March 14, 2025

 

USSEC: US soy unlocks profit potential for Southeast Asia's feed industry

 

 

Feed cost optimisation, animal nutrition, and sustainability were key themes at the US Soybean Export Council (USSEC)'s participation in VIV Asia 2025, Asia's premier event for the feed, livestock, and related industries.

 

Taking place on March 12–14 in Bangkok, Thailand, VIV Asia 2025 brought together industry experts to discuss advancements in animal performance, poultry modernisation, and precision nutrition to improve feed efficiency.

 

Southeast Asia remains a fast-growing market for US soy, driven by the rising demand for high-quality feed alongside the region's expanding poultry and livestock industries. The Philippines has been the top importer of US soybean meal for the past eight years, while Vietnam and Indonesia have seen imports grow by 110% and 49%, respectively, over the past five years, according to USSEC.

 

"Southeast Asia's growing preference for US Soy reflects the region's need for high-quality, sustainable, and efficient feed solutions," said Timothy Loh, USSEC's Regional Director for Southeast Asia and Oceania. "By consistently delivering nutritional and economic advantages, US Soy strengthens feed producers' competitiveness in a dynamic global marketplace."

 

In marketing year 2023/24, Southeast Asia imported 9.08 million metric tons (MMT) of whole soybeans and 20.89 MMT of soybean meal, indicating the region's growing use of US soy for protein-rich feed. As US soy remains competitively priced in the global marketplace, VIV Asia 2025 provided a timely platform for industry discussions, USSEC said.

 

A key factor driving demand for US soy is its exceptional amino acid digestibility, which improves animal performance and enhances feed efficiency. US soy's nutrient bundle — rich in essential amino acids and higher sucrose levels —translates into a US$5–10 per metric ton of feed return on investment for international meat producers.

 

Additionally, US soy's superior consistency and quality — enabled by ideal growing conditions and in-field drying practices — ensure reliability from production to storage, transportation, and feed formulation.

 

"US soybean meal offers a competitive, high-quality feed ingredient that helps poultry and livestock producers optimise feed formulations, lower costs, and improve overall productivity," said Dr. Thomas D'Alfonso, Global Director of Animal & Aquaculture at USSEC. "By choosing US Soy, producers can not only invest in a product with superior nutritional value and consistency but also do so for the long-term sustainability of their businesses."

 

At VIV Asia 2025, experts including Dr. Thomas D'Alfonso; Tarik Eluri, sustainability manager at USSEC; Dr. Basilisa Reas, Regional Technical Director (Animal Utilization) at USSEC; and Dr. Chaiyapoom Bunchasak of the Department of Animal Science -at Kasetsart University, Thailand, explored key topics such as:

 

    - The role of digestible amino acids in precision nutrition;

 

    - Proven strategies for reducing the carbon footprint of feed production;

 

    - Sustainability initiatives that drive business success.

- USSEC