The 2025/26 Season Could Become the Third Consecutive Year of Significant Growth in Oilseed Processing

According to analysts at Oil World, global oilseed processing has been demonstrating steady growth for several years in a row. By the end of the 2025/26 season, total processing volume could reach a new historical record of 580 million tons. Over the past three seasons alone, the figure is expected to increase by 65 million tons.

Soybeans remain the primary driver of this growth. Analysts note that the global market's dependence on soybeans has increased significantly since the 2023/24 season. One of the key reasons has been the slowdown in the processing of other oilseed crops due to reduced sunflower and rapeseed harvests in several major producing regions affected by adverse weather conditions.

According to Oil World forecasts, global soybean processing in the 2025/26 season is expected to reach 372.3 million tons, which is 11.2 million tons higher than in the previous season.

China is projected to maintain the largest processing volumes, with soybean processing expected to reach 109.5 million tons, up 2.9 million tons year-on-year. The increase is linked to the continued growth in demand for soybean meal, which has been rising steadily in the country over recent months.

In the United States, soybean processing during the 2025/26 marketing year is forecast at 72.4 million tons, representing an increase of 5.4 million tons compared to the previous marketing year.

Analysts also emphasize that the global oilseed market is becoming increasingly focused on soybeans as the primary raw material for the production of vegetable oils and protein feeds. Soybeans account for the majority of the growth in global processing volumes, while the contribution of other oilseed crops remains limited due to ongoing production challenges in several countries.