March 27, 2023

France's feed production dropped 6.6% last year

Feed producers in France saw a 6.6% overall decrease in production in 2022 compared to 2021.

Production reached 19.2 million tonnes, almost one million tonnes less than in 2021.

Demand for poultry feed, especially for broilers, has been particularly affected by the avian influenza epidemic. Feed for palmipeds was the most affected, with a 30% drop in production compared to the previous year.

For pigs, the feed production industry saw a reduction of 300,000 tonnes, against a backdrop of the decapitalisation of the sow herd and reduced swine production in France.

Ruminant feedstuffs saw a more moderate decline, mainly localised in the veal calf sector. In the dairy sector, the impact of this decrease was largely offset by a sustained level of milk production, thanks to improved milk prices.

2022 was also marked by the consequences of the war in Ukraine. The cost of animal feed was largely affected by the general rise in the price of raw materials, logistical difficulties, tensions over availability and the rise in energy prices.

- SNIA