The global Oilmeal market size is expected to be valued at US$ 117.8 billion in 2026 and projected to reach US$ 177.1 billion growing at a CAGR of 6.0% between 2026 and 2033. This consistent growth is driven by rising global demand for high-protein animal feed ingredients across expanding poultry, aquaculture, and swine production sectors, particularly in Asia Pacific and Latin America, combined with the accelerating shift from low-efficiency forage-based animal feeding toward scientifically formulated protein meal-supplemented diets that improve livestock productivity and feed conversion ratios.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) projects global meat consumption to rise by 14% by 2030 versus 2020 levels, directly expanding the volume of oilmeal required per unit of animal protein produced across intensive farming systems worldwide.

Driver - Global Meat and Protein Demand Growth Driving Intensive Livestock Feed Requirements

Rising global protein consumption driven by population growth, urbanization, and income growth in developing economies is the foundational demand driver for oilmeal, which serves as the primary high-protein ingredient in compound animal feed formulations across poultry, swine, cattle, and aquaculture production systems. The FAO projects that global demand for animal protein will increase by 14% between 2020 and 2030, with Asia Pacific and Latin America accounting for the majority of incremental consumption growth. China's pork production recovery following the African Swine Fever (ASF) epidemic which reduced the national pig herd by over 40% at its peak per USDA Foreign Agricultural Service reports, has materially increased soybean meal and rapeseed meal procurement to rebuild swine herds to pre-outbreak production levels. For oilmeal suppliers, the combination of recovering Chinese feed demand, growing Southeast Asian poultry production, and expanding Brazilian and Argentine cattle sectors creates a multi-vector demand growth environment that sustains above-average volume and pricing momentum through the forecast period.

Aquaculture Sector Expansion Creating Fast-Growing Oilmeal Demand as Fishmeal Substitute

The global aquaculture industry's rapid expansion is generating structurally growing demand for oilmeal, particularly soybean meal and rapeseed meal as cost-effective, nutritionally viable substitutes for increasingly expensive and supply-constrained fishmeal in aquaculture feed formulations. The FAO's State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022 confirmed that aquaculture now accounts for 57% of global fish supply intended for direct human consumption, with production projected to grow a further 26% by 2030 to meet rising seafood demand.

As global fishmeal prices have increased materially due to anchovy catch limitations in Peru and Chile the world's primary fishmeal production zone aquafeed formulators are progressively increasing the inclusion rate of plant-based protein meals, particularly soybean meal with amino acid supplementation, validated through research programs by institutions including the WorldFish Center and Nofima. This structural substitution trend creates a durable and growing demand channel for oilmeal producers who can supply consistent-quality protein meal meeting aquafeed-specific amino acid and anti-nutritional factor specifications.

Restraints - Commodity Price Volatility and Agricultural Input Cost Inflation Compressing Oilmeal Margins

Oilmeal prices are structurally linked to vegetable oil commodity markets as oilmeal is a co-product of vegetable oil extraction, creating an inherent price volatility that complicates long-term procurement planning for feed manufacturers and compresses processor margins when oilseed input costs escalate faster than oilmeal selling prices.

The USDA Economic Research Service has documented significant soybean complex price spikes driven by weather events in South America, U.S. biofuel policy changes, and geopolitical disruptions, including Ukraine conflict impacts on sunflower oil and meal supply chains. For oilmeal producers, this commodity price sensitivity constrains their ability to pass through input cost increases to feed compound manufacturers operating under fixed-price contracts, creating periodic margin compression that discourages investment in processing capacity expansion.

Growing Consumer and Regulatory Pressure on Soy Sourcing Sustainability and Deforestation Risk

Consumer demand for sustainably sourced animal feed ingredients and emerging regulatory frameworks including the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) effective from December 2024, are imposing supply chain traceability and due diligence requirements on oilmeal importers that raise compliance costs and create market access barriers for non-certified origin material. For European feed manufacturers and oilmeal traders, this regulation adds procurement complexity and creates potential supply disruptions from non-compliant origins, elevating the cost premium for certified sustainable oilmeal and reducing margin accessibility for smaller market participants.

Opportunities - Rapeseed/Mustard Meal: Fastest-Growing Oilmeal Type Driven by Biofuel Policy and European Protein Diversification

Rapeseed/Mustard Meal is the fastest-growing oilmeal segment, projected to grow at 7% CAGR through 2033, driven by the intersection of European biofuel policy and the EU's strategic ambition to reduce soy protein import dependency under its Farm to Fork and EU Protein Strategy frameworks. The European Commission's Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) maintains mandates for advanced biofuels including rapeseed-derived biodiesel, generating co-product rapeseed meal volumes that are being actively absorbed by the EU's animal feed sector as a domestically produced soy substitute.

The European Feed Manufacturers' Federation (FEFAC) has endorsed rapeseed meal as a key indigenous protein source in its European protein diversification roadmap, creating institutional procurement preference that sustains price premiums over commodity soybean meal. For rapeseed processing companies including Groupe Avril, ADM Europe, and Sodrugestvo Group, this policy-aligned demand expansion creates a durable growth runway for meal production capacity investment through the forecast period.

Latin America Feed Industry Expansion: A Fast-Growing Regional Demand Frontier for Oilmeal

Latin America is the fastest-growing regional market for oilmeal consumption through 2033, driven by simultaneous expansion of domestic poultry, swine, and aquaculture production sectors across Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia each investing in livestock intensification that requires higher protein meal inclusion rates in commercial feed formulations. Brazil already the world's largest soybean and soybean meal exporter is also rapidly expanding its domestic poultry and swine processing capacity under agricultural investment programs, creating growing domestic oilmeal consumption that competes with export supply.

The Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA) reported record Brazilian poultry production and exports in 2023, directly sustaining domestic soybean meal demand. For global oilmeal traders including Cargill, Bunge, ADM, and Louis Dreyfus Company all of whom maintain major Brazilian and Argentine oilseed processing operations the Latin American market offers both export supply leverage and growing domestic consumption markets that compound their revenue opportunity per tonne of processing capacity deployed.

Product Type Insights

Soybean Meal commands an overwhelming 58% of the global oilmeal market in 2026, a leadership position that reflects its unmatched combination of high crude protein content (44–48% CP), superior amino acid profile particularly lysine and methionine balance wide availability through global supply chains anchored by U.S., Brazil, and Argentina production, and decades of validated nutritional performance in poultry, swine, and aquaculture feed formulations globally.

The USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) consistently positions soybean meal as the world's most heavily traded oilmeal commodity by volume, with annual global trade exceeding 70 million metric tonnes. Soybean meal's dominance is structurally entrenched by the global oilseed crushing industry's concentrated investment in soy processing infrastructure led by ADM, Cargill, Bunge, and Louis Dreyfus which creates consistent large-volume supply at globally competitive prices that alternative meals cannot replicate at equivalent scale.

Application Insights

Poultry Feed leads the oilmeal application segment with a 48% share in 2026, reflecting the poultry industry's status as the world's largest and fastest-growing livestock sector by protein output per unit of feed input. Poultry, particularly broiler chickens and laying hens are optimally suited to high-inclusion soybean meal diets due to their high lysine requirements and response to dietary protein density, making oilmeal an indispensable ingredient in commercial poultry compound feed formulations. The FAO reports global poultry meat production exceeded 130 million tonnes in 2022, with China, U.S., Brazil, and the EU as the dominant production geographies all of which operate large-scale commercial poultry industries with high per-bird feed efficiency standards requiring consistent high-protein meal supply. Aquaculture Feed is the fastest-growing application segment, driven by the sustained expansion of global fish and shrimp farming that is progressively substituting soybean and rapeseed meal for fishmeal across aquafeed formulations.

North America Oilmeal Market Trends and Insights

North America holds 18% of the global oilmeal market in 2026, owing to the U.S.'s position as the world's second-largest soybean meal exporter, with annual soybean crushing capacity exceeding 60 million metric tonnes and a large poultry, swine, cattle, and pet feed industry consuming substantial oilmeal volumes. Growing U.S. renewable diesel and biodiesel mandates continue to boost soybean oil demand, increasing soybean crushing activity and co-producing larger volumes of soybean meal for domestic use and export. The region benefits from advanced feed manufacturing infrastructure, strong grain logistics networks, and increasing investments in sustainable-certified oilmeal production. Export demand from Mexico and Asia remains robust, while regulatory alignment with deforestation-free sourcing requirements is encouraging traceability and supply chain modernization across the North American oilmeal industry.

U.S. Oilmeal Market

The United States accounts for 88% of North American oilmeal revenue in 2026, supported by extensive soybean crushing infrastructure operated by ADM, Bunge, Cargill, and CHS Inc. The country remains the world's second-largest soybean meal exporter after Argentina, supplying key markets including Mexico, Southeast Asia, and Europe. Domestic poultry, swine, cattle, and dairy sectors consume a significant share of soybean meal production, ensuring stable internal demand. Rising renewable diesel capacity is stimulating soybean processing investments, further expanding meal availability. Increasing adoption of sustainability certification programs and compliance with global sourcing standards are expected to reshape procurement strategies and strengthen the country's competitiveness in international oilmeal trade through 2033.

Europe Oilmeal Market Trends and Insights

Europe accounts for 14% of the global oilmeal market in 2026, supported by one of the world's largest compound feed industries, producing more than 170 million tonnes annually according to FEFAC. The region relies on imported soybean meal alongside domestically produced rapeseed and sunflower meal to meet protein feed requirements. The EU Protein Strategy, EUDR regulations, and sustainability-focused agricultural policies are accelerating the shift toward locally sourced and deforestation-free feed ingredients. Expanding biodiesel production under RED III mandates is supporting rapeseed crushing activity and increasing rapeseed meal availability. Growing demand from livestock, dairy, poultry, and aquaculture sectors continues to sustain consumption, while investments in supply chain transparency, alternative protein ingredients, and feed security initiatives are reshaping the European oilmeal landscape.

Germany Oilmeal Market

Germany accounts for 20% of European oilmeal market revenue in 2026, making it the region's largest animal feed producer and one of its leading oilmeal consumers. More than 170 compound feed manufacturing facilities require substantial volumes of soybean meal and rapeseed meal to support livestock and poultry production. The country benefits from a well-established feed industry, advanced logistics infrastructure, and strong import relationships with major soybean-exporting nations. ADM Germany and Sodrugestvo Group remain important suppliers to domestic feed manufacturers. Growing investments in EUDR-compliant sourcing, certified soybean meal procurement, and sustainable feed ingredient programs are expected to influence purchasing decisions and strengthen Germany's position as a key European oilmeal consumption hub.

U.K. Oilmeal Market Trends

The United Kingdom represents 8% of European oilmeal market revenue in 2026, driven by strong poultry, pig, dairy, and livestock production sectors. The country maintains a developed oilseed processing industry, with major operators including ADM UK and GrainCorp supporting domestic rapeseed crushing activities. Post-Brexit trade arrangements continue to facilitate access to soybean meal imports from Brazil, Argentina, and the United States. Rising demand for sustainable livestock production and compliance with the UK Forest Risk Commodities framework are encouraging greater adoption of certified feed ingredients. Continued investments in feed efficiency, protein diversification, and domestic oilseed processing capacity are expected to support steady growth in the U.K. oilmeal market.

France Oilmeal Market Insights

France accounts for 9% of European oilmeal market revenue in 2026, supported by a strong domestic rapeseed and sunflower processing industry led by Groupe Avril and its subsidiary Saipol. The country operates one of Europe's largest rapeseed crushing networks and serves as a major producer and consumer of rapeseed meal. Strong demand from livestock, dairy, poultry, and aquaculture sectors continues to drive oilmeal consumption. EU renewable energy policies and RED III biofuel mandates are supporting domestic oilseed crushing activity, increasing meal production volumes. Growing focus on feed self-sufficiency, sustainable sourcing practices, and reduced dependence on imported soybean meal is expected to create additional opportunities for French oilmeal producers over the forecast period.

Asia Pacific Oilmeal Market Insights

Asia Pacific leads the global oilmeal market with a 46% revenue share in 2026, driven by China's position as the world's largest soybean importer and crusher, along with rapidly expanding livestock and aquaculture industries across India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and other emerging economies. The region consumes massive quantities of soybean meal, rapeseed meal, and other protein meals to support poultry, swine, dairy, and aquafeed production. China's swine herd recovery, growing aquaculture output, and increasing feed efficiency requirements continue to stimulate demand. Rising meat consumption, population growth, urbanization, and modernization of commercial feed manufacturing are further supporting market expansion. Regulatory emphasis on feed quality, food safety, and sustainable sourcing is accelerating adoption of higher-value protein meal products across the region.

India Oilmeal Market Insights

India accounts for a 12% of Asia Pacific oilmeal market revenue in 2026, supported by one of the world's largest poultry industries, a rapidly expanding aquaculture sector, and a significant rapeseed/mustard meal and groundnut meal processing base. According to the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA), the country remains a major exporter of rapeseed meal to South Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Rising demand for commercial compound feed, increasing poultry meat consumption, and expanding shrimp farming activities are strengthening domestic oilmeal utilization. Growth in organized livestock production and feed manufacturing capacity is expected to increase consumption of high-protein oilmeal products, supporting long-term market expansion.

Japan Oilmeal Market Insights

Japan represents 7% of Asia Pacific oilmeal market revenue in 2026, relying heavily on imported soybean meal from the United States and Brazil to support its advanced feed manufacturing industry. Poultry, swine, dairy, and aquaculture sectors remain the primary consumers of oilmeal products. Government initiatives led by MAFF to diversify feed ingredient sourcing are increasing interest in rapeseed meal and alternative protein meals. Japan's premium aquaculture industry, including yellowtail, sea bream, and scallop production, continues to generate demand for specialized feed formulations. Strong quality standards, stable livestock production, and growing focus on feed sustainability are expected to support continued oilmeal consumption growth over the coming years.

Southeast Asia Oilmeal Market

Southeast Asia accounts for 11% of Asia Pacific oilmeal market revenue in 2026, supported by some of the world's fastest-growing poultry and aquaculture industries across Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Thailand remains a major broiler exporter and soybean meal importer, while Vietnam's shrimp and pangasius aquaculture sectors continue to drive significant feed demand. Rising incomes, growing meat consumption, and increasing investment in commercial livestock production are boosting oilmeal usage throughout the region. Major trading companies including Wilmar International and COFCO International maintain strong distribution networks supporting feed ingredient supply. Expansion of intensive farming systems and modern feed mills is expected to further strengthen regional oilmeal demand through 2033.

The global oilmeal market is moderately consolidated at the trading and processing tier, where the ABCD commodity trading complex ADM, Bunge, Cargill, and Louis Dreyfus Company alongside Wilmar International and COFCO International control a dominant share of global oilseed crushing capacity and cross-border oilmeal trade flows. These players compete primarily on supply chain scale, processing cost efficiency, logistics infrastructure, and trade finance capability. Key differentiators include deforestation-free certification for EUDR-compliant origins, specialty meal processing for aquafeed specification markets, and geographic proximity to growth consumption markets in Asia Pacific. Emerging business model trends include digital traceability platform integration for supply chain transparency, sustainable sourcing certification programs, and direct supply agreements with large-scale poultry and aquaculture integrators that reduce commodity trading intermediation.

Key Developments

• March 2026: Bunge Global announced an expansion of its certified sustainable soybean meal supply program in Brazil, partnering with Amaggi and SCS Global Services to increase traceable, EUDR-compliant soybean meal volumes available for European feed manufacturer procurement ahead of the EU Deforestation Regulation enforcement deadline.
• November 2024: ADM completed the expansion of its Rondonópolis, Brazil soybean processing complex adding 8,000 tonnes/day of additional crushing capacity positioning the facility as one of the largest single-site oilseed processing operations in South America, targeting both export and growing Brazilian domestic feed demand markets.