Soybean supply chains, markets, and global trade

Abstract

Soybean is one of the most important commodities worldwide. It is an essential source of vegetal protein, and it has been used for human nutrition, animal feeding, and biofuel production. The main growers and exporters are Brazil, the United States, and Argentina accounting for almost 82% of total soybean exports by quantity in any form in 2021. On the other hand, this is a highly concentrated supply chain, where China received more than 56% of imports by quantity in 2021. On-shore logistics is a bottleneck for many countries, but the off-shore logistics is efficient and produces a great quantity of movement between a few producers and the market in a low-cost transportation process. Finally, environmental concerns over the impact of soybean overproduction motivate environmental protection legislation. In this chapter, we investigate the evolution of this global supply chain over the years and present an outlook of the market considering uses, world trade, logistics, and environmental impacts. To do so, we conducted a literature review on the topic, collected statistical data from international organizations, and illustrated the current state of soybean supply chain using descriptive statistics and social network analysis. Our results will inform policymakers in regulating the soybean market.