Animal Feed Input Markets Tighten Across Africa as Livestock and Poultry Demand Grows
Market signals across Africa indicate tightening conditions in animal feed input markets, driven by growing demand from poultry, dairy, and livestock producers, alongside rising competition from food processors for key raw materials.
Maize bran, soybean meal, and oilseed cakes (including sunflower and groundnut cake) remain critical inputs for feed manufacturers across East and Southern Africa. While availability continues in producing regions, supply consistency at scale is increasingly constrained by fragmented sourcing, seasonal variability, and logistics bottlenecks.
Industry observers note that expansion in commercial poultry and dairy operations, particularly around urban centers, is placing additional pressure on feed input supply chains. At the same time, price volatility in grains and oilseeds is translating directly into fluctuating feed costs, complicating planning for feed manufacturers and livestock producers alike.
These dynamics suggest that in 2026, feed buyers and traders will need to prioritize early sourcing visibility, cross-commodity coordination, and reliable aggregation channels, as feed input markets become more tightly linked to broader grain and oilseed supply trends across Africa.
Source: FAO livestock feed and oilseed market outlooks, FAO GIEWS regional food market updates, and FAOSTAT production and utilization data.