Commodities
Home›Commodities›Agriculture›EU feedmakers warn drought is tightening forage and ma…
EU feedmakers warn drought is tightening forage and maize supplies
FEFAC projects the EU could need more than 7 million tonnes of additional maize imports in the 2026-27 marketing year, lifting total imports to over 26 million tonnes.
The European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation, or FEFAC, warned that repeated heatwaves across many EU member states this summer have sharply worsened forage and summer crop conditions, creating a severe shortage of forages. The group said the impact is mainly hitting the cattle population and is expected to reduce the availability of both maize silage and maize grain on the EU market in the coming months.
FEFAC also said a substantial shortfall in EU maize production will further strain the feed supply chain, intensifying pressure on essential feed grains and forages. The trade group called for exceptional measures at EU level to support coordinated efforts, noting the situation is already worse than the last major EU heatwave in 2018.
FEFAC urged the bloc to restart the EU crisis mitigation measures it released in 2022, when disruptions tied to the COVID crisis and the Russian invasion of Ukraine contributed to feed grain shortfalls, particularly maize. The organization added that feed and food security efforts by its members include adapting diet formulations to help manage heat stress while safeguarding animal welfare.
In its outlook, FEFAC market experts anticipated an additional EU maize import need of more than 7 million tonnes in the 2026-27 marketing year, implying total imports of more than 26 million tonnes, with most supplies expected to come from Ukraine, the United States and Brazil. The federation also projected higher import demand for soy products used in feed due to a growing EU feed protein deficit, estimating direct feed sourcing costs for soy products of more than €1 billion in 2027, with no guarantee of sufficient availability.