Soybean Meal Market Summary
The soybean meal market was valued at USD 111.0 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 116.3 billion in 2026, climbing to USD 177.4 billion by 2035 at a CAGR of 4.80% during the 2026–2035 forecast period. Resilient global demand for cost-efficient protein ingredients underpins this trajectory, amplified by renewable diesel mandates in the United States and Brazil that are incentivizing expanded soybean crushing and oil extraction capacity. The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act's clean-fuel tax credits and the EU's Renewable Energy Directive III together channeled over USD 8.5 billion into crush-plant expansions between 2023 and 2025, generating surplus defatted soybean meal processing volumes that flow directly into feed and food channels [2][3].
Processing technology in this soybean meal market is evolving rapidly. Legacy hexane-extraction lines are being retrofitted with enzymatic-assisted and supercritical-CO₂ systems that improve soy protein concentrate and isolate yields by 12–18% while cutting solvent use. Bunge, ADM, and COFCO each committed more than USD 400 million to next-generation crush facilities between 2023 and 2025 [4]. These investments support the growing bifurcation between commodity-grade high-protein soy animal feed and specialty soy protein concentrate and isolate destined for human nutrition and industrial bio-products.
Asia-Pacific commands the soybean meal market with a 40.5% value share, driven by China's and India's massive poultry and swine soybean feed consumption. The same region is forecast to grow fastest at a 6.40% CAGR through 2035. North America holds the second-largest position at 22.8% share, buoyed by record U.S. meal exports and domestic livestock expansion. South America contributes 21.3%, with Brazilian crush capacity additions expected to accelerate after 2027.
Key Report Takeaways
• By Application
- Animal feed held 82.0% of the soybean meal market share in 2025, reflecting its role as the primary outlet for defatted soybean meal processing globally.
- Industrial and bio-based products are projected to expand at a 6.10% CAGR through 2035 as renewable-fuel policies generate additional high-protein soy animal feed co-product volumes.
• By Product Type
- Conventional soybean meal (Hi-Pro, >46% protein) dominated with a 4.50% forecast CAGR, supported by intensifying poultry and swine soybean feed formulation requirements.
- Soy protein concentrate and isolate segments together accounted for USD 17.8 billion in 2025, growing on aquaculture and plant-based food demand.
• By Region
- Asia-Pacific led the soybean meal market with 40.5% value share in 2025, anchored by Chinese and Indian import demand.
- South America is anticipated to register a 5.30% CAGR, as Brazilian and Argentine soybean crushing and oil extraction capacity expand.
Soybean Meal Market Size and Forecast (2021–2035)
MRFR's sizing methodology combines proprietary primary interviews with 120+ processors, traders, and feed compounders, cross-referenced against USDA FAS export data, Oil World statistical databases, and national customs filings. Historical figures are reconciled against audited financials of top-10 processors, while forecast values are derived from capacity-utilization models calibrated to the 4.80% CAGR[5].

