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Soybean Farming in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Vaughan Immerwahr Vaughan Immerwahr New York, United States Last Updated: December 2024 NAICS 11111

Revenue

$25.7bn

2024

$25.7bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

138k

Businesses

90,437

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Soybean Farming in the US industry analysis

The US soybean farming industry is navigating significant changes in the current period, with soybean prices determining the initial rise and recent decline in industry performance. These prices have been influenced by several key factors, including the growing demand for biofuels and mixed consumer perceptions regarding soy products. The demand for soybean oil in biofuel production surged due to supportive policies like the Renewable Fuel Standard and rising crude oil prices, creating a lucrative market for soybean producers. However, subsequent drops in fertilizer and crude oil prices, paired with record-high soybean production, have sharply dropped soybean prices, bringing revenue and profit down with them as farmers struggle to balance costs with lower incomes. Despite the price fluctuations, the industry has achieved a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.8%, with a decrease of 23.7% in 2024, totaling $25.7 billion.

Trends and Insights

  • Global soybean prices determine soybean farming revenue. Soybean prices surged in 2021 and 2022, but are now quickly falling back down.
  • Refineries need soybean oil for biodiesel. Biofuel production has grown as supply chain disruptions at home and abroad have increased gas and diesel prices.
  • Soybean plants need large fields of open space. The Plains region grows nearly half of US soybeans because it has the necessary space.
  • Soybean farms must reduce costs to better compete with other soybean farms, feed grain producers and oilseed growers. Product innovation and differentiation can help, but price will have the most significant impact on demand.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.8 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $25.7bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Rising US biofuel demand boosts soybean oil usage

  • According to the USDA, almost 40% of soybean oil production in the US went into biofuels in the current period, up from nearly none two decades earlier. This is largely due to supportive state and federal policies such as the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program which mandates the use of a specified level of renewable fuels, such as that produced from soybean oil.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Soybean Farming in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Subsidies will keep soybean farmers afloat

  • As soybean prices are expected to continue their decline, the volatility will threaten farmers’ profit. Federal subsidies will become increasingly crucial in maintaining economic stability within the industry. Although the Farm Bill expired on September 30, 2024, key programs through the USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will remain operational. These programs will continue to provide support due to existing funding authorities or alternative provisions.

Biggest companies in the Soybean Farming in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Bayer Corp
780.5
14.9
1.9

To view the market share and analysis for all 1 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Soybean Farming in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Soybean meal, Soybean oil and Soybean hull. Soybean meal is the largest segment of the Soybean Farming in the US.

Trends and Insights

Production of soybean meal grows alongside the livestock industry

  • Soybean meal includes ground soybeans that have had their oil extracted and are mainly used for animal feed.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Farms in this industry grow soybeans as their main crop. Soybeans are most often used in livestock feeds and vegetable oils, with a small but growing proportion being used in biofuel production. Establishments that sell soybean seeds to US farmers for growing crops are also included.

What's included in this industry?

Soybean oilSoybean mealSoybean hulls

Companies

Bayer Corp

Purchase this report to view all 1 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

SOYBEAN MEALHERBICIDEBUSHELBIOFUELYIELDGENETICALLY MODIFIED (GM)ASIAN SOYBEAN RUST

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 11111 - Soybean Farming in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Global soybean prices determine soybean farming revenue. Soybean prices surged in 2021 and 2022, but are now quickly falling back down.

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Refineries need soybean oil for biodiesel. Biofuel production has grown as supply chain disruptions at home and abroad have increased gas and diesel prices.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Soybean plants need large fields of open space. The Plains region grows nearly half of US soybeans because it has the necessary space.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Soybean farms must reduce costs to better compete with other soybean farms, feed grain producers and oilseed growers. Product innovation and differentiation can help, but pri...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Almost exclusively, small companies grow soybeans in the US. While some companies produce seeds on a large scale, nearly all soybean farms are small independent operations. T...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Bayer Corp's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Bayer Corp, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Subsidies help protect soybean farmers when soybean prices decline. Subsidies also reduce volatility brought on by harsh growing conditions and adverse weather.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Input costs have grown for soybean farms. Fertilizer prices have increased in the current period and investors have purchased farmland and raised rent prices.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Soybean Farming in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Soybean Farming in the US industry in United States is $25.7bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Soybean Farming in the US industry in 2024?

There are 90,437 businesses in the Soybean Farming in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Soybean Farming in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Soybean Farming in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 3.8 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Soybean Farming in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Soybean Farming in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Soybean Farming in the US market in United States?

The biggest company operating in the Soybean Farming market in United States is Bayer Corp

What does the Soybean Farming in the US in United States include?

Soybean oil and Soybean meal are part of the Soybean Farming in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Soybean Farming in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Bayer Corp.

How competitive is the Soybean Farming in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Soybean Farming in the US industry in United States.

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Methodology

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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

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