NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD NEWS) — China’s state-owned food company COFCO plans to more than double soybean crushing capacity at its Rondonópolis plant in Brazil, adding another major piece to the global race for soy processing. Dr. Fred Gale says the project shows how Brazil, China, and the United States are all pushing to capture more value through crushed rather than raw bean exports.
The expansion would raise the plant’s capacity from 4,500 metric tons per day to about 10,000. Annual processing capacity would reach 1.35 million metric tons, with output including soybean oil, meal, and about 350,000 metric tons of biodiesel.
The location is important. Rondonópolis sits in Brazil’s west-central soybean region and is connected by rail to Santos port, where COFCO is also expanding shipping capacity. The project aims to improve control over product flows, add export value, and reduce pressure on harvest-season logistics.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Global soybean competition is moving deeper into crush capacity, logistics, and value-added product control.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist
Gale notes that the move comes as Brazil’s overall crush capacity continues to rise. At the same time, China already has excess crush capacity and weak margins, which could make additional competition from soy oil and meal harder for existing processors.
The broader takeaway is that soybean competition is shifting beyond production and exports. It is now increasingly a battle over who controls processing, logistics, and supply chain influence.
Buying a real Christmas tree directly supports U.S. farmers facing rising import competition, long production cycles, and weather-driven risks.
December 04, 2025 11:02 AM
·
While the agriculture industry hoped details on proposed “bridge” payments for farmers would be released this week, Ag Secretary Brook Rollins said the USDA is still working with the White House on the finer points.
December 03, 2025 01:36 PM
·
China’s renewed purchases signal improving sorghum demand at a time when export markets are otherwise uneven. Meanwhile, agriculture groups across the U.S, Canada, and Mexico want to protect close trade relations.
December 03, 2025 11:51 AM
·
Pressure on grain storage capacity and stronger export positioning are pushing more grain onto railroads, highways, and river systems as logistics become a key bottleneck this fall.
December 01, 2025 05:09 PM
·
Tryston Beyrer, Crop Nutrition Lead at The Mosaic Company, examines planning trends as producers weigh corn and soybean plantings for 2026.
December 01, 2025 03:27 PM
·
Despite the need for swift action, many ag lawmakers and industry groups argue that farm aid alone will likely not be sufficient to help farmers without improved trade relations with China.
December 01, 2025 12:21 PM
·
