Philippines’ Soy Meal Imports to Rise 10% to 3.85 Million Tonnes in 2027, USDA Says

The Philippines is forecast to import 3.85 million metric tonnes of soybean meal in 2027, an increase of approximately 10% from the 3.5 million tonnes estimated for 2026, according to a USDA forecast reported by The Philippine Star on 14 October.

The forecast reflects expectations of continued expansion in the Philippine poultry sector, with the USDA projecting nearly 6% growth in poultry production.

The import estimate was revised upward by 200,000 tonnes from the initial 3.65-million-tonne projection, reflecting stronger expected demand.

The outlook reinforces the Philippines’ importance as a major export market for US soybean meal and highlights the continuing role of imported protein ingredients in Southeast Asian feed production.

Key market indicators

Poultry growth is the main demand driver

Soybean meal is a major protein ingredient in poultry feed, supporting growth, muscle development and production performance. Its amino-acid profile and relatively consistent nutrient composition make it an important component of commercial broiler and layer rations.

As poultry production expands, feed manufacturers must secure sufficient protein supplies while balancing feed conversion, ingredient prices, nutritional specifications and production costs.

The Philippines’ expected increase in soybean meal imports therefore reflects not simply higher commodity consumption but the feed industry’s need to support a larger poultry production base.

The forecast is especially relevant to broiler integrators, commercial feed mills, premix suppliers, nutrition companies and traders serving the Philippine livestock sector.

The United States remains strategically important

The USDA figures reported by The Philippine Star identify the Philippines as the largest export market for US soybean meal.

US soybean meal exports are forecast to reach a record 20.6 million tonnes in 2027, an increase of approximately 11%, supported by higher production, strong crushing activity and competitive prices.

The report also cites outstanding US soybean meal export sales of 5.1 million tonnes, above the corresponding level a year earlier. Outstanding sales represent commitments not yet fully shipped; they should not be treated as completed exports.

For US exporters, the Philippine forecast provides a demand signal for contracting, logistics planning and export-market development. For Philippine buyers, the outlook highlights the importance of monitoring US crushing margins, soybean availability, shipping costs, exchange rates and alternative protein ingredients.

Implications for feed manufacturers

Higher import volumes could create opportunities across the animal-feed value chain, including:

• Soybean meal trading, port handling and bulk storage.

• Feed formulation and amino-acid balancing.

• Enzyme and feed-additive technologies that improve nutrient utilisation.

• Quality assurance for protein content, moisture, contaminants and mycotoxins.

• Alternative protein ingredients and risk-management strategies.

Nevertheless, a larger import forecast does not automatically imply higher profitability. Feed manufacturers must account for landed ingredient prices, currency movements, competing corn and other feed costs, and the prices received by poultry producers.

Market risks to watch in 2027

The import forecast remains sensitive to several variables.

Poultry demand: Slower production growth could reduce soybean meal requirements.

Commodity prices: Changes in global soybean availability and crushing margins can alter meal prices and trade flows.

Freight and currency: Shipping costs and the peso-dollar exchange rate affect the landed cost of imported feed ingredients.

Feed substitution: Nutritionists may adjust the proportions of soybean meal, other protein meals, synthetic amino acids and alternative ingredients in response to relative prices.

Animal-health conditions: Disease outbreaks affecting poultry production could change feed demand and import requirements.

Industry outlook

The forecast of 3.85 million tonnes positions the Philippines as a significant growth market for protein-feed suppliers in 2027. For animal-health and nutrition businesses, the opportunity extends beyond soybean meal itself to formulation services, feed efficiency, production monitoring and technologies that help poultry producers manage volatile input costs.

The central question is whether poultry-sector growth and competitive US export pricing will be sufficient to sustain the forecast increase in imports through the coming marketing year.