, increasing by only 1.4% to 173 million metric tonnes in 2024. This limited growth has been partly attributed to the effects of disease, which have led to reduced flocks in North America and an oversupply in certain areas.

However, there are positive volume gains in the Asia-Pacific region as consumers increasingly turn to eggs as a more affordable protein source. The demand also remains robust in Africa and Latin America.

The outlook remains uncertain, especially for specific regions, and will likely hinge on the development and adoption of vaccines against HPAI as well as improved biosecurity measures to minimize bird losses.