Soybean crushing in the US increases to 71 million tons.

The United States is expected to increase soybean crushing in the coming years, driven by new biofuel rules published in late March. The measures raise mandates and encourage the production of renewable diesel, which increases demand for byproducts such as soybean meal and oil.

According to data from Itaú BBA Agro Consulting, biomass diesel production in the US could reach 5.5 billion gallons in 2026, compared to 3.35 billion the previous year. The estimate for 2027 rises to 5.9 billion gallons. The rules fully maintained incentives for imported raw materials until the end of 2027, which should sustain imports for biofuel production.

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The impact is already appearing in official projections. In the USDA's April report, soybean crushing in the US was estimated at 71 million tons, up 1 million tons from the previous survey. Demand for soybean meal also increased, reaching 39.2 million tons, an increase of 725,000 tons.

In addition to the situation in the US, external factors also influence the market. The truckers' strike in Argentina may support prices in the short term, depending on the duration of the movement.

On the other hand, a greater global supply is expected in the coming weeks. With the advancement of the harvest and crushing in Argentina from mid-May, the country should increase the competitiveness of soybean oil, which tends to put pressure on Brazilian premiums.