Continued stability forecast for EU compound feed production

(Posted on 31/05/25)

The European Feed Manufacturers' Federation (FEFAC) market experts have forecast continued stability in the EU compound feed production market for 2025.

FEFAC was founded in 1959 by five national compound feed associations from France, Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.

The total industrial compound feed production in the EU27 is expected to reach 146.1 million tonnes, marking a slight decrease of – 0.34% 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 41.285 million tonnes, a decrease of 1.4% compared to 2024. Among the major producing countries, Germany is expected to see a modest increase (+1.2%), 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 – 3.6%. Poland, in contrast, is forecast to increase slightly by +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 deceases such as the recent outbreaks of highly infectious foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

Pig feed production in the EU is expected to reach 46.960 million tonnes in 2025, a marginal decrease of – 0.8%. German production is down by – 3.0% while the Netherlands is forecast to see a sharp decline of -10%. Spain, the largest producer, is set for a 3.0% increase to 13.2 million tonnes. Portugal will rise by +4.3% and Poland is expected to grow by +2.7%. Ireland is projected to increase with +2.0%, while Hungary will likely see a decrease of -6.4% due to animal disease challenges in particular from African swine fever (ASF). The overall picture is one of stability, with some countries experiencing growth (Slovenia +0,6% and Bulgaria +9%) while others facing continued decline of production (Denmark -1,5%) due to structural changes and ongoing disease pressures.

The poultry feed sector is expected to grow further in 2025, with production forecast to increase by + 0.9% to 50.368 million tonnes. Spain and Portugal are set for a robust increase of +5.8% and +3.8% respectively. Poland, the largest poultry feed producer, is forecast to increase by + 2.3% to 7.44 million tonnes. Ireland and several other Member States (Austria, Slovenia) are expected to maintain stable production levels, with only minor variations.