United States Legumes insights

The American Soybean Association (ASA), representing more than 500,000 U.S. soybean farmers, said Tuesday that U.S. soybean farmers are “standing at a trade and financial precipice” and urged the Trump administration to strike a trade deal with China as soon as possible. “U.S. soybean farmers cannot survive a prolonged trade dispute with our largest customer,” said Caleb Ragland, president of ASA, in a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump. China imported an average of 61 percent of the world’s available soybean supplies over the last five years, and China has been the top buyer of U.S. soybeans for years, according to the association. However, China has not purchased any U.S. soybeans for the upcoming months as the harvest season approaches quickly, said Ragland. “The further into the autumn we get without reaching an agreement with China on soybeans, the worse the impacts will be on U.S. soybean farmers,” Ragland said. “Soybean farmers are under extreme financial stress,” he ...

According to the National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA), U.S. soybean processing exceeded expectations in July 2025, reaching a new monthly high of 5.6 million tons. This is 4.3% higher than June (5.37 million tons) and 6.5% higher than July 2024 (5.26 million tons). Total soybean processing since the beginning of the season also set a

U.S. soybean farmers urged President Donald Trump in a Tuesday letter to reach a trade deal with China that secures significant soybean purchase agreements, warning of dire long-term economic outcomes if the country continues to shun the U.S. crop. China, the world’s largest soybean buyer, is turning to Brazilian cargoes amid trade tensions with the U.S. and ongoing negotiations. The country has not pre-purchased soybeans from the upcoming U.S. harvest, an unusual delay that has worried traders and farmers. “Soybean farmers are under extreme financial stress. Prices continue to drop and at the same time our farmers are paying significantly more for inputs and equipment. U.S. soybean farmers cannot survive a prolonged trade dispute with our largest customer,” said the letter sent from the American Soybean Association to Trump on Tuesday. China’s turn to Brazilian soybeans could cost U.S. farmers billions. China bought 54% of U.S. soybean exports in the 2023-2024 marketing year, ...