FORMUL’INFO – May 2026

A newsletter dedicated not only to the latest news and price trends for agricultural commodities, but also to potential developments and changes in feed formulations for various livestock. The IDENA Formulation Team hopes you enjoy reading it!

FOCUS’ID – The solution to the rising price of urea

Today, the volatility of raw materials and dependence on the geopolitical context make formulation increasingly complex. What if the solution already lay in animal feed?

Tensions in the urea market:

Urea prices are rising sharply (> $700/t; +70% since the beginning of the year).
- Production costs are strongly correlated with natural gas prices.
Availability is impacted by energy and industrial constraints.

A severely disrupted market:

Geopolitical context in the Middle East impacting global trade flows.
- The Strait of Hormuz accounts for approximately one-third of global fertilizer trade.
- The Gulf countries account for approximately 25% of global urea exports.
Production reductions in Asia (India, Bangladesh).
Export restrictions (China).
Decreased shipments (Russia).

Consequences for feed formulation:

Increased cost of formulas (especially nitrogen correctors),
Reduced flexibility in feed rations,
Increased dependence on an external raw material.

>> Need to secure the use of nitrogen and reduce dependence on urea, as well as to rethink the approach to the valorization of forages.

This is why it is beneficial to explore solutions that enhance the nitrogen content of forages and optimize rumen digestion.

A lever for utilizing fiber and nitrogen in the ration.

Raw Materials trends

For May, a slight decrease in cereal prices was observed. Oilseed meal prices, however, increased very slightly.

Formulae

This month we are observing a downward trend in the cost of formulas except for dairy cows.

Species

Mulard duck:

Sorghum is less attractive than last month (-7%), but this is offset by the increase in wheat prices. Some rapeseed meal has been replaced by sunflower meal and DDGS (deep grain solids). Bran and middlings remain relatively stable compared to April.

Standard chicken:

For the month of May, a decrease in corn prices was observed, which was offset by an increase in wheat prices (+4%). The rest of the formula remained stable.

Laying hen:

The decrease in sorghum is offset by the increase in wheat. The decrease in cellulose intake due to the lower bran content is offset by the increase in LP sunflower.

Pig:

The decline in sorghum and triticale is offset by the increase in wheat. Peas are losing their appeal, and the protein intake is compensated by the rise in sunflower meal. A balance is thus established between the different oilseed meals.

Lamb:

The decrease in triticale and barley is offset by the increase in wheat and the introduction of sorghum, which is proving attractive this month. The reduced cellulose content of barley and middlings is compensated by the rise in rapeseed meal.

Dairy cow:

The removal of triticale and bran from this month’s formula is fully offset by wheat (+29%). The elimination of bran results in a decrease in the cellulose content of the reference formula.