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Summary of our market study
The French soybean market is valued at around 1.5 billion euros.
Global soybean production reached 363 million tonnes in the 2018-2019 period, with the United States leading production, but Brazil the leading exporter, largely thanks to Chinese demand. The trade conflict between the USA and China has further strengthened Brazil's role as the Asian giant's leading soybean supplier.
China's massive increase in imports after the pandemic to replenish its pig herd and the "La Niña" climatic phenomenon have both contributed to an almost 30% increase in soybean prices in 2020.
Environmental concerns, such as deforestation in Brazil's Cerrado, exacerbated by soy cultivation, have influenced consumer behavior and government policies, with France seeking to trace its soy imports more responsibly and reduce its role in deforestation.
Regulations exclude soy and palm oil products from fuel tax incentives and limit their content in biofuels to 1% from January 2022.
Soybean consumption trends
The French market is valued at around 1.5 billion euros, with annual soy consumption hovering around 3.3 million tonnes.
French production is steadily increasing, with a preference for non-GMO soy-based products. Soybean acreage in France exceeds 160,000 hectares.
Soy plays an important role in animal feed, food and industry.
Between 85% and 90% of soybeans are used for animal feed in Europe (poultry, pigs and dairy cows). Soy is essential for maintaining current levels of meat production.
The annual growth rate of soy-based food products has been 15% since the 2000s. Consumption of soy-based products is replacing traditional meat consumption. 60% of French people have adopted soy-based foods.
Soybean oil is recognized as the second most widely consumed oil in the world, despite its lower yield than palm oil (around 2 hectares per tonne versus 0.26 hectares for palm oil),
Soy is also used in non-food industries such as biofuels, inks and cosmetics.
France has seen its soy imports fall by almost 40% over the past decade. The majority of these imports still come from GMO-producing countries such as the United States and Brazil.
French soybean market players
Soybean growers and seed suppliers
- Semences de France is a key player, supplying high-quality soybean seeds to farmers.
Logistics and transport
- Transport Vezo offers specialized logistics services for the efficient and rapid transport of soybeans from fields to processing facilities, and throughout the value chain.
Feed production and distribution
- Vibrafloor and Setrem process soybeans into components for animal feed, such as soybean meal, which is a basic source of protein in livestock feed.
Soybean oil production
- Huilerie Gid is a major producer of soybean oil.
Development of human food products
- Sojami, The Silos of Touch, Triballat Noyal and Sojasun are at the forefront of the integration of soyfoods into French diets.
Manufacturers of plant-based products
- Prodirox and Latitude Nature represent the segment of companies that use soy to produce non-food items such as biofuels, printing inks and cosmetics.
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Summary and extracts
1 Market overview
1.1 Introduction
The soya is an Asian plant of the fabaceae family, widely used in the food industry but also used for its medicinal properties. Cultivated for its seeds rich in proteins and oil, soya is intended for the food and feed . The use of soybeans for human consumption is concentrated around the production of tofu, soy milk, soy sauce, nattö and tempeh. Soya is also used for industrial purposes and for the production of biodiesel and bio-fuels. After palm oil, soybean oil is the second most consumed vegetable oil in the world.
The world soybean market represented a production of several hundred million tons with ever-increasing trade ( 751% increase of world soybean production over the past 50 years). According to Greenpeace, between 70% and 90% of the world's soybean production is used to produce soybean oilcake for the animal feedingstuffs the China being the leading consumer of soybeans for its various farms.
The world soybean market is dominated by the giants of the grain trade, leaving little room for new entrants. In order to maintain their margins, soybean market players are relying on the quality upgrading through, in particular, the production of a local non-GMO soybean.
However, the soybean market is faced with international competition This is due to the presence of emerging economies in this segment, notably Brazil, whose exports are increasing every year, Argentina, but also the United States, the world's leading producer
In 2020, the price of soybeans has experienced an increase for an agricultural product. Factors include massive Chinese imports in the aftermath of the first wave of covid-19 in order to rebuild its pig herd, which was largely affected by African Swine Fever in 2018-2019, but also unfavourable weather conditions for the soybean harvest in South America
France is largely dependent on American soybeans In the case of the United States, its domestic production does not meet the scale of its demand. And, while France has banned the production of GMOs for commercial purposes since 2008, imported soybeans are from soy-GMO ...which is used to feed cattle, then consumed by the French. Although local production is increasing on this market, France cannot achieve independence from this raw material. Thus the question of soybean imports remains a subject for discussion controversial
Thanks to its nutritional richness, soy can be consumed as a substitute for meat or animal proteins, which attracts the players in the organic consumption and healthy in the soybean market. The rate of growth of food products based on soya has been around 15% per year since 2000. In addition, 60% of French people have declared having consumed soy-based products in 2017.
The players in this market are of different sizes and natures. Firstly, French or foreign soybean farmers, then soybean oil cake and soybean oil producers (such as Huilerie Gid, but also Avril and Euralis, which are joining forces in 2017). Then there are the companies that create biofuel from soya, such as Total, but also the companies that are trying to integrate soya-derived products into the French diet. (such as Bjorg et compagnie, Triballat Noyal, etc)
List of charts presented in this market study
- Répartition de la production mondiale de soja
- Principaux exportateurs de soja dans le monde
- Principaux pays importateurs de soja
- Evolution de la production de soja dans le monde
- Principales destinations des exportations des fèves de soja français
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Latest news
Organic crisis: the worst is over for the owner of Bjorg and Alter Eco - 28/03/2024
- Ecotone, European leader in organic products,
- Bjorg, Bonneterre and Alter Eco chocolate brands
- Group sales were stable at 693 million euros, but down 6% in volume.
- Three quarters of Ecotone's business is with supermarket chains, which account for 53% of market share.
- Two plants in France and seven others in Italy, Spain, England and Germany
- 1.600 employees
Ecotone invests in Gironde to triple organic coffee production - 24/11/2023
- The Ecotone group has achieved sales of 690 million euros in 2022.
- The burn plant inaugurated by Ecotone and Destination Bio covers more than 9,000 square meters and employs 60 people.
- Investment in the new Destination Bio site amounts to 10 million euros.
- The plant's production capacity is 3,500 tonnes per year
- Destination Bio's market share in the organic coffee sector is 46%.
- Destination Bio's sales total 21 million euros, rising to 50 million euros if sales under other brands are included.
- Organic coffee sales represent 5% of a French market worth over 3 billion euros.
- Organic coffee sales increased by 13% in value in 2023. Sales of fair-trade coffee and tea account for 60% of Destination Bio's sales, with a target of 70% of sales over the next 2 years.
Ecotone inaugurates its European coffee and tea production unit b - 21/10/2023
- On October 19, 2023, the Ecotone group inaugurated its new European production facility for organic coffees and teas, in Cestas, Gironde.
- 10 million euros have been invested in this new production unit
- The first year's production is estimated at around 5.5 million packs of coffee (2,650 t) and 1 million whole-leaf tea bags (100 t).
- The plant is designed to process up to 9,000 t of roasted coffee per year.
- Nearly 50% of coffee volumes are packed in beans.
- For organic teas, 30% of the volume is blended and flavored.
- The plant's production capacity is designed to support the growth of the Destination, Bonneterre, Clipper, Alter Eco and Naturela brands.
Ecotone inaugurates its organic coffee and tea production facility - 21/10/2023
- Écotone has invested 10 million euros in a new production site in Cestas.
- Production capacity at the new site is 3,200 tonnes of coffee a year, with a medium-term perspective of 4,500 tonnes, and in the longer term, up to 6,000 tonnes.
- Production is 100% organic for both coffee and tea, and the plant has a zero landfill waste policy (85% of waste is recycled or composted).
- The site employs sixty people.
- Ecotone's sales in 2022 are expected to total 690 million euros.
- The company employs 1,600 people.
- Currently, 60% of the coffee produced is fair trade
- In addition to coffee, the plant produces 100 tonnes of organic tea.
Euralis discontinues sales of crop protection products and focuses on new crops - 21/01/2023
- Sales of 1.6 billion euros 9,000 farmers in South-West France, including 6,500 members
- Agreement with Pernod Ricard to supply corn for Jameson Irish whiskey
- Ambition to have 75% of plant production under contract by 2025
- Cessation of sales of crop protection products (EVV 200 employees with sales of 40 million euros, specializing in viticulture, and Distrialis, 20 employees with sales of 20 million euros, specializing in field crops)
Euralis: sales up 15% e - 13/12/2022
- The next financial year will be heavily impacted by avian flu, which caused the Group to lose 1.8M ducks and almost 700,000 chickens this year
- Second place for the de Montfort brand in the foie gras market
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