Japan Animal Feed Market Size and Share Outlook - Forecast Trends and Growth Analysis Report (2024-2032)

Japan Animal Feed Market Growth

Rising demand for animal-based protein, growing innovations in feed production techniques, and growth of livestock are some of the influential drivers for the growth of the Japan animal feed market. As the influence of Western culture grows in Japan, there is a growing pattern towards higher meat consumption, specifically pork and poultry, and this change in eating habits is necessitating the demand for animal feed.

Advancements in feed production technology is also an emerging trend of Japan animal feed market. These innovations include enhancing the efficiency of feed production and are essential for boosting the nutritional value of the feed. The rise in animal husbandry operations, fuelled by the rising demand for animal protein is another significant driving factor. This has led to a surge in the production of feed to cater to the requirements of different livestock categories such as poultry, swine, and aquaculture.

The rising costs of traditional feed ingredients coupled with the efforts towards sustainability have led to an increased interest in alternative feed ingredients such as algae, insect meal, and plant-based proteins.

Key Trends and Recent Developments

Growing production of chicken and meat, increase in large-scale broiler operations, rising fish and fish products exports and growing pet population are accelerating the Japan animal feed market value.

February 2024

Japan-based Sumitomo Corporation announced a joint investment in a seed funding round for Cyns, a biotechnology company located in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Cyns is a leading biotechnology company specialising in the production of sustainable insect-based animal feed in South America. The two companies also signed a commercial partnership agreement under which Sumitomo Corporation’s Brazillian subsidiary was put in charge of application development, research, and marketing of Cyn’s products in America.

June 2023

Kanagawa Prefecture and NTT East began testing its system that utilised food residue, such as sub-standard items and leftover scraps from food processing plants, to produce livestock feed. Key players that participated in the tests included a company that operated pig farms in Japan, a producer of soy-based processed foods, and a confectionery manufacturer.

December 2022

Japanese company Marubeni Corporation and the Utilization of Carbon Dioxide Institute Co. Ltd. (UCDI), a biotech venture company from Tokyo University, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on the production of carbon-dioxide-based feed additives that reduce the environmental impact of the livestock industry. Before the collaboration, UCDI conducted research and development to produce protein resources from COâ‚‚ with a unique hydrogen bacterium.

October 2022

Bioiberica, a global life science company, partnered with Japan-based Aska Animal Health Co. and Shintoa Corporation in Japan to distribute its Nucleoforce Aqua and Nucleoforce Livestock ranges of animal feed in the country. The deal enabled the partners to compete in the dynamic animal feed market of Japan and achieve market expansion in the whole of the Asia Pacific region.

Chicken and Meat Production Propelling the Growth of Animal Feed Market in Japan

The high domestic consumption of chicken and meat in Japan is resulting in its increased production, thereby propelling the growth of the market. The US Department of Agriculture estimated the production of chicken and meat to be consistent at 1,770,000 metric tonnes between January 2022 and 2023. These limits are expected to grow further, owing to globalisation trends and shifts in food consumption habits, raising the demand for animal feed exponentially during the forecast period.

Increasing Large-scale Broiler Operations Scaling the Animal Feed Consumption in Japan

Large-scale broiler operations in Japan are growing rapidly, increasing the consumption of broiler feed in the country’s animal feed market. According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the broiler population in Japan, as of February 2023, grew by 2%. Large-scale broiler farms with operations of 300,000 or more birds accounted for a major share of this growth, raising the demand for specialised broiler feed in the country.

Rising Fish and Fish Products Exports are Adding to the Japan Animal Feed Market Revenue

The rising exports of fish and fish products such as fish fat, oil and fractions are increasing the demand for high-quality aquafeed in Japan. According to the World Bank, the country exported a total of 869,873 kgs of frozen fish meat in 2023, generating a revenue worth USD 11,149,000 during the year. Moreover, the exports of fish oil, fats, and fractions amounted to USD 70,192,000 in during the same period. As these values increase during the coming years, owing to Japan’s proximity to major export markets and well-developed shipping infrastructure, the overall market revenue of aquafeed is expected to record a sharp growth.

Growing Pet Population is Creating New Market Opportunities for Industry Players

Japan’s pet population reached 55.8 million in 2023, growing at a rate of 0.6% in 5 years. Moreover, the Government of Canada, a major exporter of pet food to Japan, projected the population of cats and dogs to reach 8.6 million and 6.2 million by 2028 respectively. This has enhanced the market value of pet food in the country, which is estimated to be around USD 4.2 billion, the ninth largest globally. The growing pet food market is creating new opportunities for key industry players in the animal feed sector.

Japan Animal Feed Industry Segmentation

“Japan Animal Feed Market Report and Forecast 2024-2032” offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:

Market Breakup by Type

• Fodder and Forage
• Compound Feed  

Market Breakup by Livestock

• Pork
• Aquatic Animal
• Cattle
• Poultry
• Others

Market Breakup by Raw Material

• Soy
• Corn
• Others

Japan Animal Feed Market Share

Based on raw material, the market is divided into soy and corn, among others. Corn holds the highest share in the market as it is a primary source of carbohydrates, which offer energy to livestock, thus making it an essential component in feed for energy-intensive livestock such as poultry and swine. Furthermore, due to its widespread availability and cost-effectiveness, corn is the preferred option for producing bulk animal feed, boosting the segment growth.

Leading Companies in the Japan Animal Feed Market

The market players are developing innovative feed products to gain a competitive edge in the market.

• Alltech Inc.
• FEED ONE CO., LTD.
• Nutreco N.V.
• Archer-Daniels-Midland Company
• Marubeni Nisshin Feed Co., Ltd.
• Showa Sangyo Co., Ltd.
• Mitsubishi Corporation (Nosan Corporation)
• Others