Diversification of global opportunities for U.S. soybeans the focal point of Soy Connext | The Mighty 790 KFGO

Trade Team Invitational, a series of one-on-one meetings, brings key buyers and stakeholders together to strengthen trade relationships and explore market opportunities for U.S. Soy. (Photo: USSEC)

Emphasizing the growing economic value and importance of global market diversification for U.S. Soy, international trade teams representing 34 countries have been visiting U.S. Soy farms, businesses, ports and other soy value chain partners across America as part of the U.S. Soybean Export Council’s (USSEC) flagship Soy Connext convention.

Against a backdrop of changing trade dynamics and increasing global demand for reliable, high-quality protein and oil, Soy Connext brings together industry leaders, farmers, international buyers and stakeholders from across the soy value chain. Representing 59 countries, more than 700 are attending this year’s Soy Connext.

“Soy Connext is not just about celebrating the strength of U.S. Soy,” said Jim Sutter, USSEC CEO. “It’s about demonstrating our commitment to providing consistent, reliable and high-quality products that meet the needs of diverse international markets across every region of the world and building the strong relationships that help us achieve that goal.”

U.S. Soy is America’s top agricultural export, contributing $31.2 billion to the U.S. economy in the 2023-24 marketing year and traded in more than 80 countries. As the international marketing arm of U.S. Soy, USSEC works around the world, seeking to maximize the use, value and access of U.S. Soy products on a global scale.

International Trade Team Engagement Key Focus

International trade engagement is a key component of Soy Connext. Trade team visits build crucial ties throughout the soy supply chain with current and potential market partners, focusing on showcasing U.S. Soy’s value as a reliable, consistent trade partner through first-hand visits to where U.S. Soy is grown and processed.

Starting before and continuing after the convention itself, this year’s international trade teams visited a wide range of U.S. soybean farms and businesses across America’s key soy-growing and production regions. The visits highlighted the U.S. soybean industry’s transparency and readiness to meet global demand, giving international buyers a firsthand look at the sustainable practices, innovation and stewardship that are core to the U.S. Soy value proposition.

At Soy Connext, the engagement continues with an agenda featuring expert talks, panel discussions focused on sustainability, plant-based protein trends, supply chain insights and global market dynamics, plus a Trade Team Invitational that brings key buyers and stakeholders together to strengthen trade relationships and explore market opportunities.

2025 International Trade Team Stats

• 17 U.S. states visited: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington state and Wisconsin.
• 34 countries represented: Algeria, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, China, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Lebanon, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Vietnam.
• 26 farm visits
• 40 industry visits

The Growing Global Appetite for U.S. Soy
As demand for soy foods and soy products grows in emerging, expanding and established markets, U.S. farmers and the industry are focused on a strategy that builds on U.S. Soy’s reputation in the global marketplace for its consistency, reliability and quality.

Fueled by rising global demand for oil, high-quality soy foods and soybean meal used to support the expansion of global livestock, aquaculture and poultry production, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects a 4.3% year-over-year increase in global soybean demand in the 2024-25 market year, reaching 346.2 million metric tons (MMT).

“Global diversification is not a future ambition — it’s today’s reality,” said Sutter. “Our work through Soy Connext ensures international buyers understand the unique advantages of U.S. soy and builds lasting partnerships worldwide.”

This press release from the U.S. Soybean Export Council is funded in part by the soy checkoff.

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