Trend break in compound feed, will price increase continue?

The price of pork feed increased by €1 last month to €276 per tonne, continuing the price increase since January of last year. The price of standard A feed increased by €1,50 last month to €293 per tonne. Figures from Wageningen Social & Economic Research (WSER) also show that other cattle and pig feeds have also become more expensive.

More expensive grains and soy
In recent months we already wrote that the compound feed prices Were heading for stabilization, but it turns out to be slightly more than that. The main reason is that physical grain prices rose significantly between mid-September and early November. Wheat (Rotterdam quotation) rose from €193 to €209,50 per tonne at its peak in November. In the final weeks of 2025, however, the market eased somewhat, and the quotation fell back to just over €200 per tonne.

The price of barley rose even more sharply in the fourth quarter, due to limited availability. This made barley even slightly more expensive than wheat, an unusual occurrence. Wheat is normally around €10 per tonne more expensive. The price of soybeans also rose significantly in Chicago between mid-October and mid-November, exceeding $1.150 per tonne. The price drop has since been largely reversed. The soybean residues, which are mixed into the pellets, also became somewhat more expensive as a result.

Expectation
The increase in compound feed prices is unlikely to continue in the longer term, given that commodity prices eased again in the final weeks of 2025. Wheat price declines are also visible on the futures market, due to ample global ending stocks. In early January, the Matif price fell below €190 per tonne. Therefore, further price increases in early 2026 are not necessarily likely. Feed companies' margins are generally good, and competition on the Dutch market is fierce due to the shrinking livestock population.