Benin opens US$50M soybean and animal feed complex

BENIN – EHUA Industries has commissioned a CFA28 billion (US$50 million) integrated soybean processing and animal feed complex at the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ), adding 180,000 tonnes a year of feed production capacity as Benin expands domestic agricultural processing.

The eight-hectare complex, officially inaugurated on 4 September, combines a soybean crushing unit with an animal feed plant serving livestock and poultry producers. 

The soybean unit has a processing capacity of 300 tonnes a day, equivalent to about 100,000 tonnes a year, while the feed plant can produce up to 180,000 tonnes of complete feed annually.

The integrated model is designed to connect local soybean production with animal nutrition. 

EHUA plans to source up to 100,000 tonnes of soybeans annually from Beninese farmers, with the crushing process producing soybean oil and protein-rich soybean meal for use in feed production. 

The feed plant can also use maize, rice bran, maize bran, cottonseed meal and some cashew-processing co-products in its formulations.

Building domestic feed capacity

The investment comes as Benin seeks to strengthen domestic livestock and poultry production while reducing reliance on imported animal feed. 

GDIZ said the facility is expected to support local feed production and reduce dependence on imports, particularly for the poultry sector.

The country’s soybean policy also makes domestic processing increasingly important. 

Benin adopted a ban on exports of raw soybean from 1 April 2024, with the policy intended to encourage local transformation and retain more value from the crop. 

The government has subsequently continued to address illegal movement of soybean across land borders, citing the need to protect domestic supplies for processors.

The new EHUA facility therefore provides an additional domestic outlet for soybean producers while creating a direct link between crop processing and the feed industry.

Benin’s soybean production has increased significantly in recent years. 

Government data put production at 520,929 tonnes in the 2023-2024 campaign, while the country has set a target of 770,000 tonnes for the 2026-2027 season. 

The latest target would be about 48% above the 2023-2024 level.

The increase in production is creating a corresponding need for processing capacity that can absorb the crop domestically. 

EHUA’s 100,000-tonne annual soybean processing capacity represents a significant addition, while its 180,000-tonne feed plant provides an even larger downstream outlet for agricultural raw materials.

The project is also intended to strengthen livestock value chains. 

EHUA’s feed products will serve poultry, pigs, rabbits and cattle, creating demand for locally produced feed ingredients while supporting farmers further along the production chain.

The investment was supported by West African Development Bank (BOAD), NSIA Banque and Banque Nationale d’Investissement de Côte d’Ivoire (BNI Côte d’Ivoire).

EHUA Industries’ entry into operation adds substantial feed manufacturing capacity to Benin at a time when the country is simultaneously increasing soybean production and pursuing greater domestic processing of agricultural commodities.

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