Being one of the 5-6 important crops feeding the world, native land of soybean is far Eastern countries like China, Korea and Japan. Gaining value in other parts of the world too since 20th century, soybean cultivation, however, developed best in USA. According to the data of USDA, 108 million tons, a significant part (33,8%) of world soybean production which was 319,3 million tons in 2014/15 season was realized by USA. Following USA, second largest producer is Brazil. In the same season, Brazil realized soybean production of 94,5 million tons. According to the data of 2014/15 season, Argentina with 60,8 million tons , China with 12,3 million tons, India with 9,8 million tons, Paraguay with 8,4 million tons and Canada with 6 million tons follow USA and Brazil.
Being a species of legume, soybean is native to Far East countries like China, Korea and Japan. It was introduced to the other parts of the world and gained value in 20th century. In general, the plant can grow in different climate regions and is successfully cultivated in many regions of the world. However it grows best between May and September and at 25°C. Temperatures below 18 °C and above 40°C may influence growing of soybean negatively.
It is stated that soybean, a species of legume, increases the fertility of following products by adding nitrogen into soil and provides fertilizer saving. Therefore, soybean is considered as one of the most suitable plants for crop rotation.
Being one of the 5-6 important crops feeding the world, soybean contains 18-20% oil, 40-45% protein, 30% carbohydrate, 5% mineral, many vitamins and valuable amino acids. Its seed is processed into edible oil used as liquid oil and margarine. After extraction of oil, remaining soybean flour-meal is largely used in food industry as it is nutritious and rich in protein. Soybean meal is also a significant source as animal feed.
WORLD SOYBEAN PRODUCTION AND PRODUCER COUNTRIES
As it is mentioned in general terms above, soybean is domesticated in Eastern Asia plains 5000 years ago and originated in China and Manchuria. Cultivated Eastern China between 11th and 17th centuries, soybean plant was introduced to Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Nepal and India in time. Although it was brought to Europe in the early 17th century, it couldn’t be cultivated efficiently.
It started to be cultivated in USA in 1804. Between 1919 and 1924, soybean was cultivated in 8 states in USA and this increased to 26 states later. Today, USA is the top soybean producer in the world.
According to the report of International Grain Council dated August 27, 2015, entire soybean production in the world exceeded 300 million tons. According to the data of IGC, soybean production which was 272 million tons in 2012/13 season reached 285 million tons in 2013/14 season. Estimating that production increased to 322 million tons in 2014/15 season, IGC forecasted that production amount will decrease to 318 million tons in 2015/16 season.
Data of Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) of USA which is the global leading soybean producer is parallel with IGC but a bit different. According to the data of USDA, world soybean production which was 240,4 million tons in 2011/12 season reached to 268,8 million tons in 2012/13 season and 283,2 million tons in 2013/14 season. Estimating that production reached 319,3 million tons in 2014/15 season, USDA forecasted that production will increase and reach 320 million tons in 2015/16 season, contrary to IGC.
As it is mentioned before, world’s largest soybean producer is USA. According to the data of USDA, 108 million tons, a significant part (33,8%) of world soybean production which was 319,3 million tons in 2014/15 season was realized by USA. Following USA, second largest producer is Brazil. In the same season, Brazil realized soybean production of 94,5 million tons. According to the data of 2014/15 season, Argentina with 60,8 million tons , China with 12,3 million tons, India with 9,8 million tons, Paraguay with 8,4 million tons and Canada with 6 million tons follow USA and Brazil.
WORLD SOYBEAN CONSUMPTION AND CONSUMER COUNTRIES
Being introduced with soybean in the early 20th century, developed Western countries made significant contributions to setting up of soybean industry, soybean production and expansion of its usage area. Becoming one of 5-6 crops feeding the world with its production amount exceeding 300 million tons, soybean is used in many areas, as oil and feed in particular. The nutrient grain crop is used in production of many biofuels and foods like milk, sauce, ice-scream and meat apart from oil and feed.
Being considered highly beneficial as it is nutritious and alternative to animal proteins containing saturated fatty acids, soybean’s consumption amount is parallel with production. According to the data of IGC, world soybean consumption which was 267 million tons in 2012/13 season reached to 281 million tons in 2013/14 season and 310 million tons in 2014/15 season. IGC forecasts that consumption amount will continue to increase in 2015/16 season and reach to 317 million tons.
According to the data of USDA, 258,3 million tons of world soybean production which was 319,3 million tons in 2014/15 season is used by grinding. According to the data of 2014/15 season, China is the number one in grinded soybean consumption with 74,2 million tons. USA with 50,2 million tons, Argentina with 38,8 million tons, Brazil with 39,4 million tons, EU with 13,9 million tons, India with 7,4 million tons, Mexico with 4,2 million tons follow China.
SOYBEAN OIL AND MEAL PRODUCTION
One of the most significant usage areas of soybean is as oil. According to the data of USDA, world soybean oil production is over 40 million tons. Soybean oil production which was 42,7 million tons in 2011/12 season reached 43 million tons in 2012/13, 45 million tons in 2013/14 season, 48,1 million tons in 2014/15 season. Production is expected to reach 50,6 million tons in 2015/16 season. China became the number one in soybean oil production with 13,2 million tons in 2014/15 season. USA with 9,5 million ton, Argentina with 7,3 million tons, Brazil with 7,5 million tons follow China.
Other parts of soybean which are used in food and feed products are around 200 million tons. According to the data of USDA, soybean meal production which was 180,4 million tons in 2011/12 season reached to 181,2 million tons in 2012/13 season, 189,4 million tons in 2013/14 season, 203/6 million tons in 2014/15 season. This production amount is expected to reach to 2014,1 million tons in 2015/16 season. As it is in soybean oil production, China, USA, Brazil and Argentina are the top soybean meal producers. According to the data of USDA, China produced 58,7 million tons soybean meal, USA 40 million tons, Brazil 30,5 million tons and Argentina 29,8 million tons in 2014/15 season.
Consumption of soybean oil and meal is intense in the countries which are on the top in production. 14,1 million tons of world soybean oil which was 49,3 million tons in 2014/15 season consume China, 8,7 million tons USA, 6,1 million tons Brazil, 3,8 million tons India. According to the data of the same season, 57,1 million tons of world soybean meal consumption which was 199,3 million tons belong to China, 30 million tons to EU countries, 28,8 million tons to USA, 14,9 million tons to Brazil.
WORLD SOYBEAN TRADE
According to the data of International Grain Council IGC, amount of soybean which is traded around the world exceeded 120 million tons. According to this, world soybean trade which was 99 million tons in 2012/13 season reached 113 million tons in 2013/14 season, 122 million tons in 2014/15 season. IGC forecasted that soybean trade will increase to 125 million tons in 2015/16 season.
China which is native land of soybean cannot meet domestic consumption despite its high production amount and becomes one of the top soybean importers in the world with its imports amount. According to the data of USDA, 77 million tons of world soybean import which was around 119,7 million tons in 2014/15 season belong to China. In world soybean import, EU with 13,4 million tons, Mexico with 4 million tons and Japan with 2,9 million tons follow China. In exports, Brazil and USA come first. Export amount of Brazil in 2014/15 season was 49,8 million tons, and it was 49,6 million tons for USA. Argentina with 9,6 million tons, Paraguay with 4,6 million tons, Canada with 3,7 million tons follow in exportation.
Trade amount of soybean is around 10 million tons. According to the data of USDA, soybean oil trade which was around 8 million tons in 2011/12 season reached 9 million tons in 2013/14 season, 10 million tons in 2014/15 season. According to the data of USDA, India is the top in world soybean import with 2,5 million tons in 2014/15 season. China with 900 thousand tons, Algeria with 580 thousand tons, Bangladesh with 480 thousand tons, Morocco with 450 thousand tons, and Venezuela with 425 thousand tons follow India. Argentina comes first with 4,7 million tons in exportation. Brazil with 1,3 million tons, USA with 884 thousand tons, EU with 900 thousand tons, Paraguay with 670 thousand tons and Russia with 370 thousand tons in world soybean oil export.
Soybean meal trade is around 60 million tons in the world. According to the data of USDA, soybean meal import which was 56,9 million tons in 2011/12 season reached to 53,8 million tons in 2012/13 season, 57,8 million tons in 2013/14 season, 60,1 million tons in 2014/15 season.
EU comes first in soybean meal import with 19,5 million tons in 2014/15 season. Indonesia with 4,2 million tons, Vietnam with 3,7 million tons, Thailand with 3 million tons, Philippines with 2,5 million tons, Iran with 2,1 million tons, Japan with 1,7 million tons, Mexico with 1,6 million tons follow EU countries. Argentina comes first with 27,8 million tons in exports. Argentina realizes nearly 50 percent of world soybean meal export with this export amount. Brazil with 15 million tons, USA with 11,4 million tons, Paraguay with 2,5 million tons, India with 1,2 million tons follow Argentina in exports.
SOYBEAN PRODUCTION IN TURKEY
Soybean which was first introduced to Turkey in 1930s had been cultivated only in Black Sea Region for years. However, through 2nd product project implemented in the following years, it started to be cultivated in irrigated areas in Aegean and Mediterranean Regions. Today, soybean cultivation in Turkey is realized largely on Çukurova Region. Especially Adana and Osmaniye cities meet 80 or 85 percent of soybean production in Turkey.
When Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) considered, it seems that soybean cultivated lands in Turkey increases especially in recent years. While soybean was cultivated on a land of 150 thousand decares in 2000 this area increased to 270 thousand decares in 2003. The general view of cultivated lands between 2004 and 2009 is unsteady. In this period, while cultivation areas increased 140 thousand decares in some years, it decreased to 86 thousand decares. After 2009, there is a steadier and increasing view. According to the data of TUIK, soybean cultivation area which is around 235 thousand decare in 2010 increased to 264 thousand decare in 2011, 315,9 thousand decare in 2012, 432 thousand decare in 2013. In 2014, however, it decreased to 343 thousand decares.
The situation in cultivation land is reflected on production amount too and production amount increased up to 85 thousand tons from 44 thousand tons between 2000 and 2004. However, it decreased to 29 thousand tons sometimes between 2004 and 2009. Increasing again since 2009, production increased to 102 thousand tons in 2011, 122 thousand tons in 2012, and 180 thousand tons in 2013.
Due to increase in efficiency, decrease in production was less in comparison to cultivation area in 2014 and production was realized as 150 thousand tons. Despite cultivation land and production amount, yields increase nearly every year. According to the data of TUIK, yield per decare which was 297 kg in 2000 increased to 437 kg in 2014.
SOYBEAN TRADE IN TURKEY
Soybean trade of Turkey changes between 1 and 2 million tons. When the data of Turkish Statistical Institute considered, it is seen that while soybean import amount of Turkey was 1,1 million ton in 2005, it reached 1,2 million tons in 2007-08 years. Soy bean imports decreasing to 973 thousand tons in 2009 increased to 1,7 million tons in 2010 and decreased to 1 million tons in 2013. However, in 2014 a significant increase was seen and imported soybean amount reached to 2 million tons. Considering this import amount, Turkey’s export is highly limited. The largest soybean export of the last 10 years is 16,6 thousand tons.
Turkey imports some soybean flour. However this amount is very low. The largest soybean flour import in the last 10 years is only 124 tons. Soybean flour export is also very low and a bit higher than import amount. According to the data of TUIK, the largest soybean flour in the last 10 years is only 210 tons.