Growing demand for animal protein from poultry continues to lift European feed production, with markets forecasting 1.2% growth this year. At the same time, structural changes and ongoing disease pressures from African Swine Fever are having a detrimental effect on the pig feed sector, with markets set to decline by 1.3% in 2026.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!EU cattle feed production is expected to remain mostly stable, though a slight decrease is anticipated due to environmental policies and animal diseases.
Trade organisation FEFAC said the total industrial compound feed production in the EU-27 is expected to reach 152 million tonnes, marking a marginal decrease of 0.06% compared to 2025.
Market Volatility and Regulatory Pressure
FEFAC said the compound feed sector continued to demonstrate resilience amid ongoing economic and geopolitical upheavals, as well as increasing pressure from regulatory, environmental and animal health-related developments.
This year is characterised by growing market volatility, driven by the ongoing energy and fertiliser crisis and regulatory uncertainties, such as the EU’s Deforestation Regulation.
Growing Poultry Feed Sector
Despite avian influenza continuing to decimate flocks across Europe, the poultry feed sector is expected to grow by 1.2% to 51.6 million tonnes. Spain and Germany are set for poultry feed production increases of 2% and 3.8% respectively.
Poultry feed production in France is growing by 1.5% to 8.25 million tonnes, while Poland is another nation set to see a 3% rise to 7.46 million tonnes. Austria will also see a 3% increase, while other nations remain stable or show slight growth.
Pig Feed Continues to Decline
Pig feed production is expected to reach 48.5 million tonnes, a decrease of 1.3%. The Netherlands is forecast to see the steepest drop (-10%) due to strict environmental regulations. Meanwhile, Spain, the EU’s largest producer, is set to stabilise its feed output at 13.1 million tonnes, which is still a 1.5% decrease compared to last year.
Germany and France will see 1% declines and Ireland a 2.1% dip. But expansion is forecast in some areas of the EU, with Czechia set to grow by 4.2%, Poland by 3% and Hungary by 0.6%.
FEFAC said the overall picture was one of stability, with some countries experiencing growth (Bulgaria +5.8%) while others faced continued decline (Slovenia -12%).
Cattle Feed Remains Stable
Among the major producing countries, France and Poland are expected to see an increase, while the Netherlands and Belgium are projected to see a significant decline of 5% and 2%, respectively, due to environmental legislation and lower milk prices.
Spain, the largest cattle feed producer, expects to see an increase of 2%, while Denmark, Portugal and Germany are forecast to be stable or see a marginal increase.