Top 10 Biggest Soybean Producers in the World– Based on Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database (FAOSTAT) in 2021, there are 10 Biggest Soybean Producers in the World. As commonly known, soybean as a food ingredient is a source of high-quality protein with fat content low in saturated and fiber food sources. Important aspects of soybean as a functional food source can be viewed from the nutritional content of soybean seeds. Historically, soybean is a plant native to mainland China and has been cultivated by humans since 2500 BC. Along with the development and increasing its functions as a human food source, this plant has been cultivated massively all over the world. Functionally, soybean can be processed into tofu, soymilk even animal feed.
Taxonomically, these plants belong to Order: Fabales; Family: Fabaceae; Subfamily: Faboideae; Genus: Glycine; Species: G. max. Morphologically, it has a close relationship with Phaseolus (beans), Pisum sativum (pea), Cicer arietinum (chickpeas), Medicago sativa (alfalfa), and Arachis hypogaea (peanut).
Statistically, based on the FAOSTAT Database in 2021, The World’s Production of Soybean has increased from time to time. In 1980, the world’s production of Soybean was in 81 million tonnes with harvested areas 50 million hectares. Furthermore, in 2021, the world’s production of soybean reached into 371 million tonnes with harvested areas around 129 million hectares (ha). Based on the yield (productivity), soybean productivity also increased from 1.60 tonnes/ hectares in 1980 and it became 2.87 tonnes/hectare.
The World’s Production of Soybean, Harvested Areas, and Yields From 1980 to 2021
| Years | Harvested Areas | World’s Production of Soybeans | Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| (Hectares (Ha)) | (Tonnes) | (Tonnes/ Hectare (Ha)) | |
| 1980 | 50,646,946 | 81,040,368 | 1.60 |
| 1981 | 50,475,793 | 88,525,040 | 1.75 |
| 1982 | 52,384,044 | 92,121,684 | 1.76 |
| 1983 | 49,049,878 | 79,467,061 | 1.62 |
| 1984 | 52,939,196 | 90,752,915 | 1.71 |
| 1985 | 53,063,617 | 101,156,845 | 1.91 |
| 1986 | 51,896,341 | 94,446,350 | 1.82 |
| 1987 | 52,541,951 | 100,102,463 | 1.91 |
| 1988 | 54,861,083 | 93,521,958 | 1.70 |
| 1989 | 58,647,478 | 107,254,261 | 1.83 |
| 1990 | 57,209,429 | 108,456,443 | 1.90 |
| 1991 | 54,924,995 | 102,848,965 | 1.87 |
| 1992 | 56,124,645 | 113,989,217 | 2.03 |
| 1993 | 59,524,887 | 115,245,084 | 1.94 |
| 1994 | 62,476,532 | 136,356,261 | 2.18 |
| 1995 | 62,488,236 | 126,923,582 | 2.03 |
| 1996 | 61,078,869 | 130,193,238 | 2.13 |
| 1997 | 66,925,225 | 144,326,264 | 2.16 |
| 1998 | 70,972,099 | 160,128,822 | 2.26 |
| 1999 | 72,059,556 | 157,815,479 | 2.19 |
| 2000 | 74,307,776 | 161,308,383 | 2.17 |
| 2001 | 76,763,012 | 177,020,743 | 2.31 |
| 2002 | 78,930,501 | 180,950,733 | 2.29 |
| 2003 | 83,600,947 | 190,573,528 | 2.28 |
| 2004 | 91,629,138 | 205,548,134 | 2.24 |
| 2005 | 92,573,297 | 214,542,761 | 2.32 |
| 2006 | 95,334,564 | 221,558,922 | 2.32 |
| 2007 | 90,188,422 | 219,793,075 | 2.44 |
| 2008 | 96,427,113 | 231,223,485 | 2.40 |
| 2009 | 99,385,139 | 223,380,802 | 2.25 |
| 2010 | 102,858,828 | 265,088,429 | 2.58 |
| 2011 | 103,860,158 | 261,601,653 | 2.52 |
| 2012 | 105,461,401 | 241,337,218 | 2.29 |
| 2013 | 111,109,022 | 277,672,964 | 2.50 |
| 2014 | 117,733,327 | 306,301,433 | 2.60 |
| 2015 | 120,902,417 | 323,308,278 | 2.67 |
| 2016 | 122,036,490 | 335,944,716 | 2.75 |
| 2017 | 125,863,290 | 359,514,399 | 2.86 |
| 2018 | 124,064,630 | 344,759,273 | 2.78 |
| 2019 | 121,275,801 | 335,899,637 | 2.77 |
| 2020 | 127,057,164 | 355,370,767 | 2.80 |
| 2021 | 129,523,964 | 371,693,593 | 2.87 |
| Source : FAOSTAT, 2023 | |||
Based on continental regions, the production of Soybean in 2021 still concentrated in America regions with production around 324 million tonnes. Asia, Europe, and Africa are the next position behind Americas with
production 31 million tonnes, 11 million tonnes, 4 million tonnes.
The Production of Soybean in 2021 Based on Continent
| Continent | Production of Soybeans in 2021 |
|---|---|
| (Tonnes) | |
| Africa | 4,679,332 |
| Americas | 324,211,217 |
| Asia | 31,175,142 |
| Europe | 11,587,683 |
| Oceania | 40,219 |
Based on the Country’s region, there are 10 World’s Biggest Producers of Soybean in 2021. Here are the Top 10 Biggest Soybean Producers in the World Based on Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database in 2021.
Table Rank of 10 Biggest Soybean Producers in the World
| Ranks | Country | Production of Soybean in 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| (Tonnes) | ||
| 1 | Brazil | 134,934,935 |
| 2 | United States of America | 120,707,230 |
| 3 | Argentina | 46,217,911 |
| 4 | China, mainland | 16,400,000 |
| 5 | India | 12,610,000 |
| 6 | Paraguay | 10,537,080 |
| 7 | Canada | 6,271,835 |
| 8 | Russian Federation | 4,759,908 |
| 9 | Ukraine | 3,493,200 |
| 10 | Bolivia (Plurinational State of) | 3,318,169 |
| Source : FAOSTAT, 2023 | ||
Brief Description of The Biggest Soybean Producers
1.Brazil
Brazil is the biggest producer of soybean in the world. In 2021, based on the FAOSTAT database of the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO), the production reach 134 million tons. Regionally, there are some states in Brazil with the biggest production of soybean. these states are Mato Grosso, Goias, Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul.
2.United States of America
The United States of America is still the second-biggest soybean producer in 2021. Based on The FAO Statistical Database in 2023, the production of 120 million tons. Regionally, there are some states in the United States of America that have the biggest production of soybean. These are Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Indiana, Nebraska, Missouri, Ohio, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Kansas.
3.Argentina
Argentina is the third biggest producer of soybean. In 2021, the production of tango’s country reaches 46 million tons. In this country, some companies that have the main contribution to soybean production are Cargill, Dreyfus, Bunge, Glencore, Nidera. Regionally, around 89 percent of soybean production in Argentina takes place in the provinces of Santa Fe, Cordoba, Buenos Aires, and Entre Rios.
4.China, mainland
China is the fourth biggest producer of soybean. In 2021, the production of soybean in this country reaches 16.4 million tons. Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Henan are some of the provinces with the biggest production of soybean in China.
5.India
India is the fifth biggest producer of soybean in the world. In 2021, the production of soybean reaches 12.6 million tons. Regionally, some states of India with the biggest production of soybean are Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Telangana.
6.Paraguay
Paraguay is the next biggest one of soybean production. In 2021, the production of soybean reaches 10.5 million tons. Alto Parana, Itapua, Canindeyu, Caaguazu, and San Pedro are some of the regions in Paraguay with the biggest as the main area of cultivation of soybean.
7.Canada
Canada is the seventh biggest of soybean production. In 2021, the production of soybean reaches 6.2 tons. In this country, there are some regions of soybean area production. These areas are Quebec, Manitoba, Maritimes, southeast Saskatchewan, and southern Alberta.
8.Russian Federation
Russia is the next biggest one in soybean production. In 2021, the production of soybean reaches 4.7 million tons. Based on the region, there are some regions of soybean production in Russia. These areas are Amur Region, Belgorod Region, Krasnodar Territory, and Kursk Region.
9.Ukraine
Ukraine is one of the biggest countries in Soybean production from Europe with 3.4 million tons in 2021. Based on the area of this country, the production of soybean is located in the Central part of Ukraine: Khmelnytsky, Poltava, Kyiv, Vinnytsya, and Kirovograd.
10.Bolivia
Bolivia is the 10th biggest country in soybean production. In 2021, the production of soybean reaches 3 million tons. Based on the region in Bolivia, soybeans are mostly produced in the Santa Cruz region.
Bibliograpy of Top 10 Biggest Soybean Producers in the World
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Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database. 2021.Production of Soybeans: top ten producers 2019. Accessed via https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL/visualize on October 28, 2021.
CropProphet. 2021. Soybean Production by State: Top 11 of 2020 accessed via https://www.cropprophet.com/soybean-production-by-state-top-11/ on October 23, 2021.
Nardi, Matias. 2021. Competitiveness analysis of Argentina, Brazil, and United States in soybean production, storage, transportation, crushing and exporting to a common market.
USDA. 2021. Paraguay Production. Accessed via https://ipad.fas.usda.gov/countrysummary/default.aspx?id=PA on October 23, 2021.
Soycanada. 2021. Canada’s Growing Soybean Industry. Accessed via https://soycanada.ca/industry/industry-overview/ on October 28, 2021.
Sinegovskii, Mikhail & Yuan, Shan & Sinegovskaya, Valentina & Han, Tianfu.2018. Current Status of the Soybean Industry and Research in the Russian Federation. 10.11861/j.issn.1000-9841.2018.01.0001.
Nolte, G.E. 2019. Soybeans Bolivia Adopts Biotechnology. Accessed via https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/report/downloadreportbyfilename?filename=Soybeans%20Bolivia%20Adopts%20Biotechnology_Lima_Bolivia_6-5-2019.pdf on October 28, 2021
