Market Size and Growth
The Global Soybean Meal Market size reached USD 71.7 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow to USD 105.0 billion by 2033, registering a CAGR of 4.18% during the forecast period (2026-2033). The demand for soybean meal is increasing due to its widespread use as an animal feed ingredient in the poultry and livestock industry. The market is witnessing a surge in demand from the Asia-Pacific region. The competitive rivalry intensifies with major players such as Cargill, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Louis Dreyfus Company, and others actively operating in the market.
Soybean meal is made from soybean residue left over after the extraction of oil. It is often used in food and animal feed, primarily as a protein source and to improve metabolism. Soybean meal is a rich source of protein which is important for the health of animals and thus evolved as one of the most used feedstocks in livestock nutrition. It has been used as a standard for comparing the protein content of food products. An increase in demand for high-quality protein in soybean will continue to drive higher demand for soybean meal, mainly from the animal feed industry. There is an increase in the global requirement for biodiesel as a major alternative to petrol and diesel. Biodiesel is produced using soybean; therefore, this, in turn, may fuel the growth of the soybean meal market during the forecast period. The soybean meal market is forecasted to grow at a significant growth rate over the near future due to its extremely high protein content which is around 47-49% of protein content and other nutritional contents like crude fiber.
Market Scope
| Metrics | Details |
| Market CAGR | 4.18% |
| Segments Covered | By Nature, By Application, By Type, and By Region |
| Report Insights Covered | Competitive Landscape Analysis, Company Profile Analysis, Market Size, Share, Growth, Demand, Recent Developments, Mergers and acquisitions, New Product Launches, Growth Strategies, Revenue Analysis, and Other vital insights. |
| Fastest Growing Region | Asia Pacific |
| Largest Market Share | Asia Pacific |
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Market Dynamics
Increasing demand for protein-rich foods for animals as well as humans
Soybean meal has a unique composition of amino acids and can be used as an alternative to cereal proteins. Thereby soybean meal is used in both animal feed and human food industries. The main reasons behind the increasing demand for soybean meal include the health benefits associated with this protein-enriched food and the increasing population of livestock, cattle, ruminants, and other animals that are fed by soybean meal. Furthermore, the high fiber content in soybean meals has been related to a reduction in colorectal and colon cancer, since fiber helps to ease the digestive process and puts far less strain on the gastrointestinal system. Soybean is also used in pet food. This is anticipated to fuel the demand for soybean meal in the market during the forecast market. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the total soybean meal consumption accounted for 243.53 million metric tons in the year 2020. China consumes the most soybean meal, followed by the United States, the European Union, Brazil, and several other countries with livestock and poultry operations. Nearly 65% of the world’s soybean meal is consumed by China, the United States, the European Union, and Brazil. The other reason for the increase in demand is the restrictions placed on slaughterhouse by-products, which in turn, has increased the market for soybean meal. This is further expected to enhance the market for soybean meals during the forecast period.
Soybean Meal Market Segmentation Analysis
Increasing usage of soybean meal in the animal feed industry
Soybean meal is used in food and animal feeds, principally as a protein supplement, but also as a source of metabolizable energy. Globally, about 98 percent of soybean meal is used as animal feed. It has been estimated that, of soy meal fed to animals in the US, 48 percent is fed to poultry, 26 percent to swine, 12 percent to beef cattle, 9 percent to dairy cattle, 3 percent is used in fish feed, and about 2 percent in pet food. Soybean meal is the dominant protein supplement used in poultry diets and is the standard to which alternative protein sources are compared. Soybean meal is the basic component of fodder mixtures for poultry, which make up about 70% high protein fodders. Soybean meal has a high protein content, especially when compared to other plant protein sources. Soybean meal also has an excellent amino acid profile that complements that of corn, the primary energy source in poultry diets. Soybean seeds contain 40% of crude protein and about 20% of fat, and soybean meal is characterized higher content of crude protein- about 40-49%. About high protein content, soybean meal is mainly used in poultry and pig nutrition.
Soybean Meal Market Geographical Share
The Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the global soybean meal market
Asia-Pacific is the dominant region in the soybean meal market, holding the major share of the market. China, India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Pakistan, and Japan are the major producers of soybean meal in the region. According to the USDA, soybean meal production increased from 69.69 million metric tons and 7.2 million metric tons in 2016-2017 to 78.41 million metric tons and 7.6 million metric tons in 2020-2021 in China and India respectively. Soybean meal is majorly consumed by the animal feed industry in the region.
In Europe, soybean meal is widely used in the larger varieties of products like bakery products, health food, cosmetics, and in the manufacturing of antibiotics. These attributes for the demand for regional soybean meals in Europe. The production of soybean meal in the European Union stood at 12.40 million metric tons in 2020 and the domestic consumption was 30.94 million metric tons in the year 2020.
Soybean Meal Market Companies and Competitive Landscape
The global soybean meal market is highly fragmented with many players such as DuPont, ADM, Cargill, Incorporated, and Kerry Group among others. The key players are adopting various key strategies such as product launches, collaborations, mergers & acquisitions which are contributing to the market globally. For instance, in February 2021, NCDEX launched futures trading in animal feed ‘Hi-pro soybean meal’. In February 2018, Archer Daniels Midland Company and Cargill have reached an agreement to launch a joint venture to provide soybean meal and oil for customers in Egypt. The joint venture would own and operate the National Vegetable Oil Company soy crush facility in Borg Al-Arab along with related commercial and functional activities, including a separate Switzerland-based merchandising operation that would supply soybeans to the crushing plant.
Recent Developments
- February 2026: The market outlook pointed to a mild uptrend with seasonal supply tightness from Spring Festival factory shutdowns and low operating rates, though high inventories at producers tempered gains. Soybean arrivals were projected lower at 4.9 million tons amid holiday impacts.
- January 2026: Domestic spot prices in key markets like China trended upward month-on-month, driven by extended customs clearance delays disrupting soybean supplies and pre-Spring Festival stockpiling by downstream buyers.
- December 2025: Soybean meal prices in North America rose due to strong export demand and higher crusher output early in the quarter, with the Price Index up 1.4% quarter-over-quarter on Chicago FOB basis around USD 362/MT. In Europe, prices increased from firmer global soybean costs, South American weather concerns, and year-end restocking by feed makers.
Why Purchase the Report?
- Understand the current market scenario and viability of global soymeal over the forecast period
- Visualize the composition of the global soybean meal market in terms of nature, type, and application to identify major players, growth potential, and market strategies
- Identify the key regulations prevailing in the market and understand their impact on the market over the forecast period
- Understand the key business factors such as market competition, product pricing, new product developments, and patent filings pertaining to the market
What did we offer?
- PDF report with the most relevant analysis cogently put together after exhaustive qualitative interviews and in-depth market study
- Excel data sheet with valuable data points of the global soybean meal market – Regional and Country level segmentation
- Product mapping in excel for the key products of all major market players
- Market share analysis covering business revenues ($) and revenue share (%) of key market players
The global soybean meal market report would provide access to approximately 45 market data tables, 45 figures, and 180 pages
Target Audience
- Animal Feed Manufacturers
- Food Processing Companies
- Import and Export Companies
- Farming Communities
- Industry Investors/Investment Bankers
- Education & Research Institutes
- Research Professionals
