Drought deepens EU feed shortage and boosts corn import needs

Repeated heatwaves and drought across EU countries have significantly reduced forage supplies and summer crop production, according to the European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation (FEFAC). The organisation says the situation is already worse than during the severe 2018 drought, with the cattle sector facing the greatest pressure from feed shortages.

Further pressure is expected from a substantial decline in EU corn production. Supplies of both corn silage and grain will be tighter, prompting FEFAC to forecast that the EU will need more than 7 mln tons of additional corn imports in 2026/27. Total corn imports could exceed 26 mln tons.

FEFAC expects Ukraine, the US and Brazil to be the main suppliers of these additional volumes. The federation is calling on EU authorities to ensure open transit and market access for Ukrainian feed grains to help offset the shortfall in domestic production.

The problem extends beyond corn. Lower forage production is expected to widen the EU’s feed protein deficit and increase demand for imported soy products. FEFAC estimates that additional direct sourcing costs for soy products could exceed €1 bln in 2027, with no guarantee that sufficient supplies will be available to meet the higher import demand.

FEFAC is calling on the EU to introduce crisis measures similar to those used in 2022 to facilitate imports and transportation of feed materials. Proposed measures include easier access for imported feed grains, temporary derogations from certain feed requirements and an increase in the maximum load for cross-border road transport to 44 tons, as low water levels on inland waterways are forcing more cargo onto road and rail.

Tags: weather conditions, corn, EU, drought, imports, feed shortage