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According to data provided by FEFAC members, compound feed production in the EU-28 in 2017 reached 159.1 mio. t. an increase of 1.5% compared to 2016. Cattle feed saw the highest growth rate (+3.6%), whereas poultry and pig feed recorded more moderate production increases (resp. +1.4 and +1.0%).
On the pig feed side, the evolution year to year is positive again, after a slight set back in 2016. The still persistent effects of African Swine Fever in Eastern Europe weighed significantly on the development of pigmeat production. The exception remains Poland, which, despite the permanent AFS threat, managed to increase its production by 7%.
For the fourth year in a row, Poland was one of the best performing countries, with annual growth of +7.5%, boosted by the demand for poultry feed which has turned Poland into the largest poultry producing country in the EU, but also a +8% increase in cattle feed. All large feed producing countries (above 10 mio. t/year) have seen their production grow (between 0.4 and 3.5%), with the exception of France which is still struggling to recover from the AI outbreak.
Germany remains the top leading producer country trailed closed by Spain, thus widening the gap to France which remains in third position.
Forecast for 2018
FEFAC market experts are relatively prudent concerning industrial compound feed production in 2018. The dairy sector still needs to recover from the severe milk price crisis and get rid of the vast stocks of skimmed milk powder, leading FEFAC experts to anticipate a reduction of the demand for cattle feed between 0.5 and 1%. A number of factors will weigh in on the development of EU pig production. The effective development of pigmeat production in the EU and the subsequent demand for pig feed depend to a certain extent on the global demand for pigmeat, which is expected to stabilise. The development of national/local legislation on manure and phosphorous emissions can also have an impact. However, the main uncertainty remains in the possible expansion of the area affected by the African Swine Fever. A slight reduction of the production of pig feed by 0.5/1% is, therefore, possible. While poultry exports will continue to be affected by restrictions in third countries due to Avian Influenza, the persistent trend to increase in consumption of poultry meat in the EU is expected to maintain the demand in poultry feed at the level of 2017, despite constrains due to a trend in certain Western countries to reduce stocks density in poultry holding triggered by animal welfare concerns.
Overall, FEFAC experts envisage a stabilisation or moderate reduction of compound feed production (0 to -0.5%).
Thursday June 21, 2018/ FEFAC/ European Union.
https://www.fefac.eu
