Animal Feed Industry Operating at Half Capacity
EghtesadOnline: Iran’s nominal capacity for animal feed production currently stands at 23 million tons per year, only half of which is being utilized, according to the chairman of Iran Feed Industry Association.
“Last year [March 2018-19], feed industry factories' total sales hit 180 trillion rials [$1.34 billion]. Imports of the industry’s raw materials over the same period stood at 140 trillion rials [$1.04 billion],” Majid Movafeq Qadirli said in an address to a forum held to survey the industry’s performance, handicaps and opportunities in Tehran on Monday.
Mehdi Sadeqi Niyaraki, an Industries Ministry official, was also present at the meeting, Financial Tribune reported.
“Iran earns $80-100 million from animal feed exports per year,” Niyaraki was quoted as saying by the news portal of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture.
As ILNA recently cited data provided by Iran Feed Grain Importers Union, imports of livestock and poultry feed marked an 11% growth in weight and 22% increase in value to reach 10.05 million tons worth $2.75 billion in the nine months to Dec. 21, 2019.
Corn imports stood at more than 6.2 million tons worth $1.52 billion, indicating a 2% decline in weight but a 3% rise in value year-on-year.
Those of barley were at 2.51 million tons worth $641.79 million to register a 33% and 53% growth in weight and value respectively YOY.
The import of soybean meal was at 1.33 million tons worth $588.11 million, which shows a year-on-year increase of 61% and 59% in weight and value respectively.