Background and issues
The animal feed industry supplies farmers with complete and complementary feeds as well as with additives and premixes tailored to the species and physiological stage of each animal, as well as to consumer requirements in terms of quality and food safety.
The animal nutrition market
This industry is experiencing quantitative growth in developing countries, where expanding population numbers are accompanied by a rise in the consumption of animal products. On mature markets, growth tends to be more qualitative, in response to growing consumer demand for more sophisticated products.
On a global market of around 600 million tones of complete feeds produced every year, France is Europe’s biggest producer with 22.7 million tonnes in 2008, or 15% of the European total. Production in France is very much concentrated in the western part of the country, which accounts for 60% of the domestic market.
The market players are:
• private, vertically integrated groups, with strong presence in poultry in particular,
• cooperatives working in a range of agro-food activities, including animal nutrition,
• companies specialising in animal nutrition, such as Evialis.
InVivo NSA is a leading player in the sector, with 1.2 million tonnes of complete feeds sold in France in 2008 and 1.4 million tonnes sold worldwide.
The animal health market
The animal health market is estimated at €13 billion, of which more than €800 million in France, Three countries account for more than half of sectoral revenue in Europe: France (28%), Germany (20%) and the UK (17%).
The structure of the French market is close to that of the global market, with 64% of sales for production animals and 36% for pets.
The InVivo NSA group is present primarily on the market of medicated premixes to prevent and treat animal disease. This market is estimated at 18,000 tonnes / year in France. The group is also developing its presence in the field of animal dietetics and hygiene.
