USDA ERS - Soybeans & Oil Crops: Trade

USDA ERS - Soybeans & Oil Crops: Trade

U.S. Exports and Imports

The United States is the world's largest producer and exporter
of soybeans. Oilseed and oilseed product exports, particularly
soybeans, represent a significant source of demand for U.S.
producers and make a large net contribution to the U.S.
agricultural trade balance. Among all U.S. agricultural products,
only grains and feeds outrank the oilseed sector in total export
value and volume. In the early 2000s, the value of U.S. oilseed and
product exports averaged over $9 billion, nearly half the
farm-level value of production. By the late 2000s, the value of
oilseed and product exports doubled to over $20 billion.
Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade provides
the latest information on U.S. farm exports, by commodity and
region, as well as the trade outlook. Current U.S. export sales of soybeans, soybean meal,
and soybean oil are tracked by destination on a weekly basis.








Main export destinations for U.S. oilseeds, oilseed meal, and
vegetable oil include China, the European Union (EU), Japan,
Mexico, and Taiwan. Other important markets--including Indonesia,
South Korea, and Thailand. Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, and
several Latin American countries--also import significant
quantities of U.S. oilseed meals. U.S. vegetable oil exports are
more dispersed and are heavily influenced by concessional food aid
to developing nations through such programs as P.L. 480.