ANKENY, Iowa – Farmer-members of the Iowa Soybean Association, Missouri Soybeans, South Dakota Soybean, and Ag Processing, Inc., participated in a Jan. 12-16 trade mission in Torreón, Mexico, to visit with customers in what one participant called an important market for U.S. soy.

“This region is Mexico’s largest milk-producing state, which we learned more about during our visits,” Brock Johnston, Iowa Soybean Association public relations manager, who participated in the five-day trade mission, told Farm World. “We had the opportunity to tour a dairy farm, feed mill, dry milk processing facility, and a feedlot.

“These trade missions provide an excellent opportunity to thank customers for their past business, and discuss further opportunities to continue supplying them with reliable, high-quality and sustainable U.S. soy.”

He said Mexico is a vital partner for U.S. agriculture: “They are the second-largest buyer of soybeans and soybean meal from the U.S. In 2024, the U.S. exported $2.3 billion worth of soybeans, and $859 million worth of soybean meal to Mexico.” 

He said the competitiveness of local crush facilities and imports from other sources “make our marketing efforts essential to maintain that competitive edge with our closest customer to the South.

“With crushing capacity expanding in recent years throughout Mexico to support expanded poultry and hog industries, the domestic soybean demand is forecast at 7.7 million metric tons in the current marketing year – 2 percent higher than the prior marketing year,” he said. “It’s expected that Mexico will import 2.3 million metric tons of soybean meal, with the vast majority coming from the U.S.”

He said other key takeaways are that “Mexico’s poultry and pork industries continue to consume large quantities of soybean meal, and customers and importers believe that soybean meal consumption could rise by 4 percent in 2025-26.

“Domestic crush continues to challenge U.S. soybean meal exports to Mexico,” he said. “It is crucial to continue highlighting the quality and value of U.S. soy, compared to other sources as we contend with lower crude protein levels. Direct conversations with customers in these markets are a key way to do so.”

On a separate, more recent trade mission, Jan. 28-31, the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) hosted a Soy Excellence Center (SEC) dairy technical program in Torreón in collaboration with the Mexican National Dairy Producers Association.

“The program provided practical, hands-on training for Mexican dairy producers and industry leaders,” Kerrey Kerr-Enskat, director of communications at the USSEC in Chesterfield, Mo., told Farm World.

“For USSEC, the goal was clear: strengthen relationships in one of the most important export markets for U.S. soy, while supporting dairy producers with science-based best practices. Sessions focused on dairy management, feed efficiency, and the nutritional value and consistency of U.S. soy in livestock rations,” she said. 

She said participants also visited Mexican National Dairy Producers Association-member dairy farms, offering direct, in-field discussions about production systems, feed use, and operational priorities.

“A key takeaway was the strong interest among Mexican dairy producers in continuing technical engagement with USSEC,” she said. “Sustained training and producer-to-producer collaboration help reinforce trust, support long-term demand, and ensure U.S. soy remains a reliable, high-quality ingredient in Mexico’s growing dairy sector.”