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According to the latest data from the International Trade Center (ITC), Turkey reached a historic milestone in its soybean imports during the 2025/26 marketing year. Total imports rose by 1% over the previous season to a record-breaking 4.24 million tons. This growth was primarily driven by a massive surge in supplies from Brazil, which increased by 41% to reach 2.9 million tons. Consequently, Brazil's share of the Turkish market climbed from 48% to a dominant 67%.
This shift came at the expense of other major suppliers. Imports from Ukraine plummeted by 33% to 739,000 tons, seeing its market share drop from 26% to 17%. Similarly, soybean arrivals from the United States decreased by 29% to 604,000 tons, resulting in a share reduction from 20% to 14%. Industry analysts note that Brazil, following a bumper harvest, has been aggressively pursuing new markets as China reorients its purchasing patterns toward American supplies.
Turkey's robust import activity has significantly bolstered its domestic processing capacity. In the 2025/26 marketing year, exports of Turkish soybean meal surged by 47% to a record 1.6 million tons. While soybean oil exports saw a marginal 1% decline to 465,000 tons, the figure remains the second-highest annual total on record. The Middle East remains the primary destination for Turkish soybean meal, while Algeria is the top buyer of its soybean oil. Additionally, Turkey is expanding its footprint in the European Union market for both products.
Looking ahead, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecasts that Turkey's appetite for soybeans will continue to grow. Imports are projected to hit a new record of 4.55 million tons in the 2026/27 marketing year.
Source: International Trade Center (ITC)