Soy Chemicals

US demand to grow 8% annually through 2013
US demand for soy chemicals is forecast to increase eight percent per year to $3.5 billion in 2013. Historically, soy has been consumed primarily in the food market as an ingredient or additive. In this application, soy proteins are widely used to contribute desirable appearance and textural properties. As an added bonus, soy ingredients enhance the nutritional profile of foods by boosting the protein content.

Industrial markets for soy ingredients to emerge
While soy ingredients will continue to penetrate the food and beverage industry, industrial markets (e.g., biodiesel, paints and lubricants) will also emerge. Growth in industrial markets will be the result of continued intense research and development activities among soy industry participants, and a growing desire by government and business to reduce dependence on imports of crude oil. Utilization of a renewable resource and a favorable environmental profile are factors promoting the development and use of soy-based industrial products.

Historically, soy chemicals were used sparingly throughout industrial markets, as they faced a significant cost disadvantage compared to petroleum-based alternatives, which benefitted from low and stable pricing during much of the 1990s. While support from both government and business to reduce US reliance on imports of crude oil initiated interest for soy chemicals in industrial markets, another boost to the soy industry came from significant increases in petroleum pricing during the middle part of this decade, when manufacturers quickly became interested in finding reasonably priced petroleum alternatives.

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