Rising demand across Qatar’s domestic livestock and dairy sectors is driving international commodity traders to target the country’s expanding animal feed market, according to an industry stakeholder.
“As Qatar continues to invest in domestic food security and livestock production, we believe there will be increasing demand for both feed grains and protein-rich feed ingredients,” Yevhen Fedoranchuk, director of Prime Agriculture Trading, told Gulf Times.
Prime Agriculture Trading, a major Ukrainian grain and oilseed exporter, is pivoting toward specific commercial opportunities in the Peninsula. The group sees immediate scope in supplying barley and oilseed products to feed local herds.
“Since 2022, Ukrainian grain exporters have faced significant challenges...Prime Agriculture Trading has supplied over 2mn tonnes of agricultural products globally since 2022...in the short term, I see the strongest demand in Qatar for barley and sunflower oil,” he explained.
Fedoranchuk said, “Barley remains an important commodity for the livestock and feed sector across the Gulf region, while sunflower oil continues to be in steady demand due to its wide use in the food industry and household consumption.
He said barley would be the company, but also sees a “strong potential” for corn, soybean meal, and sunflower meal, which are important components in modern animal feed formulations.
“As a supplier of barley, corn, wheat, soybeans, soybean meal, and sunflower meal, we can support the growing livestock, poultry, and dairy industries with reliable feed ingredients," Fedoranchuk said.
While Saudi Arabia remains the largest volume market in the region, smaller destinations with strong purchasing power offer higher execution stability, he said, noting that Qatari buyers typically value contract execution over short-term price cuts.
Initial trade operations will be managed out of the firm’s regional desk in Dubai, he said. Local corporate registrations or physical agency partnerships in Doha may follow once regular trade volumes are established, he emphasised.
“We have already seen interest from brokers, particularly regarding barley and other agricultural commodities. We are also in discussions with several private companies, including Al Mairqab Industrial Investment,” he revealed.
Fedoranchuk added: “From a contractual perspective, we work under internationally recognised Grain and Feed Trade Association (GAFTA) and Federation of Oils, Seeds and Fats Associations (FOSFA) standards, with independent inspection companies such as SGS and Control Union verifying quality and quantity.”