2026 Updated Edition

Originally Published: August 2019  |  Updated: 2026

Animal feed encompasses a wide range of products, including compound feeds, premixes, concentrates, and supplements derived from plant and animal-based materials. The global animal feed industry has grown substantially since 2019, driven by rising global meat consumption, expanding aquaculture, and rapid industrialization of livestock farming — particularly across Asia.

The global compound feed market reached approximately USD 590 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow to USD 725 billion by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 4.2%. China continues to dominate global feed production, with several Chinese firms now leading the world rankings by volume. Meanwhile, European and American companies maintain strong positions in premium feed ingredients, aquafeed, and nutritional innovation.

A key shift since 2019 is the rise of Chinese companies like New Hope Group and Haid Group to the very top of global production rankings by volume. The 2024 Feed Strategy Top Feed Companies report — which tracks producers generating more than 1 million metric tons annually — listed 148 qualifying companies worldwide.

Top 10 Animal Feed Companies at a Glance (2025–2026)

Note: Revenue figures reflect full corporate group revenues where applicable. Feed-specific revenues are typically a subset of these totals. Rankings by compound feed production volume may differ from revenue rankings.

Global Animal Feed Market Stats (2024–2026)

Global compound feed production totaled an estimated 1.2 billion metric tons in 2023–2024, up from approximately 1.07 billion tons in 2017. Poultry feed remains the largest segment, accounting for around 38.5% of total compound feed volume in 2024. Aquaculture feed is the fastest-growing segment, projected to expand at a CAGR of 5.8% through 2030.

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Key regional trends include:

• Asia-Pacific (led by China and India) holds the largest regional share and continues to drive volume growth.
• North America is the fastest-growing region by compound feed value, underpinned by high meat consumption and technological investment.
• The EU27 compound feed production is expected to reach approximately 147.5 million metric tons, a marginal increase over 2024 levels.
• Sustainable feed ingredients, AI-assisted formulation, and precision nutrition are reshaping feed manufacturing globally.
• Stricter regulations on antibiotic use in feed — especially in the EU and parts of Asia — are accelerating the shift toward natural and functional additives.

Profiles of the World's Leading Animal Feed Companies

1. New Hope Group (New Hope Liuhe Co., Ltd.) — China

New Hope Group, founded in 1982 by Liu Yonghao, has grown into the world's largest animal feed manufacturer by production volume, surpassing CP Group in recent years. According to Feed Strategy's 2024 Top Feed Companies report (based on 2023 data), New Hope Group leads global rankings, producing well over 28 million metric tons of compound feed annually.

The group operates through New Hope Liuhe Co., Ltd., which specializes in animal feed, livestock breeding and processing, and financial investments. New Hope Liuhe is active in nearly 20 countries, including Vietnam, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Total group assets have grown substantially, with annual revenues exceeding 130 billion yuan (approximately USD 18–20 billion for the agribusiness segment). The company holds China's largest feed production capacity and is one of the country's top integrated suppliers of meat, eggs, and dairy.

• Headquartered: Chengdu, Sichuan, China
• Key Products: Poultry, swine, aquaculture, and ruminant compound feeds; meat processing
• Global Presence: Operations in approximately 20 countries across Asia, Middle East, and Africa
• 2026 Update: Continues to lead by volume; expanding in Southeast Asia and investing in precision nutrition technology

2. CP Group (Charoen Pokphand Group / CPF) — Thailand

Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group) remains one of the world's most integrated agrifood conglomerates, operating across feed, farm, and food business segments under Charoen Pokphand Foods PCL (CPF). CPF maintains manufacturing bases in 15 countries and its feed business is concentrated across Asian markets including Thailand, Vietnam, India, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

In August 2024, CP Group and COFCO (China's state-owned food giant) established a strategic partnership to enhance collaboration in agriculture, food production, and global supply chains — strengthening CP's access to raw materials and logistics networks in China.

CP Group's revenues from the broader group (encompassing agri-food, retail, telecom, real estate, and more) exceed USD 60–75 billion annually, making it one of Asia's largest private conglomerates. The feed, farm, and food segments under CPF alone generate revenues well above USD 17 billion per year.

• Headquartered: Bangkok, Thailand
• Key Products: Integrated feed-farm-food; poultry, swine, shrimp, aquaculture
• Global Presence: 21+ countries
• 2026 Update: CPF-COFCO partnership; expanding aquaculture and sustainable feed R&D

3. Cargill, Incorporated — USA

Cargill is the largest privately held corporation in the United States and one of the world's most significant agribusiness and food companies. With operations in more than 125 countries, Cargill's animal nutrition segment — operating under brands including Provimi, Diamond V, Nutrena, Purina (some markets), and EWOS — is one of the most globally diversified in the industry.

Cargill has been in the animal feed business for over 120 years. In 2024, the company acquired two U.S. feed mills to expand its domestic animal nutrition network. However, in a notable strategic move in July 2025, Cargill agreed to sell its Malaysian feed subsidiary (Cargill Feed Sdn Bhd) to CAB Cakaran Corporation Berhad for USD 54 million, signaling a focus on streamlining Asian operations while deepening investment in North America and Europe.

In 2024, Cargill established a technology center in Atlanta focused on AI, data engineering, and digital systems to enhance feed formulation and logistics capabilities.

• Headquartered: Minnetonka, Minnesota, USA
• Key Brands: Provimi, Diamond V, Nutrena, EWOS
• Feed Segments: Beef, dairy, swine, poultry, aquaculture, additives
• 2026 Update: U.S. mill acquisitions; AI technology investments; divesting selective Asian assets

4. Haid Group (Guangdong HAID Group Co., Ltd.) — China

Haid Group has emerged as one of the most rapidly growing animal feed and aquaculture companies in the world. Headquartered in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, Haid is now consistently ranked among the top three feed producers globally by production volume, according to Feed Strategy's 2024 Top Feed Companies report.

The company specializes in livestock feed, aquatic feed, and veterinary medicines, and operates nearly 600 subsidiaries globally along with a dedicated research center. Haid is particularly recognized for its strength in aquaculture feed, where it competes directly with Nutreco's Skretting brand. The company has aggressively expanded into Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America.

• Headquartered: Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
• Key Products: Aquatic feed (shrimp, fish), swine feed, poultry feed, veterinary medicines
• 2026 Update: Haid now ranks among the world's top 3 by volume; strong growth in Southeast Asia

5. Muyuan Foodstuff Co., Ltd. — China

Muyuan Foodstuff Co., Ltd. is China's largest integrated pork producer, with feed production as a core part of its vertically integrated operations. The company breeds pigs, produces animal feed, and is deeply involved in pork processing and slaughtering. Muyuan has grown explosively since 2019, largely benefiting from the rebuilding of China's hog industry following the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreaks of 2018–2020.

As of 2024, Muyuan's revenues are estimated to exceed USD 18 billion, making it one of the largest agricultural enterprises in China. The company operates hundreds of breeding facilities across China and has invested heavily in biosafety, technology, and environmental sustainability.

• Headquartered: Nanyang, Henan, China
• Key Products: Swine feed, pork, piglets, breeding sows
• 2026 Update: Continued vertical integration; leading China's pork sector post-ASF recovery

6. Land O'Lakes, Inc. / Purina Animal Nutrition — USA

Land O'Lakes, Inc. is a U.S.-based agricultural cooperative headquartered in Arden Hills, Minnesota. Its animal feed and nutrition operations are primarily conducted through Purina Animal Nutrition LLC and WinField United. In 2022, Land O'Lakes achieved revenues of USD 19 billion with net earnings of USD 248 million.

The company holds 100+ patents for animal feed innovations and serves livestock farmers and companion animal owners across all 50 U.S. states and over 60 countries. In 2023, Land O'Lakes partnered with the EPA and The Hershey Company to support dairy farmers in the Chesapeake Bay region through a USD 2 million environmental initiative.

• Headquartered: Arden Hills, Minnesota, USA
• Key Brands: Purina Animal Nutrition, WinField United, Mazuri Exotic Animal Nutrition
• Segments: Dairy, cattle, swine, poultry, horse, sheep, exotic animals
• 2026 Update: Strong U.S. co-op presence; sustainability and regenerative agriculture focus

7. Wen's Food Group (Guangdong Wens Foodstuffs Group) — China

Guangdong Wen's Foodstuffs Group remains one of China's largest privately owned agricultural enterprises. The company is particularly dominant in pig and poultry production, with feed manufacturing as a cornerstone of its vertically integrated model. Wens pioneered the 'company and farmer' contractual farming model now widely used across China, in which the company supplies contracted farm households with feed, livestock, and medicines.

Wens has approximately 34,000+ employees and operates 129+ wholly-owned or controlling subsidiaries nationwide. The company's revenues are estimated at over USD 20 billion, encompassing livestock breeding, food trading, animal health products, and feed.

• Headquartered: Xinxing County, Guangdong Province, China
• Key Products: Swine feed, poultry feed, pork, poultry meat, organic fertilizer
• 2026 Update: Continued growth in pork production; expanding feed capacity following ASF recovery

8. Nutreco N.V. — Netherlands

Nutreco N.V. is a Dutch leader in animal nutrition and aquafeed, operating under two globally recognized brands: Skretting (aquafeed) and Trouw Nutrition (terrestrial animal nutrition). Nutreco is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SHV Holdings N.V. and operates in 37 countries with net sales approaching EUR 6.5 billion.

Skretting supplies feeds for over 20 aquatic species including Atlantic salmon, tilapia, shrimp, rainbow trout, barramundi, and tuna. Trouw Nutrition serves the swine, poultry, dairy, and ruminant segments with products under brands including NutriOpt, LifeStart, Selko, and Farm-O-San.

In recent years, Nutreco has pivoted toward precision nutrition, novel proteins, and data-driven feed services. A management restructuring has been accompanied by new alliances focused on R&D and sustainability.

• Headquartered: Amersfoort, Netherlands
• Key Brands: Skretting (aquafeed), Trouw Nutrition (land animals)
• Presence: 37 countries; net sales ~EUR 6.5B
• 2026 Update: Strategic pivot toward precision nutrition, sustainability, and novel protein ingredients

9. ForFarmers N.V. — Netherlands

ForFarmers is a leading European animal feed company headquartered in Lochem, the Netherlands. The company sells approximately 9–10 million metric tons of feed annually and generated approximately EUR 3.6 billion in revenue in 2022. ForFarmers operates primarily in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Poland, and the United Kingdom.

ForFarmers delivers Total Feed solutions for conventional and organic livestock farming, covering compound feeds, young animal feeds, co-products, raw materials, and advisory services. In 2024, ForFarmers recorded 7% volume growth through acquisitions in Poland and the Netherlands, alongside a push for climate-aligned and sustainable feed solutions.

• Headquartered: Lochem, Netherlands
• Markets: Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Poland, United Kingdom
• Production: ~40 facilities across Europe
• 2026 Update: Volume growth via acquisitions; climate-aligned feeds; expansion in Poland

10. De Heus Animal Nutrition — Netherlands

De Heus Animal Nutrition has emerged as one of the most internationally ambitious feed companies in the world, expanding aggressively across Africa, Asia, and South America since 2019. The family-owned Dutch company now ranks among the top 10 globally by revenue and is increasingly recognized as a top 10 player by volume in emerging markets.

In January 2023, De Heus inaugurated its first animal feed factory in Ivory Coast, with an initial capacity of 120,000 metric tons per annum — part of its broader Africa growth strategy. De Heus serves poultry, swine, dairy, and aquaculture customers with compound feeds and concentrates tailored to local conditions.

• Headquartered: Veghel, Netherlands
• Key Markets: Netherlands, Germany, Eastern Europe, Middle East, Asia, Africa, South America
• Revenue: ~EUR 4 billion+
• 2026 Update: Rapid expansion in Africa and Southeast Asia; strong emerging-market growth strategy

Key Changes Since 2019

The global animal feed landscape has undergone meaningful shifts since the original 2019 ranking. The most notable changes are:

• New Hope Group has risen to #1 by production volume, overtaking CP Group. Chinese companies now occupy 4 of the top 10 slots.
• Haid Group has entered the top rankings — it was not in the 2019 top 10 but now consistently ranks among the top 3 globally by volume, displacing companies like BRF S.A. and Tyson Foods from the top feed positions.
• De Heus Animal Nutrition has become a notable global top-10 player, driven by aggressive expansion into Africa and Asia.
• BRF S.A. (Brazil) and Tyson Foods (USA) have shifted focus: BRF has restructured its nutrition division, while Tyson remains active in ingredient solutions but has refocused on its core protein businesses.
• African Swine Fever (2018–2020) reshaped China's feed market, causing significant short-term disruption but ultimately accelerating consolidation and investment by leading firms including Muyuan, Wen's, and New Hope.
• Sustainability, AI, and precision nutrition have become central competitive differentiators, with companies like Cargill, Nutreco, and Trouw investing heavily in data-driven formulation.
• The compound feed market has grown from roughly USD 400 billion (2019) to USD 590 billion (2025), a ~47% expansion in six years.

Key Trends Shaping the Animal Feed Industry in 2026

Several macro-trends are redefining competition and strategy across the global feed industry:

1. Precision and Digital Nutrition

AI-assisted formulation, digital twin technologies, and real-time nutrient management platforms are enabling feed manufacturers to reduce costs, improve animal performance, and cut waste. Cargill's USD-multimillion technology center in Atlanta and Nutreco's data alliances are examples of this shift.

2. Antibiotic Reduction and Natural Additives

Regulatory pressure on antibiotic growth promoters — already phased out in the EU, and increasingly restricted in Asia and the Americas — is driving demand for natural feed additives, probiotics, enzymes, and organic acids. Companies such as Alltech, Kemin, and Evonik are benefiting from this trend.

3. Aquafeed Growth

Aquaculture is the world's fastest-growing food production sector, and aquafeed is the highest-growth segment within animal feed. Nutreco's Skretting, Haid Group, and Cargill's EWOS division are competing intensely for market share in salmon, shrimp, and tilapia feed.

4. Sustainability and Carbon Labeling

Feed producers are increasingly required to demonstrate environmental performance. Carbon labeling, reduced soybean dependency (linked to deforestation), and alternative protein ingredients (insects, single-cell proteins, algae) are moving from niche to mainstream.

5. Chinese Dominance by Volume

Chinese companies — New Hope, Haid, Muyuan, Wen's — together account for an outsized share of global compound feed production. With China's herd numbers recovering from African Swine Fever and domestic feed demand growing, this dominance is expected to continue.

Sources:

Feed Strategy / WATT Global Media — World's Top Feed Companies 2024 Report (2023 data). Original 2019 article: marketresearchreports.com. Company annual reports and press releases (CPF, Cargill, Land O'Lakes, ForFarmers, Nutreco, New Hope Group, De Heus).

Disclaimer: Revenue figures are approximate and based on publicly available data, analyst estimates, and market research reports as of early 2026. Feed-specific revenues may differ from total group revenues. Production volume rankings may differ from revenue-based rankings.