Argentina's soybean meal exports near 3 million tonnes in August as Turkey and Vietnam buy more
Argentina exported 2.98 million tonnes of soybean meal in August 2026, slightly above the 2.94 million tonnes shipped a year earlier, according to Oil World data. The European Union remained the largest buyer at 740,000 tonnes, while Turkey posted the sharpest gain. Soybean crush reached 4.1-4.2 million tonnes, exceeding year-ago levels for a fifth consecutive month.
Exports approach the 3 million tonne mark
Argentina exported 2.98 million tonnes of soybean meal in August 2026, slightly above the 2.94 million tonnes shipped in the same month a year earlier, according to Oil World data reported by APK-Inform and UkrAgroConsult. The increase of roughly 40,000 tonnes is modest in percentage terms, but it keeps the world's leading soymeal supplier operating close to the 3 million tonne monthly level.
Both publications attribute the result to firm demand from Argentina's core buyers rather than to a single large sale. The four destinations detailed in the Oil World data together accounted for about 1.75 million tonnes, or just under 60% of the monthly total.
EU still the largest buyer, Turkey the fastest-growing
The European Union remained the single biggest destination for Argentine soybean meal, taking 740,000 tonnes against 710,000 tonnes in August 2025. Shipments to Asian and Middle Eastern buyers grew faster in relative terms.
- European Union: 740,000 tonnes, up from 710,000 tonnes
- Vietnam: 410,000 tonnes, up from 360,000 tonnes
- Turkey: 330,000 tonnes, up from 230,000 tonnes
- Indonesia: 270,000 tonnes, up from 240,000 tonnes
Turkey recorded the strongest growth among the main destinations, with volumes about 43% higher year on year, a point highlighted by UkrAgroConsult. Vietnamese purchases rose by around 14% and Indonesian volumes by around 12%, while the European Union added about 4%.
Crush runs above year-ago levels for a fifth month
Soybean crush in Argentina reached 4.1-4.2 million tonnes in August, exceeding the corresponding month of last year for the fifth consecutive month, APK-Inform reported. Processors are being supported by strong export demand for soybean oil and by favourable crush margins.
The link between the two figures matters for feed buyers. Soybean meal accounts for the bulk of the volume produced from each tonne of beans crushed, so a crush pace driven by oil demand keeps meal supply flowing regardless of the pace of feed consumption. With processing running at roughly 4.1-4.2 million tonnes a month, export availability for the remainder of the season is underpinned by the crush schedule rather than by meal demand alone.
Sunflower meal fills the gap left by Black Sea suppliers
Argentina has also expanded its position in sunflower meal. The country shipped 430,000 tonnes in July and August combined, a 50% increase on the same two months of last year, taking advantage of reduced supplies from Ukraine and Russia, according to APK-Inform and UkrAgroConsult.
Most of that volume went to Europe. The European Union imported 265,000 tonnes, up from 197,000 tonnes a year earlier, while the United Kingdom took 67,000 tonnes against 32,000 tonnes. Sunflower crush in Argentina was running at a high level in the two months to August.
That momentum may be harder to sustain. Both sources report that farmer sales of sunflower seed in Argentina slowed from the start of September, which limits the raw material available to crushers and, in turn, the volume of meal that can be offered to European buyers in the months ahead.
