RANGOON, MYANMAR — Myanmar’s total animal feed demand increased 13% to 15% from 2016 to 2018, reaching an estimated 3 million tonnes this year, and it is forecast to jump to 4 million tonnes by 2020, according to an Oct. 17 Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The rise in feed demand is due to the rapid growth of the livestock sector, the USDA said.

“The Myanmar livestock feed industry is entirely operated by the private sector and the industry has been growing steadily due to the development of the livestock sectors,” the USDA said.

Livestock feed demand in 2018 was 2.5 million tonnes, while aquafeed accounted for 500,000 tonnes, the USDA said.

About 70% of the livestock feed demand comes from the poultry sector and 25% comes from swine. The rest is made up from dairy cows, duck and quail.

Of the 3 million tonnes estimated to be consumed in 2018, 46% is commercial feed, 20% in local home mix and 34% is raw ingredients, according to the USDA.

It noted that the country’s feed sector is mainly led by foreign companies, which hold about a 60% share of domestic feed sales in Myanmar.