Bottom line: Based on annual and marketing-year forecasts available in August 2026, MANTA expects Southeast Asian feed demand to remain firm in Q4 2026. Corn and soybean meal will retain their central roles, while feed wheat and DDGS will compete for inclusion according to delivered nutritional value. MANTA expects demand for animal protein ingredients to increase strongly toward year-end, led by aquafeed, young-animal diets, specialised livestock feed and pet food.
There is no single authoritative quarterly feed forecast covering the whole of Southeast Asia. This Q4 assessment is therefore MANTA’s market outlook, developed from available country forecasts, animal-production trends, aquaculture indicators and expected year-end purchasing patterns.
Definition: In this article, “animal protein” means animal-derived protein ingredients used in permitted livestock-feed, aquafeed and pet-food applications—not meat intended for human consumption. These ingredients include fishmeal, meat and bone meal, poultry by-product meal, blood meal and other processed animal proteins.
Livestock-feed demand should remain positive but uneven
The regional outlook is for continued growth rather than a uniform expansion across every country and animal sector. Rising incomes, urbanisation and consumption of meat, eggs and aquatic foods support commercial-feed demand. OECD–FAO expects lower-middle-income markets, including Southeast Asian countries, to contribute an increasing share of global agricultural consumption growth through 2035.
Thailand provides one indication of the regional direction. The Thai Feed Mill Association projects compound-feed output of approximately 23 million tonnes in 2026. Poultry accounts for about 55% of Thai feed demand, while broiler and swine production are expected to support a gradual increase in corn use.
In Vietnam, USDA FAS forecasts total feed demand at 29.5 million tonnes in 2026, comprising approximately 22.77 million tonnes of livestock feed and 6.73 million tonnes of aquaculture feed.
The Philippines is also expected to require more imported raw materials. USDA FAS forecasts corn imports of 2 million tonnes in MY 2026/27, supported by demand from poultry, aquaculture, pet food and the recovering hog sector.
For Q4, purchasing activity will depend on animal prices, disease conditions, inventories and the timing of feed mills’ coverage for year-end and early-2027 requirements.
Aquafeed remains an important growth engine
Asia—including the major aquaculture-producing countries of Southeast Asia—produced 179 million tonnes of aquatic animals and algae in 2024, according to FAO. Approximately 130 million tonnes came from aquaculture.
Southeast Asian aquafeed demand should continue to benefit from shrimp, pangasius, tilapia, marine-fish and other farmed-species production. However, Q4 feed consumption will vary according to stocking cycles, water conditions, disease, farm profitability and export orders.
Soybean meal remains an important aquafeed protein. In Vietnam, it generally accounts for approximately 15–35% of livestock and aquaculture feed formulations, with aquafeed normally using a higher proportion.
Fishmeal and specialised animal protein ingredients play a different role. Their inclusion is driven not only by crude-protein content but also by digestibility, amino-acid balance, palatability, mineral value and animal performance—particularly in shrimp, marine fish and juvenile diets.
Q4 2026 demand direction by ingredient
| Feed ingredient | MANTA Q4 2026 outlook | Main demand drivers |
|---|---|---|
| Corn | Stable to moderately higher | Poultry production, swine recovery and inventory coverage |
| Soybean meal | Moderate growth | Poultry, aquafeed and continuing reliance on imported protein |
| Feed wheat | Price-dependent | Substitution when delivered energy cost is competitive with corn |
| DDGS | Selective growth | Cost-effective energy and protein contribution in suitable rations |
| Fishmeal | Firm to strongly higher demand in selected applications | Shrimp, marine fish, juvenile feed and year-end aquafeed production |
| Other animal protein ingredients | Strong growth expected from a smaller base | Specialised feed, young animals, pet food and concentrated protein demand |
| Plant-based meals and bran | Stable to moderately higher | Cost management and flexible formulation |
These directions represent MANTA’s market assessment rather than official quarterly production forecasts.
Corn and soybean meal remain the volume foundation
Corn will remain Southeast Asia’s principal feed-energy ingredient. Its Q4 competitiveness will depend on origin, freight, moisture, quality, currency movements and the availability of domestic crops.
Feed mills will continue comparing corn with feed wheat and DDGS. Substitution will not be determined by price per tonne alone; buyers must compare delivered energy, protein contribution, inclusion limits and the effect on the complete ration.
Soybean meal will remain the principal protein benchmark because of its availability, established nutritional profile and broad use across poultry, swine and aquaculture feed.
Thailand forecasts soybean demand to rise by about 2% in MY 2026/27, while soybean crush is forecast to increase by approximately 3%. In the Philippines, mills continue using imported soybean meal and formulation technology to manage feed costs and respond to changes in poultry, aquaculture and swine production.
MANTA expects animal protein demand to increase strongly
MANTA expects Southeast Asian demand for animal protein ingredients to increase strongly toward the end of 2026.
This is a forward-looking assessment based on several expected year-end drivers:
- Feed mills and farms preparing for higher production around holiday and festival consumption;
- Strong demand for seafood, poultry, pork and pet food;
- Continued aquaculture production and preparation for new stocking cycles;
- Greater demand for digestible protein in shrimp, marine-fish and juvenile diets;
- Swine and poultry producers seeking nutritional efficiency and animal performance;
- Buyers securing Q4 and early-2027 supply before holiday-related logistics constraints;
- Increasing interest in concentrated protein sources where they improve total formulation economics.
The expected increase will not be equal across every animal protein product. Fishmeal and high-quality specialised proteins should receive the strongest support from aquafeed and young-animal applications. Poultry by-product meal, meat and bone meal, blood products and other processed animal proteins may also gain demand where their nutritional value and delivered cost are competitive.
Pet-food manufacturers represent another growth channel, particularly for identifiable animal-derived proteins with consistent specifications, palatability and traceable origin.
Strong demand does not mean every product is interchangeable
Animal protein ingredients must be assessed individually. Commercial suitability depends on animal species and intended application, nutrient profile, digestibility, microbiological safety, species identification, processing standards, approved origin and manufacturing plant, import permits and veterinary certificates.
A product that is technically attractive may still be unusable if its origin, plant, species or documents do not satisfy the importing country’s requirements. Expected demand growth should therefore benefit suppliers able to provide reliable quality, regulatory eligibility and complete documentation—not simply the lowest quotation.
Q4 purchasing signals to watch
- Poultry placement and slaughter schedules;
- Hog repopulation and African swine fever conditions;
- Shrimp and fish stocking, disease and export orders;
- Corn, soybean-meal, feed-wheat and DDGS landed-price spreads;
- Fishmeal production, availability and premiums;
- Freight rates, currencies and holiday shipping schedules;
- Import eligibility and veterinary requirements for animal protein;
- Feed-mill inventory coverage for Q4 2026 and early 2027;
- Changes in formulation economics and feed-conversion efficiency.
MANTA view
Southeast Asian feed demand should remain constructive in Q4 2026, but buying decisions will remain disciplined. Corn and soybean meal will provide the volume foundation, while feed wheat and DDGS compete according to delivered nutrient value.
MANTA expects animal protein ingredient demand to increase strongly toward year-end. The most attractive opportunities should be found in aquafeed, specialised livestock diets, young-animal feed and pet food.
Commercial success will depend on nutritional performance, delivered cost, origin eligibility, traceability, documentation and shipment execution.
Looking for corn, soybean meal, fishmeal or other animal protein ingredients for Southeast Asia? Contact MANTA to discuss origin options, specifications, documentation and shipment requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Will Southeast Asian feed demand increase in Q4 2026?
Based on current annual and marketing-year forecasts, MANTA expects regional demand to remain firm, supported by poultry, aquaculture, gradual swine recovery and year-end purchasing. Performance will vary by country and animal sector.
Which raw materials should experience the strongest demand?
Corn and soybean meal should remain the largest-volume ingredients. Feed wheat and DDGS may gain inclusion when their delivered nutritional value is competitive.
Will demand for animal protein ingredients increase?
MANTA expects demand for animal protein ingredients to increase strongly toward the end of 2026. Aquafeed, young-animal diets, specialised livestock feed and pet food should provide the main growth opportunities.
What are animal protein ingredients?
Animal protein ingredients are processed feed materials of animal origin, including fishmeal, meat and bone meal, poultry by-product meal and blood meal. Their permitted use depends on local feed and veterinary regulations.
What will buyers require from animal protein suppliers?
Buyers increasingly require consistent specifications, microbiological safety, species identification, traceability, approved origin, veterinary certification and reliable shipment execution.
Sources
- FAO – Asia drives global aquatic production to a record high.
- OECD–FAO Agricultural Outlook 2026–2035.
- USDA FAS – Thailand Grain and Feed Annual 2026.
- USDA FAS – Thailand Oilseeds and Products Annual 2026.
- USDA FAS – Philippines Grain and Feed Annual 2026.
- MANTA – Vietnam’s 2026 feed-import basket.
This outlook reflects information available in August 2026. Statements concerning Q4 2026 and strong growth in animal protein demand represent MANTA’s forward-looking market assessment. Actual demand may change with disease, weather, prices, freight, currency, regulation and production conditions.