EU compound feed production market forecast 2025

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FEFAC market experts forecast continued stability in the EU compound feed production market for 2025. The total industrial compound feed production in the EU27 is expected to reach 147.5 million tonnes, marking a slight increase of 0.40% compared to 2024. This marginal change reflects relative stability across most animal production sectors, despite increasing market uncertainty and varied national market trends. The EU compound feed sector remains resilient in the face of continuing economic, geopolitical, regulatory, environmental, and animal disease-related challenges.

In 2025, EU cattle feed production is forecast at 41.585 million tonnes, almost the same value compared in 2024. Among the major producing countries, Germany is expected to see an increase (+3%), while the Netherlands is projected to experience a significant decline of – 5.0%, mainly due to regulatory policies. Spain, the largest cattle feed producer, expects a decrease of – 3%. Denmark and Poland, in contrast, are forecast to increase slightly by +4.5% and +3.9%. Most other Member States anticipate either stable or slightly reduced production levels, reflecting the overall downward trend in the sector due to environmental policies and animal diseases such as the recent outbreaks of highly infectious foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

Pig feed production in the EU is expected to reach 47.339 million tonnes in 2025, a marginal decrease of – 0.5%. German and French production is down by – 1.9% and -1.6% while the Netherlands is forecast to see a sharp decline of -10%. Spain, the largest producer, is set to stabilize at 13.2 million tonnes. Portugal will rise by +1.8% and Poland is expected to grow by +2.7%. Ireland is projected to increase by +3.2%, while Hungary will likely see a decrease of -3.2%. The overall picture is one of stability, with some countries experiencing growth (Slovenia +0,6% and Bulgaria +9%) while others are facing continued decline of production due to structural changes and ongoing disease pressures from African swine fever (ASF).

The poultry feed sector is expected to grow in 2025, despite ongoing pressure from Avian Influenza (AI), with production forecast to increase by + 1.5% to 50.653 million tonnes. Spain and Belgium are set for a robust increase of +5.8% and +5% respectively. Production in France is growing by 1% to 8.143 MT, while Poland is forecast to increase by + 2.3% to 7.44 million tonnes.

2025

Cattle

Pigs

Poultry

Total

EU Forecast (in mt.)

41,5

47,3

50,6

147,5

y/y change (%)

+0.2

-0.5

+1.5

+0,4

 

Source: FEFAC press release