Rapid Expansion of U.S. Soybean Processing Capacity Risks Industry Overbuild
To meet the growing demand for soybean oil, U.S. soybean processors are ramping up their production capacity, which is expected to increase by 23% over the next three years.
- To meet the growing demand for soybean oil, U.S. soybean processors are ramping up their production capacity, which is expected to increase by 23% over the next three years.
- However, overbuilding U.S. soybean crush capacity, combined with sustained levels of low processing margins could threaten the viability of new, high-cost plants in the long term.
- The expansion of U.S. soybean processing capacity will lead to growing supplies of soybean meal, which could also pressure processor margins.
- But for soybean processors, the question is whether domestic livestock supplies will be ample enough to absorb the additional soybean meal.