Top countries of destination for U.S. soybean exports 2021

The United States is a major producer of soybeans worldwide, with China importing the largest amount of U.S. grown soybeans of any country as of 2021. In that year, China imported nearly 14.15 billion metric tons of soybeans from the United States.

Soy foods

Soybeans are naturally high in protein and hence a popular ingredient in vegetarian and vegan cuisine. Soy milk is a vegan and lactose-free alternative to cow’s milk, and soy sauce features heavily in East Asian cuisine. Tofu, tempeh, and miso are also all derived from soy. In the United States, the market value of soy food is expected to reach 9.6 billion U.S. dollars by 2020, up from 4.6 billion dollars in 2014.

Soybean production in the United States

The United States produces the highest volume of soybeans of any country, at around 120 million metric tons in 2020/2021. In the previous year, the total value of U.S. soybean production amounted to about 39.13 billion U.S. dollars. Within the United States, the states with the most soybean cultivation are located in the Midwest. Illinois topped the list with over 673 million bushels of soybeans produced in 2021.