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China's Feed Production Outpaces Meat Output

Growth in China's animal feed production continued to outstrip growth in its livestock output last year, according to data released by China's Feed Industry Association.

Feed output increased 27.2 million metric tons (mmt) in 2025 to reach 342.25 mmt, while production of meat and eggs increased by only 3.2 mmt. Over the past decade, 2015-2025, feed output increased by s cumulative 142 mmt, more than 10 times the 13.8 mmt increase in meat and egg output over those years. 

There were 37 manufacturers with output exceeding 1,000,000 metric tons, with a combined market share of 57%, up 2 percentage points. 7 had production exceeding 10 mmt. 

Source: China Feed Industry Association and National Bureau of Statistics.

The value of feed industry output increased by only 2.3%, and income from feed increased by only 2.7%, suggesting that prices fell. The value of feed milling machinery produced fell by 0.2%.

Consistent with last week's post about breakneck expansion in the swine industry, swine feed output increased by 22.5 mmt last year, accounting for most of the increase in feed output. Feed for meat poultry increased by 3.4 mmt, and aquaculture feed output increased by 600,000 mt. Swine feed comprised 48.6% of last year's feed output. 

China Feed Industry Association.

Swine feed output was 166 mmt, 2.8 times last year's pork output of 59.4 mmt. This ratio was higher than the 2.5:1 ratio during 2021-24. The ratio has been on an upward trend over the past 15 years. The feed:meat ratio for poultry meat was even higher, at 3.7 mmt. These ratios are inconsistent with on-farm feed efficiency widely reported at less than 2 for poultry and under 3:1 for hogs. Feed efficiency has been improving gradually on the ground. 

Ratio of swine feed output from China Feed Industry Association
to pork output from National Bureau of Statistics data.

The growth in manufactured feed output probably represents in part a decline in on-farm mixing of feed as manufactured feeds are increasingly delivered to farms. In another sign of increased commercialization, the association reported that bulk feed grew 18% (displacing bagged feed) to account for 53.4% of feed products.

Production of feed additives grew from 16.1 mmt in 2024 to 17.62 mmt in 2025. Production of amino acids grew 13.9% to 6.6 mmt in 2025. 

Compiled from China Feed Industry Association data releases.

Geographically, the provinces with the largest feed output were Shandong (49.1 mmt) and Guangdong (40 mmt). Provinces with the largest increases were Guangdong (+3.56 mmt), Shandong (+2.75 mmt), Sichuan (+2.43 mmt), Guangxi (+2.34 mmt), and Hubei (+2.2 mmt). 

The association said soybean meal accounted for 13.4% of compound and concentrate feed, the same as the previous year. The report said use of rapeseed meal, cottonseed meal and other meals increased by 3%. Use of rice, wheat, and sorghum decreased. The report did not mention corn.

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