Uncertainty Clouds Impact of U.S.
Feb 26, 2026 — The potential effects of increased imports from the United States on India’s livestock feed markets remain highly uncertain, industry executives and trade analysts say, even as bilateral trade negotiations advance.
The outlook was underscored by comments from Cargill India, one of the country’s largest animal nutrition firms, at the inauguration of a major new dairy feed facility in Punjab.
Ravinder Balain, Country President of Cargill India and Senior Managing Director of Cargill Animal Nutrition and Health (South Asia), described the impending trade agreement between India and the U.S. as “premature” to assess in terms of its impact on domestic feed ingredients once finalized. He noted that the scale and conditions of any imports — particularly of products such as distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and red sorghum — will determine how the market responds.
Under the interim India–U.S. trade framework announced earlier this month, New Delhi agreed to offer quota-based duty concessions on certain U.S. agricultural exports, including DDGS, a high-protein byproduct used in animal feed.
While some industry bodies have warned that expanded access for U.S. feed inputs could affect domestic maize and soymeal markets, others emphasise that regulatory safeguards and final agreement terms will play a crucial role in shaping outcomes.
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Cargill’s Balain stressed that Indian feed mills might benefit from quality imports if they meet strict aflatoxin standards and fit into existing commodity baskets but that any broad forecasts remain speculative without clarity on volume, tariffs, and compliance conditions.
Domestic producers and policymakers are watching closely. With India’s livestock feed market projected to grow significantly over the next decade, the interplay of trade policy, ingredient availability, and price dynamics will be key factors in whether imports from the U.S. ultimately reshape the industry.
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