Despite escalating war and supply chain disruptions, Iran’s feed mills are reportedly running at full capacity to maintain domestic supplies of poultry, meat, and eggs. This assurance comes from Majid Mofav Ghadiri, head of the Iranian Feed, Poultry and Aquaculture Industries Association, in a recent interview with Iranian Chamber Online. However, supply challenges persist, raising questions about the industry’s long-term resilience.
Ghadiri emphasized that the role of feed manufacturers in the current situation is hard to overestimate.
“The feed industry is the front line of the economic jihad needed to ensure Iran’s food security,” Ghadiri said.
Crisis preparedness: Upgrading Iran’s feed supply chain
Iran has established a well-developed market monitoring system that has helped the feed and livestock industries avoid collapse.
“In recent years, we have transformed the system for monitoring and managing strategic reserves, learning from the bitter experiences of the past,” Ghadiri said. “Today, using intelligent systems, we monitor the inventory of key raw materials such as corn, soybean meal and supplements in real time.”
In addition, Ghadiri said that over the past few years Iran has created a network of mechanized warehouses and silos in strategic locations, which has helped keep the industry running even during temporary border closures or shipping disruptions.
“The feed industry is the front line of the economic jihad needed to ensure Iran’s food security—every disruption here puts our entire supply chain at risk.” – Majid Mofav Ghadiri, head of the Iranian Feed, Poultry and Aquaculture Industries Association
Supply chain disruptions hit raw material imports
However, there are indications that supply disruptions associated with the war involving the United States and Israel have taken a toll on parts of Iran’s food industry.
Bakeries in Iran have begun halting production and suspending operations due to war-related supply disruptions, Samad Hasanzadeh, head of the Islamic Republic Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told Mehr News.
Iran’s feed industry relies on imports for roughly 80% of its raw material needs. Key imports include corn, soybeans and barley, with heavy dependence on supplies from Brazil and Russia.
Iran could face food shortages if the Strait of Hormuz were to close, analysts at Kpler warned.
However, grain imports have not stopped completely, as Russia reportedly resumed shipments to Iran via the Caspian Sea last week.
Industry pressured by war and pre-existing shortages
War-related challenges come at a time when Iran’s feed and poultry industries were already grappling with feed shortages.
Several weeks before the war, officials in Iran’s poultry industry complained about a lack of feed in the government-controlled distribution system. As a result, farmers were forced to buy feed on the open market at significantly higher prices.
Purchases of day-old chicks subsequently fell to an unprecedented low level. Farmers warned that the situation could threaten Iran’s food security in the coming months.
