Rise in Animal Feed Imports

Imports of livestock and poultry feed registered a 16% growth in weight and a 23% increase in value to reach 15.1 million tons worth $4.1 billion in the last fiscal year (March 2019-20), the news outlet of Iran Feed Grain Importers Union reported.
More than 8.9 million tons of corns worth $2.1 billion were imported over the last fiscal year, indicating no change in weight but a 4% rise in value year-on-year.
Iran imported over 4 million tons of barley worth more than $1 billion during the 12-month period, which showed a 51% and 68% growth in weight and value when compared with the corresponding period of the year before.
Last year’s imports of soybean meal stood at 2.2 million tons worth $958 million. The figure shows a year-on-year increase of 50% and 44% in weight and value, respectively.
“Iran’s domestic demand for animal feed stands at 21 million tons this year,” said Majid Movafeq Qadirli, chairman of Iran Feed Association.
The official says Iran currently imports 80% of the raw materials required to produce animal feed, adding that this year the industry needs to import around 9.2 million tons of corn, 6.1 million tons of barley and 4 million tons of soymeal.   
“This volume of imports is estimated to cost the country more than $4.5 billion," he said, adding that an additional $400 million are required for importing different kinds of vitamins, supplements and additives, Young Journalists Club quoted him as saying.
Qadirli also said that this amount of animal feed will help produce 11.5 million tons of milk, 2.7 tons of chicken and around 886,000 tons of red meat.
“Our animal feed firms are working at 60% of their annual production capacity which, at present, stands at 25 million tons per year,” he added.
According to Qadirli, animal feed accounts for 70% of the final price of meat, chicken, eggs and dairy products.