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Japan's vegetable oil and protein feed markets are mature and stable. While surging commodity prices and the shipping crisis impacted Japan's oilseed and product imports in the past, the situation has normalized.

Post forecasts that Brazilian producers will expand soybean planted area to 48.2 million hectares (ha) in the 2025/26 season, up from an estimated 47.3 million ha in 2024/25.

Post increased its estimate for soybean production in 2024/25 to 161 million metric tons (MMT), from the previous estimate of 160 MMT.

Post forecasts that Marketing Year (MY) 2024/25 planted area will expand at a slower growth rate, reaching 45.6 million hectares (ha). Post forecasts MY 2024/25 production at 157.5 million metric tons (MMT), 4.9 MMT more than the revised estimate in MY 2023/24.

Post forecasts that Brazilian producers will expand soybean planted area to reach 45.2 million hectares (ha) in 2023/24 season, up from the estimated 43.5 mn ha planted in the 2022/23 season.

In MY 2021/22, the total value of Japan’s soybean imports reached a historical record while rapeseed crush hit the lowest point in 10 years as rapeseed imports from Canada declined.

On October 13, the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) opened a public comment period for proposed revisions to the genetically engineered (GE) labeling requirements of the Food Labeling Standards.

The 2021 U.S. Agricultural Export Yearbook provides a statistical summary of U.S. agricultural commodity exports to the world.

Post forecasts that Brazilian producers will expand soybean planted area at a slower pace, to 42.5 million hectares (ha) in 2022/23, up from the estimated 40.7 mn ha planted in the 2021/22 season. Post forecasts 2022/23 soybean production at 139 million metric tons (MMT), up from the estimated 124.8 MMT harvest this season, assuming return to normal weather conditions.

In MY 2021/22, profit margins of Japanese soybean crushing surpassed those of canola crushing. Meanwhile, as hotel, restaurant, and institutional service industries (HRI) began to recover from the effects of the COVID pandemic, demand for soybean oil spiked as canola oil demand dropped with less home cooking than during the peak crisis period.

Post lowered its 2021/22 forecast for soybean planted area to 40.4 million hectares (ha) and soybean production to 136 million metric tons (MMT). This season sowing began optimistically, with most soybeans planted on time compared to last year.

Post forecasts that Brazilian producers will expand soybean planted area to reach 40 million hectares (ha) in 2021/22 season, up from the estimated 38.5 mn ha planted in the 2020/21 season.