World feed production has defied the effects of recession, expensive ingredients and disease outbreaks to record a further increase in the
past year, but it was due almost entirely to growth in just a few countries.
FIGURE 2: Regional shares
FIGURE 3: Evolution of feed manufacturing tonnages
North/Central America
Asia-Pacific
South America
Europe
Middle East/Africa
27. 8
29. 1
14. 2
25. 1
3. 8
Asia’s proportion of global feed output
advanced in 2009 whereas volumes stabilised or decreased in the other regions.
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Europe 100 101 98 99 98 99 99 101 104 104
China 100 102 104 105 111 116 125 133 141 153
USA 100 100 101 101 101 104 104 106 108 109
Brazil 100 103 114 121 134 141 152 162 166 185
Mexico 100 110 136 143 150 164 171 171 179 179
Japan 100 104 104 104 104 104 104 100 104 109
Only two of the big hitters saw a substantial rise in their feed production last year.
2008
110
174
111
203
178
109
200 MM T in China may
be possible by 2015
One of the largest feed manufacturers
in China projected an all-feeds volume
(compounds, concentrates and materials) of 130 million metric tons nationally
for the whole of 2009. Some forecasters
have even indicated that they now think
200 million metric tons/year to be possible
by 2015. For comparison, statistics presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the
International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF)
by the China Feed Industry Association
gave a national total for all feeds that rose
from 123.3 million metric tons in 2007 to
136.7 million metric tons a year later.
“The domestic feed industry is develop-
ing at a relentless pace,” the association
commented. “There are clear indications of
the cutback in the international marketplace
due to the financial crisis. However, feed out-
put at home is continuing its rapid growth.”
The most recent confirmed data for
China show a total of 95.61 million metric
tons produced in the first nine months
of 2009, representing a 24.2% increase
from the first three quarters of 2008.
September’s monthly output alone had
been 12.88 million metric tons, which
meant a rise from the September 2008
level of 17.3%.
A fast pace of growth in August-
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 | WATTAgNet.com
For a more detailed look at
global feed production, go to
www.WAT TAgNet.com/12639.html
September was predictable, leading up to
the national and mid-autumn festival holidays
that took place in early October. But the rate
of increase surprised the industry. Demand
has slowed inevitably since the holiday time,
but it was still clear that the final 2009 numbers would reveal an annual increase despite
the setbacks at the start of the year.
Latin American figures increase
Similar indications of an early decrease
followed by later recovery have reached
us from various other parts of Asia. Latin
American figures also would generally reflect a rise.
But the trend in North America (and, to
a lesser extent, in Europe) has been rather
different. With significantly reduced animal
numbers in both the USA and Canada,
it was inevitable that less feed would be
needed over the past 12 months. The
estimate of a 3% drop for the US tonnage
in fact looks conservative. European data
maintained comprehensively by the feed
federation FEFAC showed a community
total of 150.57 million metric tons for 2008.
Soundings from Europe that this was not
matched in 2009. The federation spoke of
estimates based on the first nine months
pointing to a reduction of at least 4% in EU
compound feed production.
Feed International acknowledges
with thanks the help with this Feed
Panorama world survey received from
many individuals and organisations,
including those associated with FEFAC, the International Feed Industry
Federation and Feed Latina.
