February 3, 2014
Cargill's US soy processing facility in North Carolina to cease operations
Cargill's operations at its soy processing facility in Raleigh, North Carolina, the United States, will cease in late spring, while the Raleigh elevator will continue to operate as a platform to purchase soy from area producers and elevator customers.
Don Camden, a regional manager for Cargill 's soy processing business, says, "The North Carolina market is very important to us, and we look forward to serving both crop producers and livestock industry customers through our remaining activities at Raleigh as well as through other Cargill facilities."
Camden said the elevator at Raleigh will continue to be a competitive buyer of beans from farmers in North Carolina and surrounding states. Soymeal customers will be served by Cargill's plant in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in addition to rail shipments into the region from other Cargill plants.
Mark Stonacek, president of Cargill Grain & Oilseed Supply Chain North America, said: "In recent years, demand for US soy processing has become more variable and seasonally driven." Among other factors, Stonacek cited a downturn in demand for US-produced soymeal in the face of expected large bean crops in South America. Those factors combined with strong global demand for US soy has made operating the Raleigh plant during the spring and summer periods economically challenging.
"Cargill will still remain an important buyer of local soy by keeping the elevator open and maintaining our regional office," Camden said.
