Soybean Meal Market

Soybean Meal Market Size and Share Forecast Outlook 2025 to 2035

The global soybean meal market is projected to grow from USD 103.3 billion in 2025 to USD 165.3 billion by 2035, registering a CAGR of 4.8%. The market expansion is being driven by the increasing demand for protein-rich animal feed and the rising popularity of plant-based diets.

Quick Stats soybean meal market

• Market Value (2025): USD 103.3 billion
• Forecast Value (2035): USD 165.3 billion
• Forecast CAGR: 4.8%
• Nature Leader in 2025: Conventional (75.3% market share)
• Top Application Segment: Feed (48% share)
• Key Growth Region: East Asia (Japan is the fastest-growing market with a 5.5% CAGR)

Metric	Value
Industry Size (2025E)	USD 103.3 billion
Industry Value (2035F)	USD 165.3 billion
CAGR (2025 to 2035)	4.8%

The growing livestock and poultry industries, coupled with a shift towards sustainable and plant-based proteins, are encouraging wider adoption of soybean meal. Advanced extraction techniques and the increasing use of non-GMO and organic soybean meal products are further boosting market growth.

The market holds significant shares in several parent markets. Within the agricultural products market, soybean meal is a major component of global agricultural trade, although its market share varies by region. In the animal feed market, soybean meal is particularly dominant, holding around 48% of the market, primarily for use in dairy, poultry, and swine feeds.

In the food and beverage market, it accounts for a smaller share, approximately 6-7%, due to its use in plant-based food products and supplements. Additionally, in the biofuels market, soybean meal plays a vital role in biodiesel production, contributing about 5% to this sector. These percentages highlight soybean meal’s widespread use across various industries.

Government regulations impacting the market focus on sustainable agriculture, food safety, and environmental concerns. The European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the USA Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) mandate the use of biofuels, encouraging the use of soybean meal in biodiesel production.

The Indian Government's initiatives for organic farming and the promotion of plant-based food products are also contributing to the increased adoption of soybean meal. These regulations are driving the growth of advanced soybean extraction methods and encouraging the development of non-GMO and sustainable soy products, enhancing both market growth and product innovation.

Japan is projected to be the fastest-growing soybean meal market, expanding at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2025 to 2035. Feed will lead the application segment with a 48% share, while conventional soybean meal will dominate the nature segment with 75.3% share. Defatted soybean meal is expected to command 45% of the product type segment. The USA and Germany markets are also projected to grow steadily at CAGRs of 3.8% and 4.2%, respectively.

Soybean Meal Market Analysis by Top Investment Segments

The soybean meal market is segmented by product type, application, nature, and region. By product type, the market is divided into full-fat soybean meal, defatted soybean meal, and high-protein types. In terms of application, the market is classified into feed (aquaculture, livestock, and pet food), fertilizer, food additive, and others(biofuels, industrial chemicals, animal supplements, organic fertilizers).

Based on nature, the market is bifurcated into organic and conventional. Regionally, the market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, East Asia, South Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East & Africa.

Defatted Soybean Meal to Lead the Product Type Segment with 45% Market Share

Defatted soybean meal is projected to lead the product type segment, capturing 45% of the market share by 2025. These units are primarily used in animal feed due to their high protein content and low-fat concentration.

• Defatted soybean meal is widely preferred in animal feed due to its higher protein content, which makes it a cost-effective and efficient source of nutrition.
• The growing demand for high-protein animal feed and plant-based food products will continue to drive the growth of this segment.

Feed to Lead the Application Segment with 48% Market Share

Feed is expected to dominate the application segment, capturing 48% of the global market share by 2025, driven by its widespread use in livestock, poultry, and aquaculture feed.

• Soybean meal is a key ingredient in animal feed, especially for livestock, poultry, and aquaculture.
• The rise in global meat consumption, along with the growing pet food market, will further boost the demand for soybean meal in this application segment.

Conventionalto Lead the Nature Segment with 75.3% Market Share

Conventionalis expected to lead the nature segment, holding 75.3% of the market share by 2025, driven by increasing demand for sustainable and natural food and feed ingredients.

• The increasing consumer preference for organic products, coupled with rising awareness about sustainable farming practices, is expected to drive growth in this segment.
• Organic soybean meal is gaining traction in both animal feed and plant-based food industries.

Top Soybean Meal Market Dynamics

The global soybean meal market is experiencing steady growth, driven by the increasing demand for protein-rich feed and plant-based food solutions. Soybean meal plays a crucial role in animal nutrition, especially in livestock, poultry, and aquaculture industries.

Recent Trends in the Soybean Meal Market

• The rising popularity of plant-based diets and vegan food products is driving the demand for soybean meal as a key protein source in food applications.
• Technological advancements in extraction methods are improving the efficiency and quality of soybean meal, leading to better product offerings.

Challenges in the Soybean Meal Market

• Variability in soybean crop production, influenced by weather conditions and climate change, can lead to price fluctuations and supply shortages.
• The emergence of alternative protein sources, such as insect-based or synthetic proteins, is creating competition for soybean meal in animal feed and food applications.

Top Countries Manufacturing, Processing, Regulating, and Generating Demand for Soybean Meal

Japan's momentum is anchored in high-efficiency livestock farming, sustainable food production, and alignment with environmental targets. Germany and France maintain consistent demand driven by EU agricultural mandates and sustainability goals under the Green Deal. In contrast, developed economies such as the USA (3.8% CAGR), UK (4%), and Japan (5.5%) are expanding at a steady 0.91-1.00x of the global growth rate.

Japan leads the market with the highest growth, driven by increasing demand for plant-based protein in food and animal feed sectors. Germany follows, supported by EU sustainability and food security regulations, focusing on non-GMO and organic products. France experiences similar growth, driven by national agricultural sustainability goals and biofuel production.

The USA shows steady growth, primarily due to improvements in feed formulations and plant-based food production. The UK grows with a focus on sustainable farming and plant-based food solutions, supported by government-led initiatives for food security and sustainability.

The report covers an in-depth analysis of 40+ countries; five top-performing OECD countries are highlighted below. 

In-depth Analysis of Soybean Meal Demand in Japan

The Japan soybean meal revenue is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2025 to 2035. Growth is driven by the increasing demand for plant-based protein in food and animal feed sectors. As a technology-driven OECD economy, Japan prioritizes high-efficiency, sustainable farming practices integrated into its agricultural systems.

• High demand for plant-based feed in aquaculture, livestock, and poultry sectors
• Preference for non-GMO, organic soybean meal for animal feed and food products

Growth Outlook for Soybean Meal in Germany

The sales of soybean meal in Germany are poised to expand at a 4.2% CAGR during the forecast period, slightly below the global average but strongly regulation-led. EU carbon-neutral goals, sustainable agriculture standards, and food security regulations are pushing the adoption of plant-based feed ingredients like soybean meal.

• Strong EU sustainability and food security mandates for livestock feed
• High adoption of organic and non-GMO soybean meal

Analyzing Soybean Meal Demand Dynamics in France

The French soybean meal market is projected to grow at a 4% CAGR during the forecast period, mirroring Germany’s policy-backed adoption trajectory. Demand is driven by national agricultural sustainability targets, plant-based food product growth, and biofuel production. Agriculture sectors such as livestock, poultry, and aquaculture are major consumers.

• High demand for organic and non-GMO soybean meal in livestock and poultry feed
• Focus on sustainability in agriculture and biofuel production

Demand Trajectory for Soybean Meal in the USA

The USA soybean meal market is projected to grow at a 3.8% CAGR from 2025 to 2035, translating to 0.93x the global rate. Unlike emerging markets focused on new installations, USA demand is tied to improving feed formulations, increasing plant-based food production, and meeting sustainable farming standards.

• Strong demand for plant-based food and animal feed
• Increasing use of non-GMO and organic soybean meal

Soybean Meal Trends in the UK

The UK soybean meal revenue is projected to grow at a 4% CAGR from 2025 to 2035, representing steady growth, at 0.91 times the global pace. Growth is supported by workplace regulations in industries like food processing, livestock, and plant-based food production. Post-Brexit regulatory divergence has slightly slowed capital investment.

• Focus on sustainable farming and plant-based food production
• Increased demand for non-GMO and organic soybean meal in agriculture

Leading Soybean Meal Suppliers and Manufacturers

The soybean meal market is moderately consolidated, with leading players like UFAC-UK, The United Soybean Board (USB), Satavie, SoyKitty, and Afrizon Pte Ltd. dominating the industry. These companies provide high-quality soybean meal catering to sectors such as animal feed, plant-based food, and biofuel production. UFAC-UK focuses on high-protein soybean meal, while The United Soybean Board (USB) specializes in sustainable soybean farming and meal production solutions.

Satavie is known for its innovative plant-based meal formulations, and SoyKitty offers specialized meal products for pet food. Afrizon Pte Ltd. focuses on sustainable sourcing practices. Other key players like Mamta Hygiene Products Pvt Ltd, Guru Soya Foods Pvt. Ltd., Delta Equities LLC, Prorich Agro Private Limited, and The Delong Co., Inc. contribute by providing specialized, high-performance soybean meal solutions for a wide range of industrial and agricultural applications.

Recent Soybean Meal Industry News

• In July 2025, UFAC introduced Envirolac, a palm-free fat supplement formulated for high-yield dairy farms. Made from locally sourced oils, it improves cow health and fertility, validated by field trials and academic research.

Soybean Meal Market Report Scope

Report Attributes	Details
Market Size (2025)	USD 103.3 billion
Projected Market Size (2035)	USD 165.3 billion
CAGR (2025 to 2035)	4.8%
Base Year for Estimation	2024
Historical Period	2020 to 2024
Projections Period	2025 to 2035
Report Parameter	USD billion for value/volume in metric tons
Product Type Analyzed	Full-fat Soybean Meal, Defatted Soybean Meal, and High-protein Types
Application Analyzed	Feed (Aquaculture, Livestock, Pet Food), Fertilizer, Food Additive, and Others (Biofuels, Industrial Chemicals, Animal Supplements, Organic Fertilizers ) .
Nature Analyzed	Organic and Conventional
Region Covered	North America, Latin America, Western Europe, South Asia, East Asia, Oceania, and Middle East & Africa
Countries Covered	United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, China, India, Brazil, South Korea, Australia
Key Players Influencing the Market	UFAC-UK, The United Soybean Board (USB), Satavie, SoyKitty, Afrizon Pte Ltd., Mamta Hygiene Products Pvt Ltd, Guru Soya Foods Pvt. Ltd., Delta Equities LLC, Prorich Agro Private Limited, The Delong Co., Inc.
Additional Attributes	Dollar sales by product type, share by nature, regional demand growth, policy influence, sustainability trends, competitive benchmarking

Key Segments

By Product Type:

• Full-fat Soybean Meal
• Defatted Soybean Meal
• High-protein Types

By Nature:

• Organic
• Conventional

By Application:

• Feed
  • Aquaculture
  • Livestock
  • Pet Food
• Fertilizer
• Food Additive
• Others

By Region:

• North America
• Latin America
• Europe
• East Asia
• South Asia
• Middle East and Africa