The cottonseed meal market worldwide was valued at USD 3,500.0 million in 2024. The international market would touch USD 3,678.5 million by 2025 owing to its 5.1% year-on-year growth in cottonseed meal demand in 2025. The global sales to be witnessed are poised to follow a 5.5% CAGR during the assessment period (2025 to 2035), culminating at a sales value of USD 6,336.6 million in 2035.
Cotton seed meal is gaining momentum in the international feed sector owing to its high protein content and price advantage over alternative protein meals such as soybean. The Increasing Focus on Sustainable Livestock Nutrition, especially in Developing Economies is one of the Major Factors Contributing to the Rising Demand.
In addition, cottonseed meal is being adopted as a natural fertilizer option, with increasing interest in organic farming. With its gradual nitrogen release and nutrient-rich profile, it is a preferred fertilizer without synthetic chemicals. The dual application - in animal feed and agriculture is one key factor driving the market forward, she added.
Major manufacturers including N.K. Proteins, Shree Ram Proteins, Planters Cotton Oil Mill, T.T. Limited, Cargill Inc., The Scoular Company, and Louis Dreyfus Company are ramping up their investments in processing innovations and trade networks to ensure product penetration, as well as quality standardization.
As global meat consumption continues to increase and the demand for more natural and sustainable agricultural inputs grows, cottonseed meal is set up to gain in usage in both the feed and organic fertilizer markets. Markets in India, the U.S., Australia and Southeast Asia, in particular, are poised to be key drivers of revenue across the globe, it said.
| Attributes | Description |
|---|---|
| Estimated Size (2025E) | USD 3,678.5 million |
| Projected Value (2035F) | USD 6,336.6 million |
| Value-based CAGR (2025 to 2035) | 5.5% |
With the rising angst over the environmental effects of synthetic fertilizers and processed feed additives, cottonseed meal is starting to get its moment in the sun. To keep up with worldwide trends toward eco-friendliness, producers like Ozbeef and Oilseeds Australia are increasingly acting to grow more sustainable product portfolios.
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The following table is a comparative overview of the change of the CAGR during six months which occurs for base year (2024) and current year (2025) for the global cottonseed meal market. Such analysis uncovers key performance shifts and reveals patterns of revenue realization that empowers the stakeholders to gain visibility into growth roadmaps year over year.
| Particular | Value CAGR |
|---|---|
| H1 (2024 to 2034) | 4.7 % |
| H2 (2024 to 2034) | 4.9 % |
| H1 (2025 to 2035) | 5.3 % |
| H2 (2025 to 2035) | 5.5 % |
The H1 2025 to 2035 market is estimated to value 5.3% of CAGR while H2 2025 to 2035 will experience a higher rate of 5.5% growth. Compared to 2024, 60 BPS growth was seen for H1 2025, and a 60 BPS growth for H2, showing that increased investor confidence, sectoral performance and with increase in global demand for Eco-friendly and protein-rich feed solutions.
Tier 1, there is a competitive tier of revenue, dominance, and market spread companies. All these companies have strong supply chain integration, consistent sourcing ability, and global or regional footprints in their feed and fertilizer markets.
Cargill, Inc. is the classic example, with operations spanning continents, advanced processing technologies, and consistently high product quality. Another of the big trading houses, Louis Dreyfus Company, uses its agricultural trading heritage to supply cottonseed meal into many areas in bulk.
Other examples are The Scoular Company and N.K. Proteins are some of companies that fall into Tier 1, benefiting from large-scale operations, broad client networks and investments into product development and sustainability.
Tier 2 refers to companies with smaller revenue bases than Tier 1 but with a strong regional footprint and established market credibility. For example, Shree Ram Proteins has developed good domestic and export markets in Asia through cheaper production.
Other firms, such as Stillwater Milling Company and T T Limited, are known for their steady production and longstanding relationships within the animal nutrition industry. These companies compete primarily through the supply of dependable, competitively priced cottonseed meal, especially in certain key geographies, where they form long-term supply agreements.
Tier 3 is comprised of small-scale and emerging processors that are generating local attention or developing niche applications (e.g., organic fertilizers). One example is Oilseeds Australia, which serves the feed as well as sustainable agriculture industry in the Australasian region. Some smaller firms in this tier may lack global distribution networks but are still using marketing innovation, direct farmer partnerships and regionally sourced cottonseed to help meet demand. These players are using online platforms and B2B marketplaces more and more to build brand awareness and compete with larger incumbents differently.
Soaring Demand for Organic & Non-GMO Livestock Feed
Shift: Increasing consumer and regulatory demand for organic and non-GMO animal-derived products, especially in the USA, E.U., and Australia. And this is motivating livestock producers to utilize feed inputs consistent with organic certification and clean-label specifications. Cottonseed meal will be reformulated to match high-protein content and local availability standards.
Strategic response: Cargill, Inc. and The Scoular Company expanded the lines of certified organic cottonseed meal for North American and European markets. N.K. Proteins has launched a range of non-GMO feed products in Asia as they utilize solvent-free processing technology as this is more popular among consumers there. These companies are investing significantly in traceability tools and certification programs to boost clean-label claims.
Insertion of Fertilizer and Land Ameliorator Applications
Shift: The worldwide shift to sustainable agriculture has increased the demand for natural fertilizers. Because cottonseed meal is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, its usage as an organic soil amendment has been growing, particularly in high-value crop production systems in the USA, India, and Brazil.
Strategic Response: T T Limited and Shree Ram Proteins have come together with agri-retailers to promote cottonseed meal as a cost-effective, eco-friendly fertilizer. Oilseeds Australia increased production to support domestic horticultural industries. However, in order to access several streams of income, key players are branding feed and fertilizer-compatible dual-purpose cottonseed meal.
Targeting Niche Animal Segments
Shift: Increasingly, the cottonseed meal market is producing formulations with different protein levels and fiber content as demand increases for species-specific nutrition (i.e. dairy, cattle, aquaculture, poultry). Operators of livestock in Europe and Latin America are also requesting detoxified meals with lower gossypol contents.
Strategic Response: cottonseed meal blends have been introduced by Louis Dreyfus Company and Gavilon Agriculture, adding enzymes or detoxifying the feed through proprietary processing, to be used in diets for high-performance cattle and fish. New entrants are also focusing on R&D in niche segments for species specific formulations.
B2B Partnership Relationships with Feed and Agri-Input Distributors
Shift: As demand variability and distribution fragmentation rise, B2B partnerships are key. Long-term supply security and logistics optimization have led companies to work closely with livestock integrators, feed millers, and agri-cooperatives.
Strategic Response: Cargill and Scoular have signed strategic sourcing agreements in North America and LATAM with the large feed integrators. (SMC) has further connections with regional co-ops and millers within the USA Midwest. These partnerships provide recurring demand and improved forecasting in the face of volatile commodity pricing.
Peering Through The Lens Of Sustainability And Circular Economy
Shift: Being a by-product of the cotton industry, cottonseed meal has a good position in circular economy models. And this sustainability story is now being harnessed by stakeholders to promote shrimp instead of soy and synthetic fertilizers, particularly in carbon-friendly markets.
Strategic Response: N.K. Proteins and Shree Ram Proteins are advocating low-carbon production and zero-waste extraction processes. Want more news on sustainability in supply chains, ports, global trade and more?Louis Dreyfus Company launched lifecycle impact assessments (LCAs) for its cottonseed meal, to back up those sustainability claims in global trade negotiations and at the table for ESG-sensitive buyers.
Pricing at a Competitively with Soymeal Replacement
Shift: Historically, soymeal has been a prominent protein source in feed. Due to price fluctuations and shortages in some regions, cottonseed meal is being investigated as a cheaper replacement. Al Qaeda: While pricing consistency is critical to incentivizing a longer-term substitution.
Strategic Response:Cargill, ADM and Scoular have tapped into their commodity trading networks to provide stabilized pricing and blended protein meal packages as a strategic response. Tier 2 players such T T Limited are using forward contracts with domestic feed mills to provide predictable pricing and thus, they are gaining market share in budget-sensitive regions.
Making Use of E-Commerce and Digital Procurement Platforms
Shift: With the digitalization of agri-input procurement gaining momentum, buyers are revamping their procurement strategies to source bulk cottonseed meal from diverse online sources, especially in India, Brazil, and Southeast Asia.
Strategic Response: Companies like Shree Ram Proteins and Oilseeds Australia are offering their products on B2B e-commerce platforms such as IndiaMART, Alibaba and AgriDigital with bulk deals, digital traceability and logistics integration. This has increased their pool of buyers and provided better transparency.
Adaptation Strategies On A Regional Basis
Shift: The regional variation for the market dynamics for cottonseed meal In India, it’s commonly added to cattle feed; in the USA, to animal feed and fertilizer; and in Brazil, as a substitute for soybeans. Going beyond that, market-specific strategies are critical to drive demand far beyond the ceiling.
Strategic Response: Cargill and Louis Dreyfus Company have regionalized their product portfolios (high protein meals in the U.S, organic fertilizer-grade in LATAM). Elsewhere in South Asia, T T Limited marketed flavored and molasses-coated versions in South Asia to enhance dairy cattle palatability, and in the USA Stillwater Milling created pelletized formats for improved ease of on-farm usage.
The following table shows the estimated growth rates of the top five territories. These are set to exhibit high consumption through 2035.
| Country | CAGR, 2025 to 2035 |
|---|---|
| USA | 3.9% |
| Germany | 4.2% |
| China | 5.7% |
| Brazil | 5.4% |
| India | 6.1% |
Cottonseed meal is seeing steady demand in the USA, given its role in sustainable livestock nutrition and increasing interest in less dependence on synthetic feed additives. A high portion of dairy and beef cattle farming continues to support steady consumption.
In addition, demand for high protein plant-based diets has interested companies in the protein content of cottonseed meal, leading to research into its use within alternative protein markets. USA feed producers are also de-formulating for clean labels, and traceability is a key issue with consumers as well as according to USDA regulations that encourage responsible sourcing and processing of cotton.”
Interest in cottonseed meal in Germany is growing because it fits into the circular economy and is supporting the EU's strategy from farm to fork. Utilizing byproducts such as cottonseed meal for feed production aligns with sustainability objectives - converting food waste and supporting agricultural residue valorization.
Germany’s organic livestock sector is also using more plant-based feed ingredients including cottonseed meal to reduce its environmental footprint. Demand for antibiotic-free and non-GMO feeds only encourages a switch to cottonseed meal in the premium segments of livestock, especially dairy and poultry.
China’s expanding demand for cottonseed meal is driven by its larger ambition of achieving greater feed self-sufficiency amid the uncertainty around imports of soybeans. With steady domestic cotton production growth in other western provinces, there is a stable supply of raw materials. Due to the rapidly growing animal protein sector, particularly in swine and aquaculture, the market for high-protein ingredients, is witnessing a rising interest in the use of cottonseed meal as a cheaper protein alternative.
Adoption is being spurred on by the Chinese government’s focus on sustainable feed formulations and limiting damage to the environment. In addition, continuous investments in cottonseed processing technologies are improving meal quality and expanding application in ruminant and monogastric feed.
India has the biggest share in the market and has highest CAGR, mainly supported by large dairy and cattle population. Cottonseed meal is widely used as a protein supplement for livestock in rural and peri-urban systems where this feed is inexpensive and accessible.
While plant-based protein has been a topic of discussion mainly in the context of food for human nutrition, in India, a handful of startups and research institutions are exploring the meal’s potential in aquatic animal nutrition and fermented plant-protein-based ingredients.
Furthermore, increasing worries about the volatility of feed costs and climate resilience are driving public-private collaborations to improve cottonseed processing efficiency. Long-term demand is being underpinned by the government’s efforts to increase livestock productivity and support communities that grow cotton.
| Segment | Value Share (2025) |
|---|---|
| Primary Meal (By Product Type) | 58.7% |
On the basis of meal segment, the application of cottonseed meal is intensifying in the primary meal applications, considering its better nutritional properties, such as higher protein content and digestibility as compared to other forms of meal used in livestock feed formulations. Especially in the dairy and poultry industries, feed producers prefer primary cottonseed meal for its cost-effective provision of higher milk yield and egg production.
Since animal nutrition has become central in the operation of commercial livestock production, the preferential demand for primary meals has been driven by consistent quality and processing standards they provide. This segment also reaps the benefits of numerous applications in ruminant, swine, and aquaculture feeds, as it aligns with different dietary strategies.
In addition, government-supported programs towards high performing livestock productivity has emphasised to the uptake of high protein meals leading the primary meal segment atop the market growth. The growing demand from developing economies with still-essential animal husbandry for rural livelihoods accelerates this segment’s dominance too.
| Segment | Value Share(2025) |
|---|---|
| Organic( By Nature) | 24.1% |
The cotton seed meal market is segmented by region (Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and the rest of the world) and by the grade of cotton seed meal (conventional cotton seed meal and organic cottonseed meal). With a pronounced move towards sustainable and ethically-sourced livestock products, organic cottonseed meal is an increasingly important input in organic dairy and poultry enterprises.
The growing demand among consumers for organic meat, eggs, and milk is already translating into enhanced demand upstream, pressuring feed manufacturers to include certified organic feed inputs. In addition, the regulatory backing with some of the countries providing subsidies and certifications to organic animal farming helps lend credibility and adoption of this segment.
The organic segment also fits closely with clean-label trends, as natural, traceable ingredients are preferred in both animal and human nutrition chains. Consequently, the organic cottonseed meal segment still appeals to progressive livestock producers, especially in high-value and export-oriented agricultural systems.
They include prominent market participants such as ADM, Cargill, and Gavilon Group, who are all steadily increasing their cottonseed meal market share through diverse product offerings, strategic partnerships, and regional expansion.
These firms have built stronger footprint with sourcing cottonseed meal from their cotton processing units and selling them to feed manufactures and agricultural cooperatives which has seen increasing demand from dairy, poultry and aquaculture sector. By maintaining stable nutrient profiles and meeting regulatory specifications, they are gaining trust with animal feeders worldwide. Also, several players are offering customized feed formulations based on the dietary needs and lifecycle stages of animals, in addition to product standardization.
This enables them to strengthen customer relationships and stay ahead of those competitors supplying more commodity-like feed products. Additionally, key market players are focusing on sustainable manufacturing methods such as environment-friendly oil extraction processes to cater to active stakeholders, and acquire certifications for clean-label or organic products.
The market is now attracting even smaller regional companies with competitive offers to create cottonseed options, particularly in emerging economies, such as India and Southeast Asia that have a surplus of cottonseed. These new entrants frequently partner with local cotton ginning mills to further enhance supply chain efficiency and minimize overheads. But with the price advantage, the local players still face challenges in terms of consistency and scalability when it comes to taking on the global giants.
For instance:
The global industry is estimated at a value of USD 3678.5 million in 2025.
Sales increased at 4.5% CAGR between 2020 and 2024.
Some of the leaders in this industry include N.K. Proteins, Planters Cotton Oil Mill, T T Limited, Louis Dreyfus Company, Cargill, Inc.
The East Asian territory is projected to hold a revenue share of 29.5 % over the forecast period.
The industry is projected to grow at a forecast CAGR of 5.5 % from 2025 to 2035.
This segment is categorized into Primary Meal, Secondary Meal, and Others, depending on the level of oil extraction and nutritional density.
Based on farming and processing practices, this segment is categorized into Organic and Conventional, with growing interest in organic due to the rise in sustainable and clean-label feed products.
This segment is categorized into Feed, Pet Food, and Fertilizer applications. Feed category, the market is further segmented into: Aquaculture, which includes Fish, Shrimp, Shellfish, and Others. Livestock, which includes Poultry, Pigs, Cattle, and Others.
This segment is categorized into key geographic areas including North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Balkans & Baltic, Russia & Belarus, Central Asia, East Asia, South Asia & Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa.
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Cottonseed Meal Market
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