The European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation (FEFAC) expects total industrial compound feed production in the EU27 for 2026 to reach 152 million metric tons (MMT), marking a marginal decrease of 0.06% compared with 2025.
This marginal change reflects relative stability across most animal production sectors, despite increasing market uncertainty and diverging national market trends. The EU compound feed sector continues to demonstrate resilience amid ongoing economic and geopolitical upheavals, as well as increasing pressure from regulatory, environmental and animal health-related developments. However, 2026 is characterized by growing market volatility, driven by the ongoing energy and fertilizer crisis amid regulatory uncertainties (e.g. EUDR) weighing in on forecasting of market developments.
In 2026, EU cattle feed production is forecast to reach 45.358 MMT, almost the same volume compared with 2025. Among the major producing countries, France and Poland are expected to see an increase, while the Netherlands and Belgium are projected to experience a significant decline of 5% and 2%, mainly due to national environmental regulatory policies and lower milk prices. Spain, the largest cattle feed producer, expects an increase of 2%. Denmark, Portugal and Germany are forecast to remain stable or with a marginal increase. Most other member states anticipate either stable or slightly reduced production levels, reflecting the overall downward trend in the sector due to environmental policies and animal diseases.
Pig feed production in the EU is expected to reach 48.520 MMT in 2026, a marginal decrease of 1.3%. German and French production is down by 1%, while the Netherlands is forecast to see a sharp decline of 10%. Spain, the largest producer, is set to stabilize at 13.1 MMT with a decline of -1.5% in comparison to last year. Portugal will rise by 1% and Poland is expected to grow by 3%. Ireland is projected to decrease by 2.1%, while Hungary and Czechia will likely see an increase of 0.6% and 4.2%. The overall picture is one of stability, with some countries experiencing growth (Bulgaria, up 5.8%) while others are facing continued decline (Slovenia, down 12%) of production due to structural changes and ongoing disease pressures from African swine fever.
The poultry feed sector is expected to grow in 2026, despite ongoing pressure from Avian influenza (AI), with production forecast to increase by 1.2% to 51.588 MMT. Spain and Germany are set for an increase of 2% and 3.8% respectively. Production in France is growing by 1.5% to 8.250 MMT, while Poland is forecast to increase by 3% to 7.46 MMT. Austria is forecast to have a 3% increase while other countries remain stable or have a slight increase.
