How China's pig farms reshaped world trade What this tab covers How it flows between countries: the largest bilateral trade routes drawn on a world map, 2024 UN Comtrade export and import values with the top exporters and importers by share, plus shipping routes, chokepoints and trade restrictions.
World exports of soybeans (HS 1201) were worth $79.1 billion in 2024. Brazil supplied 54.3% and the United States 31.1%, together 85%. China took 65.3% of imports, far ahead of Argentina (4.0%), Egypt and Thailand. Processed products flow differently. In meal (HS 2304, $28.8 billion) Brazil led with 33.7% and Argentina 22.4%; in oil (HS 1507, $11.9 billion) Argentina led with 44.4% and India imported 35.3%. China imports beans and crushes at home. Brazilian beans leave from southern ports and new Amazon river terminals. US beans move via the Gulf and the Pacific Northwest.
Main trade routes, 2024
Chart: World map of the largest trade flows
Exporter (size = share of world exports) Importer (share of world imports) Largest bilateral flows (width = value) Shipping chokepoint UN Comtrade 2024, reported exports by the top four exporters of each traded form to their partners (US$). Bubbles: shares of reported world exports and imports for the main traded form. Hover a line or circle for values.
Soybeans · HS 1201
World exports 2024 $79.1 bn sum of 40 reporting countries World imports 2024 $80.7 bn sum of 40 reporting countries Top exporters, share of value Brazil 54.3% United States 31.1% Paraguay 4% Canada 3.1% Argentina 2.3% Ukraine 1.7% Top importers, share of value China 65.3% Argentina 4% Egypt 2.5% Thailand 2.4% Japan 2.4% Turkey 2.2%
Soybean meal · HS 2304
World exports 2024 $28.8 bn sum of 40 reporting countries World imports 2024 $27.1 bn sum of 40 reporting countries Top exporters, share of value Brazil 33.7% Argentina 22.4% United States 17.7% Netherlands 4.2% India 3.3% Germany 3.1% Top importers, share of value Indonesia 9.5% Philippines 5.9% Poland 5.8% France 5.4% Thailand 5% Germany 4.4%
Soybean oil · HS 1507
World exports 2024 $11.9 bn sum of 40 reporting countries World imports 2024 $11.7 bn sum of 40 reporting countries Top exporters, share of value Argentina 44.4% Brazil 11.1% United States 4.4% Netherlands 3.7% Paraguay 3.4% Iraq 3.4% Top importers, share of value India 35.3% Canada 7.2% Algeria 6.4% Peru 5% Morocco 4.7% South Korea 3.1% UN Comtrade, reporter declarations to the world, US$. Exports and imports are reported separately, so totals differ. Re-exporting hubs (Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, UAE) can appear large.