Global Oilseed Processing May Reach a Record 580 Million Tons

According to Oil World analysts, global oilseed processing continues to grow and may reach a new record level of 580 million tons by the end of the 2025/26 season. Over the past three seasons, total processing volume is expected to increase by 65 million tons, confirming steady demand for vegetable oils and protein feed components.

 

Soybeans remain the main driver of growth. Since the 2023/24 season, the global market’s dependence on soybeans has increased significantly. This is due not only to rising soybean meal consumption, but also to limited growth in the processing of other oilseeds. In a number of producing countries, sunflower and rapeseed crops declined because of unfavorable weather conditions, which reduced the contribution of these crops to overall growth.

 

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

China is expected to remain the largest processing market. Its soybean processing volume may reach 109.5 million tons, up 2.9 million tons year-on-year. This growth is supported by strong demand for soybean meal used in feed production for livestock and poultry.

In the United States, soybean processing in the 2025/26 season is expected to total 72.4 million tons, which is 5.4 million tons higher than in the previous marketing year.

 

The growth in oilseed processing increases quality control requirements at every stage — from raw material intake to the production of vegetable oils and protein feed components. For companies working with soybeans, sunflower, rapeseed, meal, and oilcake, rapid determination of moisture, protein, oil content, and other key parameters is especially important.

 

To solve such tasks, Infratec NIR analyzers can be used. This equipment makes it possible to quickly assess the quality of cereals, oilseeds, legumes, and processed products without lengthy sample preparation. It helps companies make faster decisions during raw material intake, control batch consistency, and reduce the risks of processing raw materials with unstable characteristics.

 

More information about Infratec NIR analyzers is available on the PromInvestService website.