The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) has increased its emphasis on global market diversification as the competitive focus for U.S. Soy exports.

As the USSEC’s flagship Soy Connext conference opens with record attendance of over 800, the data shows that strategy is delivering results.

U.S. Soy exports (whole soybeans, soybean meal and soy oil) are projected to grow in the marketing year 2026/27 by five per cent, driven by increasing demand across more markets and a projected return to normal trade relations with China, the world’s largest soybean buyer and, historically, U.S. Soy’s top export customer.

These projected gains follow a year-over-year (YOY) decline in total U.S. Soy global exports during 2025/26, driven by U.S.-China trade tensions. As reported in the July 23, 2026, USDA Weekly Exports report total U.S. Soy exports year-to-date are down 11 per cent with shipments to China down 45 per cent and to the rest of the world (ROW) up nine per cent.

“We are excited to see the focus on diversification working with sales to the ROW up strongly market-year-to-date on top of last year’s record, and also to see sales to China resuming thanks to the agreements made by President Trump and President Xi,” said USSEC CEO, Jim Sutter.

Approximately 400 international buyers from 67 countries are attending Soy Connext in Chicago this week. This includes 30 Chinese customers. This record attendance is a strong signal of U.S. Soy’s value to markets all over the world.

“We’re seeing China’s purchases return closer to normal, and other destinations continuing to grow. This is a good place to be,” Sutter said. “That’s not a coincidence — it’s what happens when you keep showing up. Even when there were trade issues in various places or in the worst case when trade stopped, USSEC never stopped engaging with our international partners. That persistence, combined with the reliability, quality and value U.S. Soy delivers, kept the door open and is what’s driving this growth today.”