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Mexico’s oilseed crush in marketing year (MY) 2024/25 is forecast to increase due to higher vegetable oil and animal feed demand. Forecast economic growth and lower interest rates are expected to drive production of oil and meal and increase Mexico’s soybean and rapeseed imports by four percent and seventeen percent, respectively.

Breaking with historical practice, Korean soybean crushers began operating below full capacity in mid-2023 and are forecast to further reduce crush volume into marketing year (MY) 2024/25. Soybean imports are forecast to recover slightly from MY 2023/24, but will still remain below average levels on sluggish crushing demand.

This report analyzes all vegetable oil markets in Korea, whether for food or industrial use, and covers oils derived from soybean, palm, palm kernel, olive, rapeseed/canola, grapeseed, sunflower seed, corn, coconut, sesame, perilla seed (a leafy plant from the mint family), and rice bran.

Ample opportunities exist for U.S. agricultural exports to South Korea. Highlighted in the chart above, U.S. agricultural product exports were a record $9.5 billion in 2022, up 2 percent from 2021. South Korea is the sixth largest export market for the United States, thanks in part to a successful free trade agreement (KORUS) between the two countries and a robust demand for high-quality U.S. food products.

The 2023 U.S. Agricultural Export Yearbook provides a statistical summary of U.S. agricultural commodity exports to the world during the 2023 calendar year.

The 2022 U.S. Agricultural Export Yearbook provides a statistical summary of U.S. agricultural commodity exports to the world during the 2022 calendar year.

FAS/Mexico expects slower growth in the vegetable oil and oil meal sectors in marketing year (MY) 2023/24 compared to recent years, given potential declines in consumer purchasing power, a forecast slowdown in Mexico’s economy, and persistent inflation.

The Korea oilseeds and products market is mature with limited annual change, reflecting stable consumer demand and stagnant domestic production.

Mexico has not officially reported any approvals for genetically engineered (GE) agricultural products for food and feed use since May 2018. Additionally, Mexico has not approved any permit applications for cultivation of GE crop (cotton and alfalfa)...

FY2022 agricultural exports reach record levels.

Oilseed production is met with mixed expectations in 2022. Total soybean production is forecast to increase slightly due to higher planted area in marketing year (MY) 2022/23. However, the cancellation of federal commercialization support programs...

The 2021 U.S. Agricultural Export Yearbook provides a statistical summary of U.S. agricultural commodity exports to the world.