China’s feed production rises, soybean meal consumption falls

According to the latest China Agriculture Update from Sitonia Consulting, China’s feed production reached 27.7 million tonnes in May, up 0.6% from April and 6.9% from last May.

The share of corn in feed increased to 39.4%, up 3.1 percentage points from last year, although the share of wheat in feed remained high due to cheaper post-harvest stocks and higher corn prices.

The share of soybean meal fell to 12.1%, close to the lower end of the normal range, due to ongoing changes in feed composition.

The “Three-Year Plan for Reducing and Substituting Soybean Meal in Feed” adopted by the Ministry of Agriculture in April 2023 encourages large pork producers to reduce their use of soybean meal by introducing alternative sources of protein and amino acids.

However, smallholder farmers face challenges in adopting new feed formulas due to supply chain barriers and a lack of technical resources.

This trend reflects China’s broader efforts to reduce soybean imports and improve feed production efficiency.

Tags: China, soybean meal, compound feed