April 12, 2024

 

A review of China's feed production in 2023

 

China's feed consumption in 2023 was 271.62 million tonnes, an increase of 6.04% over 2022, based on eFeedLink statistics.

 

The output of pig feed last year totalled 130.70 million tonnes, an increase of 9.95% compared to 2022. However, a closer analysis reveals that the actual production of pig feed (specifically, concentrates and premixes converted into compound feeds) only increased by 0.26%. compound pig feed output increased by 10.64%, while the output of concentrated feed and pig premix decreased by 15.32% and 5.27%, respectively.

 

It should be noted that the consumption and output of concentrated pig feed have been declining steadily for many years.

 

For poultry layer feed, last year's output was 25.82 million tonnes, an increase of 1.29% over 2022. Layer chicken feed, which accounted for 70% of layer feed production, decreased by 0.39%. The output of layer duck feed, which accounted for 30% of layer feed production, increased by 10%-20%, thus helping to lift layer feed production last year.

 

For broiler feed, 73.89 million tonnes were produced in 2023, an increase of 5.90% compared with 2022. Feed output for broiler chicken, which accounted for 60% of broiler feed production, increased by 4.84%. Feed output for broiler duck and goose, which accounted for the remaining 40% of broiler feed output, increased by 5-10%.

 

The output of aquafeed was 23.08 million tonnes, dropping 5.02% compared with 2022. It is the only feed segment whose output decreased last year. Specifically, the output of freshwater aquafeed, which accounted for more than 80% of the total aquafeed output, decreased 6.19% on-year. The output of freshwater fish feed, which accounted for 80% of freshwater aquafeed, shrank by 15.20%.

 

Meanwhile, the production of freshwater specialty feeds increased by more than 13%. The output of feed for seawater fishes, which accounted for 20% of production, increased by nearly 10%.

 

The output of ruminant feed totalled 15.82 million tonnes, an increase of 1.27% compared with 2022. Accounting for 40% of total ruminant feed output, dairy cow feed production dropped 1.35%.

 

Last year, with sluggish consumption, falling milk prices, and high feed and farming costs, several dairy farms suffered losses, inevitably causing a decline in dairy cow feed production. The production of beef cattle feed, which accounted for 30% of overall ruminant feed output, increased by 4.68% in 2023.

- Shi Tao, eFeedLink