Kenya’s barley boom raises questions for animal feed supply

KENYA – Kenya’s growing barley production and rising regional exports could reshape the feed-grade grain market, as stronger brewery demand increases competition for locally produced barley and adds another consideration for animal feed manufacturers sourcing affordable energy ingredients.

According to the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Kenya’s barley production rose 64.6% in 2024 and another 19.8% in 2025, reaching a record 64,800 tonnes. 

The recovery, following weather-related production losses in 2023, has coincided with growing demand from regional brewing markets.

Kenya exported an estimated 39,997 tonnes of barley in 2025, worth about US$6.02 million, according to data from the World Bank’s World Integrated Trade Solution. 

Uganda accounted for 38,342 tonnes, or about 95.9% of exports, while Tanzania received 1,150 tonnes, according to World Bank WITS.

The expanding export market offers farmers an alternative to wheat, whose production faces high input costs and import competition. 

However, the shift could affect domestic buyers as producers respond to price differences and marketing arrangements.

Price competition shapes feed-grade availability

The USDA report identifies a significant price gap between malting-grade barley, which meets brewing specifications, and lower-grade grain sold into the livestock feed market.

According to figures reported by The EastAfrican, feed-grade barley commands approximately KES 35-40/kg (US$0.27-0.31), while export-market prices reached KES 80/kg (US$0.62) in 2025. 

Contracted malting-grade barley growers can secure prices of up to KES 60/kg (US$0.46), compared with a reported domestic price of KES 55.47/kg (US$0.43) for top-grade wheat in 2026.

These differences highlight the commercial pressure on domestic feed buyers.

Although export-grade and feed-grade barley are not directly interchangeable, stronger demand for barley could influence farmers’ planting decisions, grain allocation and the volume available to different market segments.

For feed manufacturers, the implications depend on local barley availability, its price relative to competing ingredients, and whether they can incorporate it economically into feed formulations.

Maize remains central to feed costs

Barley’s potential role in feed ingredient sourcing comes as Kenya’s feed industry faces pressure from grain shortages and rising raw material costs.

In September 2026, grains account for about 70% of manufactured animal feed, while raw materials make up 70-80% of feed manufacturing costs, driving maize shortages and higher feed costs for dairy, poultry, pig, and beef producers.

This makes alternative grain supplies commercially relevant. However, barley’s value as a substitute depends on its nutritional composition, availability, processing requirements and price relative to maize and other ingredients.

The USDA report identifies maize availability and price as factors influencing the market for lower-grade barley, underscoring the link between competing grain markets.

Kenya’s barley expansion could therefore present both an opportunity and a challenge for the feed sector: additional domestic grain production may widen the pool of potential ingredients, but stronger export demand could limit the economic incentive to sell suitable grain locally.

Climate variability, drought and volatile input prices remain risks to sustained production.

For feed manufacturers, the key question is whether growing barley output can translate into a reliable, competitively priced supply of feed-grade grain as regional demand expands.

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