COUNTRY PROFILE 78 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE January 2026 of global feed production on its own and produces more than the combined output of other major producers such as Brazil and India. Swine feed is the backbone of China's compound feed production, representing approximately 47% of total output. Swine feed production, which reached a record level of 149.75 million metric tons in 2023, came under pressure in 2024 due to severe losses in the livestock sector and capacity reduction processes. In the first half of the same year, a 6% decline was observed in swine feed consumption, which remained at 142 million metric tons. The USDA estimates that swine feed consumption increased again in 2025, reaching a level of 146 million metric tons. Poultry feed is the second-largest segment, representing 40% of feed production in China. Within the poultry group, broiler feed production recorded a 1.8% growth in 2024, as consumers turned to chicken—a more affordable protein source—due to rising red meat prices. The USDA predicts that broiler feed consumption, which was around 96 million metric tons in 2024, will exceed 97 million metric tons in 2025. The layer feed segment presents a more complex picture compared to the broiler segment. USDA analysts estimate that layer feed consumption, which stood at 32.7 million metric tons in 2024, will reach levels of 32.9 million tons in 2025, representing a 0.6% increase. As the world's largest producer of aquatic products, China also stands out in the consumption of aquafeed, in direct proportion to its production volume. However, the 2023-2024 period saw a contraction in aquafeed production due to falling fish prices and disease outbreaks. According to USDA data, the country’s aquafeed consumption in 2024 was approximately 21.9 million metric tons. Forecasts indicate that consumption will increase by 2.2% in 2025, reaching around 22.5 million metric tons. As a sub-segment, freshwater fish account for more than 80% of the aquafeed market. China's ruminant feed production represents approximately 5% of the total market and stood at 16.7 million metric tons in 2023. Production and consumption are showing a decline, particularly due to problems in the dairy farming sector. According to USDA data, total ruminant feed consumption fell to 15.4 million metric tons in 2024. It is estimated that this decline continued into 2025, with consumption hovering around 15.3 million metric tons, representing a 0.5% decrease. Pet food is the fastest-growing and most profitable niche area of the Chinese feed sector. In 2024, China's total pet food production increased by 9.3%, reaching 1.6 million tons. This segment continues to move in a positive direction despite the contraction in the overall feed sector. A NEW ERA IN FEED RAW MATERIALS The massive scale of China’s feed sector is directly linked to the country’s food security policies. The raw material composition of feed in the country is China: Industry Feed Production from Calendar Year 2024 to 2026 Production in 2024 (in MMT) Estimated Production in 2025 (in MMT) Forecast Production in 2026 (in MMT) Year-on-Year change (percent) 142 151 152 0.6 Swine 31 32 31 -3 Layers 96 97 96 -1 Broilers 23 24 24 +1 Aquaculture 13 14 15 +1 Ruminants 313 322 320 -0.5 Total Source: USDA, China Grain and Feed Update Report, September 30, 2025
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