U.S. agriculture and the soybean industry in particular, has a long and diverse supply chain
U.S. soybean farming is concentrated in the Midwest
But, almost half of all soybeans grown in the U.S. are exported – mainly to Asia
U.S. soybeans compete for customers against Brazilian and Argentinian growers
American farmers stay competitive in part by delivering soy beans to international markets faster and more reliably than our competitors while keeping costs low
Cost of shipping a ton of soybeans to China (2009-13 average):
Rufino, Argentina
$77
Londrino, Brazil
$85
Davenport, Iowa
$78
With customers often located halfway around the world, good transportation becomes essential…
Growth in U.S. soybean exports depends on an efficient supply chain that keeps U.S. farmers cost competitive in a global market