USDA WASDE: May 2019 Soybean Update

  • The 2019/20 outlook for U.S. soybeans is for higher supplies, crush, exports and slightly lower ending stocks compared to 2018/19.
  • The soybean crop is projected at 4,150 million bushels, down 394 million from last year’s record crop on the lower harvested area and trend yields.
  • With sharply higher beginning stocks, soybean supplies are projected at 5,165 million bushels, up 3 percent from 2018/19.
  • Total U.S. oilseed production for 2019/20 is forecast at 124.2 million tons, down 9.6 million from 2018/19, mainly on lower soybean production.
  • Production forecasts are also lower for canola, but higher for sunflower seed, peanuts, and cottonseed.
  • The U.S. soybean crush for 2019/20 is projected at 2,115 million bushels, up from the 2018/19 forecast with higher soybean meal disappearance partly offset by lower soybean meal exports.
  • U.S. soybean exports are forecast at 1,950 million bushels, up 175 million from the revised forecast for 2018/19. Despite limited growth in global soybean import demand, U.S. export share is expected to rise to 35 percent from the 2018/19 record low of 32 percent on higher supplies and competitive prices.
  • U.S. ending stocks for 2019/20 are projected at 970 million bushels, down 25 million from the revised 2018/19 forecast.
  • The 2019/20 U.S. season-average soybean price is projected at $8.10 per bushel, down 45 cents from the 2018/19 forecast.
  • Soybean meal prices are forecast at $290 per short ton, down $15.00 from 2018/19. Soybean oil prices are forecast at 29.5 cents per pound, up 1.5 cents from 2018/19.
  • Global oilseed production for 2019/20 is projected at 598.0 million tons, down 2.9 million from 2018/19. Global soybean production is forecast at 355.7 million tons, down 6.4 million with lower production for the United States, Argentina, and Canada partly offset by a higher Brazilian crop.
  • Brazil’s soybean production is projected at a record 123.0 million tons, up 6.0 million on higher area and trend yield.
  • Argentina’s soybean production is forecast at 53.0 million tons, down 3.0 million from the revised 2018/19 forecast due to a lower trend yield.
  • China’s soybean production is projected 1.1 million tons higher to 17.0 million on reported higher planting intentions.
  • Global production of high-oil content seeds (rapeseed and sunflower seed) is projected up 1 percent from 2018/19 on increased rapeseed production for Australia and Ukraine, which is partly offset by lower production for the EU and India. Sunflower seed crops for Turkey, Russia, and Ukraine are also lower.
  • Global soybean beginning stocks for 2019/20 are forecast to increase 14.1 million tons compared to 2018/19, leading to higher supply despite lower production.
  • Global protein meal consumption is projected to increase 2 percent in 2019/20, compared to the prior 5-year average of 4 percent. Protein meal consumption growth in China is flat, largely due to suppressed feed demand from outbreaks of African Swine Fever.
  • Global soybean exports at 151.2 million tons are also relatively flat compared to 2018/19. China’s soybean imports are projected at 87.0 million tons, up only 1.0 million from the revised 2018/19 projection and significantly lower than growth seen in prior years. With stagnant trade and a 2 percent increase for crush offsetting the higher global supply, ending stocks at 113.1 million tons are forecast to decline slightly from 2018/19.
  • Global vegetable oil production is projected to increase 2 percent to 208.2 million tons, led by increases for palm oil production for Indonesia, soybean oil for Argentina, and sunflower
  • seed oil for Russia. Global consumption is projected to increase by 3 percent in 2019/20, led by palm oil increases for Indonesia, China, Malaysia, and India.
  • With higher consumption, global ending stocks are projected down 1.3 million tons to 20.1 million.