In a world where feeding billions hinges on monumental industrial output, the sheer scale of China's feed industry comes into staggering focus with its 2022 production of over 285 million tons, a figure that underpins the entire global food system.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, China's total compound feed production reached 285.67 million metric tons, marking a 1.2% increase from 2021.
- China's feed milling capacity exceeded 400 million tons annually as of 2023, with over 5,000 large-scale mills operational.
- In 2021, corn-based feed production in China accounted for 62% of total feed output, totaling 178 million tons.
- In 2022, China's livestock sector consumed 298 million metric tons of compound feed.
- Swine consumed 165 million tons of feed in 2023, representing 55% of total.
- Poultry feed demand was 120 million tons in 2022.
- China's compound feed market value was USD 120 billion in 2022.
- Feed industry revenue grew 6.5% to CNY 1.2 trillion in 2023.
- Top 10 feed companies held 12% market share in 2022.
- China's soybean imports for feed reached 100 million tons in 2022, valued at USD 60 billion.
- Corn imports totaled 30 million tons in 2023 for feed use.
- DDGS imports were 14 million tons in 2022.
- China's feed industry aims for carbon neutrality by 2060, reducing emissions 20% by 2025.
- Antibiotic use in feed reduced by 50% from 2018 to 2022.
- Low-protein feeds adopted in 30% of mills by 2023.
China's large and growing feed industry is steadily recovering and modernizing.
Consumption and Demand
- In 2022, China's livestock sector consumed 298 million metric tons of compound feed.
- Swine consumed 165 million tons of feed in 2023, representing 55% of total.
- Poultry feed demand was 120 million tons in 2022.
- Aquatic feed consumption reached 30 million tons in 2023.
- Ruminant feed demand stood at 25 million tons in 2022.
- Layer hen feed consumption was 48 million tons in 2023.
- Broiler feed demand hit 72 million tons in 2022.
- Dairy cattle consumed 14 million tons of feed in 2023.
- Pet food consumption grew to 5.2 million tons in 2022.
- Corn consumption in feed reached 190 million tons in 2023.
- Soybean meal feed use was 85 million tons in 2022.
- Wheat used in feed totaled 25 million tons in 2023.
- DDGS import consumption in feed was 12 million tons in 2022.
- Feed consumption per pig unit was 2.8 tons in 2023.
- Poultry FCR improved to 1.55 in feed use 2022.
- Aquatic species feed demand grew 4% to 31 million tons in 2023.
- Regional feed consumption in North China was 90 million tons in 2022.
- South China feed demand reached 85 million tons in 2023.
- Feed demand growth for swine post-ASF was 8% in 2022.
- Organic feed consumption doubled to 2.5 million tons in 2023.
- Low-protein diet adoption reduced feed use by 5% in pilots 2022.
- Total amino acid premix consumption was 3.2 million tons in 2023.
- Vitamin premix use in feed hit 1.1 million tons in 2022.
- Trace mineral feed consumption was 0.8 million tons in 2023.
- Enzyme additives consumption grew to 450,000 tons in 2022.
- Probiotic feed use reached 200,000 tons in 2023.
Consumption and Demand Interpretation
China's livestock industry runs on a staggering scale, where pigs are the undisputed champions of the chow line, poultry form a formidable second front, and even pets are muscling in on the grain bin, all while the feed mill itself becomes a high-tech arena for efficiency, sustainability, and regional rivalry.
Market Value and Economics
- China's compound feed market value was USD 120 billion in 2022.
- Feed industry revenue grew 6.5% to CNY 1.2 trillion in 2023.
- Top 10 feed companies held 12% market share in 2022.
- New Hope Liuhe feed sales revenue was CNY 150 billion in 2023.
- CP Group's China feed revenue reached CNY 80 billion in 2022.
- Feed mill profit margins averaged 4.2% in 2023.
- Investment in feed industry reached CNY 50 billion in 2022.
- Feed price index for swine feed was 3,200 CNY/ton in 2023.
- Poultry feed average price rose to 3,800 CNY/ton in 2022.
- Aquatic feed market valued at USD 15 billion in 2023.
- Premix market size was CNY 60 billion in 2022.
- Feed additives market grew to USD 10 billion in 2023.
- Corn trading volume for feed was 200 million tons valued at CNY 800 billion in 2022.
- Soybean meal market turnover was CNY 400 billion in 2023.
- Feed industry employment was 2.5 million people in 2022.
- Export value of Chinese feed products was USD 2.5 billion in 2023.
- Mergers and acquisitions in feed sector totaled 20 deals worth CNY 10 billion in 2022.
- Feed e-commerce platform transactions hit CNY 100 billion in 2023.
- Insurance penetration in feed industry was 30% in 2022.
- R&D spending by top feed firms was 2% of revenue in 2023.
- Shandong feed market value was CNY 200 billion in 2022.
- Guangdong feed industry GDP contribution was 5% in 2023.
Market Value and Economics Interpretation
China's feed industry is a trillion-yuan titan that feeds everything from pigs to profits, yet its vast and fragmented herds of producers are still grazing on remarkably slim margins.
Production Volume and Capacity
- In 2022, China's total compound feed production reached 285.67 million metric tons, marking a 1.2% increase from 2021.
- China's feed milling capacity exceeded 400 million tons annually as of 2023, with over 5,000 large-scale mills operational.
- In 2021, corn-based feed production in China accounted for 62% of total feed output, totaling 178 million tons.
- Soybean meal utilization in Chinese feed production hit 82.5 million tons in 2022.
- China's aquatic feed production grew to 28.4 million tons in 2022, up 3.5% year-on-year.
- Poultry feed production in China reached 112 million tons in 2023, comprising 38% of total feed.
- Swine feed output in China was 156 million tons in 2022, recovering post-ASF outbreak.
- Ruminant feed production stood at 22 million tons in 2021, with a CAGR of 2.1% from 2017-2021.
- China's premix feed production volume was 12.5 million tons in 2022.
- Concentrate feed production hit 95 million tons in 2023, driven by livestock recovery.
- In 2022, China's feed production for layers reached 45 million tons.
- Broiler feed production volume was 67 million tons in 2022.
- China's total feed additive production capacity was 8 million tons per year in 2023.
- Fish feed production increased to 15.2 million tons in 2023.
- Pet food production as animal feed reached 4.5 million tons in 2022.
- China's feed production concentration ratio (CR5) for top 5 mills was 15% in 2022.
- Annual feed production in Shandong province was 45 million tons in 2022.
- Henan province produced 38 million tons of feed in 2023.
- Guangdong's feed output was 25 million tons in 2022.
- China's silage feed production volume grew to 18 million tons in 2023.
- Total roughage feed production was 1.2 billion tons equivalent in 2022.
- China's feed production efficiency improved to 1.65 kg feed/kg pork in 2023.
- Organic feed production reached 2.1 million tons in 2022.
- China's low-protein feed production pilots produced 5 million tons in 2023.
- Feed production for dairy cattle was 12 million tons in 2022.
- Duck feed production volume hit 8.5 million tons in 2023.
- China's total feed production enterprises numbered over 12,000 in 2022.
- Large-scale mills (over 100,000 tons/year) produced 75% of total feed in 2023.
- China's feed production cost index rose 5.2% in 2022.
- Automated feed production lines accounted for 65% of capacity in 2023.
Production Volume and Capacity Interpretation
China's feed industry is a colossal, humming engine of agricultural output, where staggering tonnages of corn and soy meal are meticulously milled into everything from pig rations to pet food, all while steadily becoming more efficient and automated despite rising costs.
Sustainability and Trends
- China's feed industry aims for carbon neutrality by 2060, reducing emissions 20% by 2025.
- Antibiotic use in feed reduced by 50% from 2018 to 2022.
- Low-protein feeds adopted in 30% of mills by 2023.
- Precision feeding tech implemented in 40% of large farms 2022.
- Feed waste reduction target: 15% by 2025.
- Organic feed market CAGR 15% projected to 2028.
- Insect protein in feed trials reached 100,000 tons equivalent 2023.
- Blockchain traceability in feed supply chain: 25% coverage 2022.
- Water usage per ton feed reduced 10% to 1,200 liters in 2023.
- Renewable energy in feed mills: 20% by 2025 goal.
- ASF impact: feed demand dropped 20% in 2019, recovered 2022.
- Digital twin tech in 15% of feed plants 2023.
- Plant-based protein alternatives in feed: 5% market 2022.
- GHG emissions from feed production: 150 million tons CO2e 2023.
- Zero-waste feed mills piloted in 50 sites 2022.
- AI-optimized formulations reduced costs 8% in 2023.
- Feed for carbon farming initiatives: 10 million tons 2023.
- Mycotoxin mitigation tech in 70% of mills 2022.
- Projected feed production growth: 2% CAGR to 2030.
- Sustainability certification: 1,200 mills ISO 14001 in 2023.
Sustainability and Trends Interpretation
China’s feed industry is sprinting toward a greener future with all the fervor of a caffeinated ant colony, meticulously cutting antibiotics, carbon, and waste while embracing bugs, blockchain, and AI to prove that sustainable farming isn't just a load of manure.
Trade and Imports/Exports
- China's soybean imports for feed reached 100 million tons in 2022, valued at USD 60 billion.
- Corn imports totaled 30 million tons in 2023 for feed use.
- DDGS imports were 14 million tons in 2022.
- Soybean meal imports hit 10 million tons in 2023.
- Fishmeal imports for feed were 1.5 million tons in 2022.
- Wheat imports for feed reached 8 million tons in 2023.
- Sorghum imports totaled 5 million tons in 2022.
- Barley feed imports were 3 million tons in 2023.
- Palm kernel expeller imports hit 2 million tons in 2022.
- Feed phosphate imports were 4 million tons in 2023.
- Vitamin imports for feed totaled 150,000 tons in 2022.
- Amino acid imports reached 1.2 million tons in 2023.
- China's feed exports grew to 5 million tons in 2022.
- Premix exports were 500,000 tons in 2023.
- Concentrate feed exports hit 1 million tons in 2022.
- Aquatic feed exports reached 800,000 tons in 2023.
- Top soybean supplier Brazil provided 70% of imports in 2022.
- US corn imports share was 40% of total in 2023.
- Argentina soybean imports totaled 20 million tons in 2022.
- Feed trade balance deficit was USD 50 billion in 2023.
- Customs clearance time for feed imports averaged 48 hours in 2022.
- Port throughput for feed grains was 150 million tons in Hebei 2023.
- Tariff on DDGS imports was reduced to 3% in 2022.
- China's share of global soybean imports was 60% in 2023.
- Feed export destinations: Vietnam 30%, Philippines 20% in 2022.
- Import quota for corn was fully utilized at 30 million tons in 2023.
Trade and Imports/Exports Interpretation
China's feed industry runs on a colossal and finely-tuned global shopping spree, where a staggering import bill fuels the world's largest appetite for meat, all while shrewdly exporting its own culinary recipes for livestock back to its neighbors.
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