COUNTRY PROFILE FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE January 2026 79 largely based on corn and soybean meal. However, in line with the goals of reducing geopolitical risks and foreign dependency, a revolutionary change is taking place in ration structures. The Beijing administration has adopted the “Dual Circulation” strategy, which aims to reduce foreign dependency and optimize domestic production, particularly in key inputs such as corn and soybean meal. This strategy is supported by concrete action plans, such as lowering the ratio of soybean meal in feed rations and increasing domestic corn production. Corn and Energy Sources Corn is the cornerstone of China’s feed rations. For the 2024/25 marketing year, corn production is expected to break a record, reaching 294.9 million metric tons due to an increase in planted areas and the use of high-yield varieties. Low corn prices have allowed feed mills to increase the proportion of corn in their rations, which in turn has reduced the share of alternatives such as wheat and old-stock rice in the feed. China is also promoting the use of genetically modified seeds and “grain-to-feed” projects to increase self-sufficiency in corn production. In the 2025/26 period, corn is expected to maintain its dominant position in feed rations, thereby suppressing the need for imported raw materials. Soybean Meal Reduction Strategy China imports approximately 100 million tons of soybeans annually, with over 90% of this demand met by Brazil and the United States. This massive dependency is considered a strategic risk in terms of food security. In response, MARA implemented the “Three-Year Action Plan for Reducing Soybean Meal Consumption” in 2023. The primary goals of the action plan are: • Inclusion Rate: Reducing the soybean meal ratio—which was 17% in 2017—to below 13% by 2025 and to 10% by 2030. • Mechanism: Supplementing low-protein diets with synthetic amino acids (lysine, methionine, threonine). • Alternatives: Expanding the use of protein sources such as rapeseed, cottonseed, peanut meal, and food waste. According to official data, the soybean meal inclusion rate was reduced to below 13% in 2023, resulting in a saving of 9 million tons in soybean demand. However, the USDA and some independent analysts suggest that this decline is occurring more slowly than official figures claim, as low soybean prices incentivize producers to use more soybeans. FEED ADDITIVES AND MICRO-NUTRITION The 2020 ban on antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) has pushed the Chinese feed sector toward a biotechnology-oriented transformation. The market's focus has shifted to functional additives that enhance productivity while protecting animal health. In 2024, the production value of China's feed additives increased by 7.5%, reaching 131.58 billion yuan (approximately 18.4 billion USD). Source: Freepik.com
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