
Europe Animal Feed Pigments Market Analysis
The Europe Feed Pigments Market size is estimated at USD 315.90 million in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 390.60 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 3.80% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
The European animal feed pigments market is growing due to increasing demand for high-quality meat products, emphasis on animal health, and rising adoption of natural feed additives. Feed pigments enhance both the visual appeal and nutritional content of animal feed while improving animal growth and product coloration in poultry skin, egg yolks, and fish flesh. This has resulted in wider adoption across European livestock sectors, particularly in poultry, swine, and aquaculture.
Market expansion is driven by the increasing demand for high-protein diets, particularly in the United Kingdom, Russia, and Germany, where per capita incomes are rising. Consumer preferences for visually appealing and high-quality meat products contribute to market growth. According to OECD data, the UK's per capita poultry meat consumption rose from 18.3 kg in 2022 to 18.9 kg in 2023, demonstrating consistent market growth. Feed pigments, particularly carotenoids such as astaxanthin and canthaxanthin, improve egg yolk color and salmon flesh appearance to meet European consumer quality standards. German feed manufacturers have increased their use of pigments to satisfy consumer demand for visually appealing and nutritious animal products. Eurostat data shows that Germany represents 11.8% of European poultry meat production, holding the third position in production volume, supporting market growth.
The United Kingdom and France are important markets due to their developed livestock and aquaculture industries. Spain holds a strong market position through its extensive poultry and aquaculture operations. As a major European seafood and poultry exporter, Spain uses feed pigments to enhance product appeal and comply with international standards. Major pork producers like Denmark and the Netherlands use feed pigments to maintain competitiveness in domestic and export markets. According to the ITC trade map, the Netherlands' pork export value increased to USD 3.10 billion in 2023 from USD 2.72 billion in 2022. Hence, the European animal feed pigments market continues to expand, driven by regional emphasis on quality animal production, growing animal protein demand, and population growth.
Europe Animal Feed Pigments Market Trends
Poultry is the Largest Segment in the Market
The poultry sector holds the largest share of the European feed pigment market due to the high consumer demand for poultry products and the essential role of pigments in enhancing their visual and nutritional qualities. Europe is one of the largest consumers of poultry meat, with Germany, France, and Spain as major producers. According to FAOSTATS, chicken meat production in Spain, France, and Germany reached 1.39, 1.12, and 1.08 million metric tons in 2023, up from 1.34, 1.11, and 1.07 million metric tons in 2022, respectively. The affordability and versatility of poultry products have made them dietary staples across Europe. The increasing consumer preference for high-quality and naturally enhanced products has driven the use of natural pigments in poultry feed.
The European egg industry significantly influences feed pigment demand. Egg yolk color directly affects consumer satisfaction, with deeper yellow or orange hues perceived as indicators of nutritional value and freshness. Major egg-producing countries like Spain, the Netherlands, and Italy rely on carotenoids such as lutein and zeaxanthin to achieve the desired yolk coloration. According to FAOSTATS, Spain and Italy produced 880.1 and 798.0 thousand metric tons of hen eggs in 2023, compared to 861.3 and 790.0 thousand metric tons in 2022, respectively. This has led to the widespread adoption of pigment-enriched feed formulations in poultry farming.
The poultry sector has advanced through feed technology improvements and sustainable practices. The shift to natural and organic feed pigments aligns with European regulations and consumer demand for environmentally responsible products. Natural pigments, including turmeric, beta-carotene, and astaxanthin, have gained importance in the region. Companies are expanding geographically and establishing new facilities to increase production capacity and diversify product lines for poultry feed pigments. In 2022, Cargill invested USD 50 million in R&D initiatives in the Netherlands dedicated to advancing animal nutrition and feed research, with poultry being an important segment.
The poultry segment maintains its dominance in the European feed pigment market through consistent demand for poultry products and the importance of pigments in product enhancement. Germany, France, and the Netherlands lead the market, using feed pigments to meet consumer preferences and regulatory requirements. This market position is expected to continue as innovation and sustainability drive further pigment adoption in poultry feed.

Germany is the Fastest Growing Market
Germany is the fastest-growing market for animal feed pigments in Europe, driven by its robust livestock industry, increasing demand for high-quality animal products, and growing awareness of feed additives' importance in animal health and product appeal. The country's established poultry, swine, and aquaculture sectors use feed pigments to enhance the visual appeal and market value of animal-derived products. According to the ITC Trade Map, the export value of fresh trout increased from USD 1.27 million in 2022 to USD 1.41 million in 2023. In swine feed, pigments enhance pork fat coloration to improve consumer appeal. The pig population reached 21.2 million in 2023, according to FAOSTATS, further supporting market growth.
The increasing consumer preference for natural and organic food products influences feed pigment adoption in Germany. Livestock farmers use natural pigments such as astaxanthin, lutein, and beta-carotene as consumers associate richer coloration in egg yolks, broiler skin, and salmon flesh with higher quality. According to the USDA, organic food revenue in Germany increased from USD 16.1 billion in 2022 to USD 17.4 billion in 2023. This trend is significant in the poultry industry, where feed pigments meet consumer expectations for egg yolk color. In aquaculture, carotenoids enhance the reddish-orange color of fish flesh to improve marketability.
The market growth continues through government support, farming digitalization, and precision livestock farming technologies. The European Commission allocated USD 1.1 billion to German State aid schemes for animal welfare improvement in January 2024. These policies, along with feed safety regulations and incentives for advanced feed technologies, promote animal feed pigment adoption. Improvements in animal feed pigment formulations have enhanced their effectiveness across various species. Germany's expanding livestock sector, consumer demand for natural products, and advances in feed pigment technology maintain its position as Europe's fastest-growing animal feed pigments market. The country's focus on quality and sustainability reinforces this growth trajectory, establishing feed pigments as an essential component of modern animal nutrition.

Europe Animal Feed Pigments Industry Overview
The Europe feed pigment market is a concentrated market with few major players including BASF SE, EW Nutrition (Novus International Inc.), Kemin Industries Inc., DSM-Firmenich, and Nutrex N.V. The major strategies adopted by them are acquisitions, mergers, increasing the capacity of the plants, and investing in R&D. The major companies are focused on expanding their businesses across regions and setting up new plants for increasing production capacity, as well as product lines.
Europe Animal Feed Pigments Market Leaders
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BASF SE
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Nutrex N.V.
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Kemin Industries Inc.
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EW Nutrition (Novus International Inc.)
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DSM-Firmenich
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Europe Animal Feed Pigments Market News
- September 2022: DSM acquired Prodap, a Brazilian animal nutrition and technology company that combines technology offerings, consulting services, and specialized nutritional solutions, including animal feed pigments to enhance animal farming efficiency and sustainability.
- July 2022: Impextraco, a Belgium-based manufacturer of animal feed pigments and feed solutions, expanded its Mexico facility to increase product storage capacity and enhance business opportunities.
Europe Animal Feed Pigments Industry Segmentation
Feed pigments are compounds that are added to feed and are responsible for the color of products. The market is segmented by Type (Carotenoids, Curcumin, Caramel, Spirulina, and Others), Animal (Ruminant, Poultry, Swine, and Aquaculture), and Geography (Spain, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, and Rest of Europe). The report offers the market size and forecasts in value (USD) for all the above segments.
Type | Carotenoids |
Curcumin | |
Caramel | |
Spirulina | |
Others | |
Animal | Ruminant |
Poultry | |
Swine | |
Aquaculture | |
Geography | Spain |
United Kingdom | |
Germany | |
France | |
Italy | |
Russia | |
Rest of Europe |
Europe Feed Pigments Market Research Faqs
How big is the Europe Feed Pigments Market?
The Europe Feed Pigments Market size is expected to reach USD 315.90 million in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 3.80% to reach USD 390.60 million by 2030.
What is the current Europe Feed Pigments Market size?
In 2025, the Europe Feed Pigments Market size is expected to reach USD 315.90 million.
Who are the key players in Europe Feed Pigments Market?
BASF SE, Nutrex N.V., Kemin Industries Inc., EW Nutrition (Novus International Inc.) and DSM-Firmenich are the major companies operating in the Europe Feed Pigments Market.
What years does this Europe Feed Pigments Market cover, and what was the market size in 2024?
In 2024, the Europe Feed Pigments Market size was estimated at USD 303.90 million. The report covers the Europe Feed Pigments Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the Europe Feed Pigments Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
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Europe Feed Pigments Industry Report
Statistics for the 2025 Europe Feed Pigments market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. Europe Feed Pigments analysis includes a market forecast outlook for 2025 to 2030 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.