Russia’s compound feed production is expected to increase by 7.1% in 2025 to 39 million tonnes, according to the Compound Feed Producers Union. Output reached 36.4 million tonnes in 2024, up from 34.9 million tonnes in 2023, said Union CEO Alexei Nikolayev at a livestock and animal feed conference in Moscow.
The increase includes projected growth in feed for poultry to 17.2 million tonnes, up from 16.9 million, and for pigs to 16.5 million tonnes, up from 16.1 million. Feed for cattle is expected to grow to 3.8 million tonnes from 3.1 million.
Fish feed production has more than doubled, reaching 100,000 tonnes in 2024 from 48,300 tonnes in 2023. Nikolayev said the aquaculture sector had been heavily reliant on imports, mainly from Norway, until 2022. Since then, imports dropped to 40,000 tonnes from 157,000 tonnes. Total fish feed consumption is estimated between 140,000 and 150,000 tonnes per year.
Premix production increased to 589,000 tonnes in 2024 and is forecast to reach 620,000 tonnes in 2025. Production of protein, vitamin and mineral concentrates and feed mixes is expected to rise to 1.366 million tonnes in 2025, up from 1.32 million in 2024 and 1.233 million in 2023.
Despite the growth, Nikolayev said domestic production of feed additives is not yet sufficient. Russia depends on imports for most amino acids and vitamins. Supplies of lysine and methionine are supported by imports from Belarus.
In 2024, China supplied 77% of feed additives by value, Belarus 11%, and the EU 5%.
Russia’s compound feed industry is dominated by plants owned by agribusiness groups, which accounted for 73% of production in 2024. Independent enterprises made up 8%, while poultry farm plants contributed 18%, and feed stations 1%, Nikolayev said.