The top 32 European feed companies in 2021 produced over 1 million metric tons of compound feed each, with ForFarmers N.V. leading at 10 million tons. European compound feed production totaled 150 million tons in 2021 but declined to approximately 145 million tons in 2022 due to economic impacts from the Ukraine war, African swine fever, and avian influenza.
- ForFarmers N.V. from the Netherlands led Europe's feed production in 2021 with 10 million metric tons
- The top 32 companies each produced more than 1 million metric tons of compound feed annually
- European compound feed production decreased 3.5% from 2021 to 2022, dropping from 150 million to 145 million tons
- Major declines in 2022 ranged from -1.5% to -8.8% across Europe's largest producing countries
- Key factors driving production declines included war in Ukraine, African swine fever, avian influenza, and rising energy costs
Listing features the European compound feed producers that manufactured more than 1 million metric tons of feed last year
According to the European Compound Feed Manufacturers’ Federation (FEFAC), 2022 European compound feed production (EU27) is predicted to decrease by 3.5% — or 5 million tons — compared with 2021 volumes. In 2021, the region produced 150 million tons, but 2022 volumes will hover around 145 million tons.
The association reports that the region’s largest feed producing countries will see decreases ranging from between -8.8 to -1.5% year over year, with declines driven by the economic impact of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the spread of African swine fever (ASF) and avian influenza.
Top EU feed manufacturers in 2021
While the final 2022 production volumes of Europe’s top feed producing companies will not be clear for many months, marking how these animal feed manufacturers ranked in 2021 offers a benchmark for how the macro trends — some regional, some global — may have impacted production.
Here is a summary of the 2021 production volumes of the Top European Feed Companies, who produced more than 1 million tons of compound feed in the previous calendar year.
| Top 32 European Feed Companies in 2021 | |||
| Rank | Company | Annual feed production (x1,000 metric tons) |
Country |
| 1 | ForFarmers N.V. | 10,000 | Netherlands |
| 2 | Nutreco | 9,500 | Netherlands |
| 3 | De Heus | 8,000 | Netherlands |
| 4 | Royal Agrifirm Group | 5,240 | Netherlands |
| 5 | DLG Group | 3,900 | Denmark |
| 6 | Veronesi | 3,250 | Italy |
| 7 | AGRAVIS Raiffeisen | 3,200 | Germany |
| 8 | Danish Agro Group | 2,800 | Denmark |
| 9 | Avril Group | 2,700 | France |
| 9 | DTC Deutsche Tiernahrung Cremer | 2,700 | Germany |
| 11 | AB Agri | 2,227 | United Kingdom |
| 12 | Miratorg | 2,150 | Russia |
| 13 | Cherkizovo Group | 2,100 | Russia |
| 14 | Grupo Vall Companys | 2,060 | Spain |
| 15 | Eureden | 2,002 | France |
| 16 | Bröring Unternehmensgruppe | 2,000 | Germany |
| 17 | MHP (Myronivsky Hliboproduct) | 1,900 | Ukraine |
| 18 | Arvesta | 1,805 | Belgium |
| 19 | Amadori | 1,500 | Italy |
| 20 | Koka | 1,445 | Croatia |
| 21 | Agropecuaria de Guissona | 1,400 | Spain |
| 21 | Cedrob | 1,400 | Poland |
| 23 | Resource Agribusiness Group | 1,388 | Russia |
| 24 | Terrena | 1,358 | France |
| 25 | Cooperl Arc Atlantique | 1,310 | France |
| 26 | Lantmännen Lantbruk | 1,300 | Sweden |
| 27 | Prioskolye | 1,290 | Russia |
| 28 | BioMar Group | 1,250 | Denmark |
| 29 | MEGA Tierernährung | 1,200 | Germany |
| 30 | 2Agriculture Ltd. | 1,000 | United Kingdom |
| 30 | Rothkötter-Mischfutterwerk | 1,000 | Germany |
| 30 | Wipasz | 1,000 | Poland |
| © WATT Global Media 2022 | |||
Visit WATT Global Media’s exclusive Top Feed Companies database for more in-depth information on the world’s largest compound feed producers.
Looking ahead to 2023
With the end of 2022 nearing, 2023 may not offer much relief as the EU feed industry faces “acute” economic issues, i.e. rising inflation worldwide, a war economy, the threat of a global recession, but most critically the looming energy crisis.
“Compound feed manufacturing is an energy-intensive industry, with reportedly additional energy costs per ton of feed ranging between EUR25 (US$25) to EUR35 per ton for standard compound feed — up to EUR60 per ton for specialty feed,” explains FEFAC Secretary General Alexander Döring. “Many feed manufacturers will reduce pelleting, shifting to mash or crumbled feed to save energy.”
To weather high input and energy costs, Döring believes national governments must recognize feed manufacturing as essential, as it did during the pandemic, in order to secure feed production during “this unprecedented challenge for our sector and all of our agrifood chain partners.”
View the full report on the top global feed manufacturers, Top Feed Companies: 144 global producers rank in 2022.
