The XX. International "Compound Feed - 2026" Conference was held in Moscow, Russia, with extensive participation. The sectoral projections of Valery Afanasyev, President of the Russian Union of Compound Feed Producers, and the speech by IDMA representative Mustafa Yağmurlu emphasizing the Turkey-Russia strategic partnership were the most striking highlights of the conference. The Russian feed and milling industry is now preparing for a large-scale landing at the IDMA Exhibition.

The XX. International “Compound Feed - 2026” Conference, organized in Moscow, brought together topics that will shape the current dynamics and future of the global feed industry, while strongly demonstrating the strategic cooperation potential between Russia and Turkey. Attended by leading representatives of the sector, the conference offered a broad perspective ranging from production structure to technology, and from capacity management to international trade.

Data shared by Valery Afanasyev, President of the Union of Compound Feed Producers, reveals that the Russian feed industry has undergone a significant structural transformation in recent years. Today, approximately 75% of production is carried out within vertically integrated structures, while the share of independent feed mills remains at only 8%. This transformation has provided a serious guarantee for raw material procurement, which is one of the most fragile points of the sector.

The fact that large-scale enterprises own their own agricultural production areas allows 50% to 100% of raw material needs to be met internally. While this model largely eliminates the supply crises frequently encountered in the past, it also strengthens the sustainability of the sector.

42 Million Tons of Capacity and Growth Flexibility

Russia's total compound feed production capacity stands at approximately 42 million tons. Although production was announced as 36.8 million tons according to official data, sector representatives state that actual production is approaching 39 million tons. Since most of the existing facilities operate in single or double shifts, an additional production increase of 5 million tons in the short term is considered possible if a three-shift system is adopted.

This picture demonstrates that the Russian feed industry is not only meeting current demand but also possesses the flexibility to respond quickly to potential increases in demand.

Inefficiency in Consumption and Potential Growth Area

One of the important topics highlighted at the conference was the limited share of small-scale producers in compound feed usage. Due to high costs, this segment’s tendency toward direct grain use leads to the inefficient use of between 5 and 8 million tons of grain annually.

It is predicted that if this segment turns toward compound feed use, the country's total production need will rise to 42-43 million tons. This situation indicates a significant growth area for the sector.

2025 Data: Growth Slows Down, Balance Achieved

As of 2025, Russia's total compound feed production reached 36.6 million tons. The growth rate remained at 1.2%, falling behind the 5% increase pace seen in previous years. In sub-segments, limited but balanced increases were recorded: 1.5% in poultry feed, 0.6% in pig feed, and 0.9% in cattle feed.

This data shows that the feed supply in the country has largely reached saturation and the necessary infrastructure for animal production has been completed.

Competitive Structure in Quality and the Premix Sector

While it was emphasized that the quality level of compound feed produced in Russia has reached a level competitive with European standards, the high performance in feed conversion rates (FCR) is particularly noteworthy. In the premix sector, production has followed a horizontal trend for the last five years, revealing that the market has matured.

Companies operating in the highly competitive premix market have created an "internal closed ecosystem" with advanced technology and quality standards.

Turkey Perspective: Production Power and Global Integration

Speaking on behalf of IDMA at the conference, Mustafa Yağmurlu, Editor-in-Chief of BBM Magazine and IDMA Spokesperson, gave important messages regarding Turkey's position in the feed and milling sector.

Emphasizing that Turkey is a strategic production and trade center between Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa thanks to its geographical location, Yağmurlu stated that the proximity to Russia's rich grain and feed raw material resources offers a great advantage for both countries.

Mustafa Yağmurlu, Editor-in-Chief of BBM Magazine

Today, Turkey ranks among the leading producers in Europe with a feed production of over 30 million tons. It maintains its leadership in global flour trade with exports of approximately 2.5 million tons. With its strong machinery production infrastructure, it provides technology to both the feed and milling sectors. Yağmurlu emphasized that the modern and integrated production model is decisive in the growth of the sector.

In his speech, Yağmurlu pointed to three main headings that will shape the future of the sector: technology, sustainability, and international commercial cooperation will be the decisive factors. He especially emphasized that high-tech feed production plays a critical role in livestock productivity and global food security.

IDMA Istanbul 2026: The Global Meeting Point

One of the most remarkable outcomes of the conference was the strong emphasis on platforms that will strengthen international cooperation. In this context, the IDMA Istanbul Exhibition, to be held on June 25–27, 2026, came to the fore.

The exhibition, where milling machinery, feed technologies, grain processing systems, storage, and logistics solutions will be exhibited, is preparing to host visitors from more than 120 countries, aiming to bring together thousands of professionals and set the stage for new commercial partnerships.

IDMA Representative Mustafa Yağmurlu invited Russian sector representatives to the fair, stating that stronger cooperation could be established between the two countries, especially in the field of feed and grain technologies. In addition, the greetings and best wishes of IDMA Chairman of the Board Ali Kalkan were shared with the participants.

Russian Preparation for Strong Participation in IDMA

Panel moderator and Rector of the International Industry Academy, Vyacheslav Butkovsky, made important statements regarding the deepening of cooperation with Turkey. Butkovsky announced that a large delegation from Russia has been formed for the IDMA Exhibition to be held in Istanbul.

In this context; Igor Nikolayevich Sviridenko, President of the Russian Union of Flour and Cereal Enterprises, Valery Afanasyev, President of the Union of Compound Feed Producers, and sector representatives were invited to the organization in Istanbul.

It was also stated that the International Industry Academy is carrying out studies to examine both flour milling and compound feed production facilities on-site in Turkey as part of the delegation program.

Butkovsky also thanked Mustafa Yağmurlu for his visit to Moscow and expressed that they look forward to taking the dialogue that started between the two countries even further in Istanbul.