Cottonseed oil-cake market in Northern America

Earlier Report Observations

The volume of the North American cottonseed oilcake market contracted from 737 thousand tons in 2018 to 542 thousand tons in 2023. This decline was driven primarily by falling domestic production, which dropped from 735 thousand tons to 540 thousand tons over the same period. The most significant reduction occurred in 2020, followed by a partial recovery in 2021 before volumes decreased again through 2023.

Despite the overall downward trend in volume, the market's structure showed notable regional trade activity. In 2022, the state of Jalisco in Mexico recorded significant international sales of cottonseed oilcake, and the United States remained a key commercial origin for imports within North America, underscoring the region's internal trade flows.

The market is shaped by the presence of major agribusiness firms such as Archer Daniels Midland, Bunge, and Cargill. Long-term industry trends, including the adoption of sustainable processing technologies and rising demand for high-protein animal feed, continue to influence the fundamentals of cottonseed oilcake demand in the region.

Production cottonseed oil-cake in Northern America

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of cottonseed oil-cake, 2017-2020

World map of production of cottonseed oil-cake, 2017-2020

Cottonseed oil-cake production in Northern America has declined for the third year in a row. In 2019, production stood at 703.0 K t, but by 2020 it had dropped to 588.0 K t, marking a significant 16.4% decrease from the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 23.2%, which translates to an average annual decline of 8.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Northern America in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports cottonseed oil-cake from Northern America

According to market data, there were no exports of cottonseed oil-cake from Northern America between 2017 and 2020.

Imports cottonseed oil-cake to Northern America

Imports in kind, t

Imports of cottonseed oil-cake into Northern America have fallen for the second consecutive year. In 2019, imports were 2 004 t, but in 2020 they dropped to 1 250 t, a sharp 37.6% decline from the year before. Over the 2017–2020 period, imports decreased by 35.3%, averaging an annual drop of 13.5%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 2 099 t, which also saw the largest increase of 8.7% compared to the previous year.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Northern America in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, China was the top supplier of cottonseed oil-cake to Northern America, making up 5.2% of total imports by volume.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Northern America in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

The value of cottonseed oil-cake imports into Northern America has declined for the second year running. In 2019, imports were valued at 523.0 K $ US, but in 2020 this fell to 337.0 K $ US, a steep 35.6% decrease from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, import values dropped by 33.8%, with an average annual decline of 12.9%. The peak value was in 2018 at 594.1 K $ US, which also experienced the largest increase of 16.7% compared to the year before.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Northern America in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

During 2017–2020, China was the leading source for imports in value terms, accounting for 4.9% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Northern America in value, 2017-2020