Saudi Arabia Soybean Market Overview, 2030

The Saudi Arabia soybean market is a vital component of the country’s agricultural and food industries, shaped by import dependency, sustainability regulations, and evolving trade policies. Saudi Arabia does not cultivate soybeans due to arid climatic conditions and water scarcity, relying entirely on imports from Brazil, the United States, and Argentina to meet domestic demand. The feed industry is the largest consumer, utilizing soybean meal for poultry, dairy, and aquaculture feed, ensuring high protein content and nutritional balance. The food sector integrates soybeans into plant-based protein products, soy milk, and tofu, catering to the rising demand for alternative protein sources. The biodiesel industry incorporates soybean oil into renewable fuel production, supporting Saudi Arabia’s energy diversification goals. The market is influenced by global trade dynamics, with Saudi Arabia serving as a re-export hub, distributing soybean products to neighboring Gulf countries. Sustainability remains a priority, with Saudi Arabia implementing traceability measures to ensure compliance with deforestation-free supply chains and environmental regulations. The market is shaped by trade agreements, consumer-driven demand for transparency, and government incentives promoting responsible sourcing, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s commitment to food security and sustainable agriculture. Saudi Arabia’s agricultural policies focus on food security and trade diversification, ensuring stable supply chains through long-term import agreements. Regulatory policies governing the soybean market align with global sustainability standards, including ISO certifications for quality management, environmental compliance, and food safety regulations.

According to the research report, “Saudi Arabia Soybean Overview, 2030, published by Bonafide Research, the Saudi Arabia Soybean market is anticipated to add to more than USD 560 Million by 2025–30. The market drivers include the growing demand for high-protein animal feed, the expansion of plant-based protein consumption, and government-led sustainability initiatives promoting traceability and responsible sourcing. The latest developments in the Saudi soybean market focus on trade diversification, with the country expanding import agreements to include new suppliers, ensuring supply chain resilience. Major market players include Cargill, Bunge, and local agribusiness firms, offering soybean meal, oil, and plant-based protein products to meet the needs of feed, food, and biofuel industries. These companies prioritize sustainable sourcing and advanced processing technologies to align with global environmental mandates. Opportunities in the market lie in the expansion of regional soybean crushing facilities, reducing dependency on imports while supporting Saudi Arabia’s food security strategy. The compliances and certifications required for soybean imports include ISO 14001 for environmental management, HACCP for food safety, and EU Deforestation Regulation compliance. These regulations ensure responsible sourcing, environmental protection, and product quality, helping manufacturers meet industry standards and consumer expectations. Trade agreements with Brazil, the United States, and Argentina reinforce Saudi Arabia’s position as a key soybean importer, ensuring stable supply chains while supporting regional food security initiatives.


GMO soybeans, genetically modified to enhance yield, pest resistance, and herbicide tolerance, dominate global soybean production but face stringent regulations in Saudi Arabia due to consumer preferences for clean-label products and sustainability concerns. The country primarily imports GMO soybeans for animal feed, particularly in the poultry and livestock sectors, where high-protein soybean meal is essential for nutritional balance. However, Saudi Arabia has been actively promoting Non-GMO soybean sourcing, aligning with its sustainability goals and consumer preferences for organic and traceable food products. Non-GMO soybeans are widely used in food processing, including soy milk, tofu, and plant-based protein alternatives, catering to the growing demand for health-conscious and environmentally friendly products. The Saudi government and agricultural bodies have implemented policies to support responsible Non-GMO soybean imports, ensuring compliance with global sustainability standards and reducing dependency on genetically modified crops. The feed industry remains the largest consumer of soybeans, with a significant portion sourced from Brazil and the United States, although Saudi Arabia is gradually diversifying its import sources to meet sustainability targets. The biodiesel sector also integrates soybean oil, particularly from Non-GMO sources, to support renewable energy initiatives. The market is shaped by trade agreements, environmental policies, and consumer-driven demand for transparency in food sourcing, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and responsible soybean production.

Animal Feed remains the dominant sector, with soybean meal serving as a primary protein source for poultry, dairy, and aquaculture feed formulations. Saudi Arabia’s livestock and poultry industries rely on high-protein soybean meal, sourced entirely through imports, to ensure optimal nutrition and feed efficiency. The Food & Beverages segment integrates soybeans into plant-based protein products, soy milk, tofu, and soy-based meat alternatives, catering to the growing demand for sustainable and health-conscious food options. The rise of vegan and vegetarian diets has further accelerated the adoption of soy-based ingredients in processed foods, aligning with consumer preferences for non-GMO and organic soybeans. The Industrial sector utilizes soybean oil in biodiesel production, supporting Saudi Arabia’s renewable energy initiatives and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Soybean derivatives also find applications in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and chemical manufacturing, where they serve as emulsifiers, stabilizers, and bio-based alternatives to synthetic compounds. Beyond these core applications, soybeans are used in pet food formulations, aquaculture feed, and specialized food processing, ensuring versatility across multiple industries. Saudi Arabia’s commitment to sustainability and traceability has led to increased investments in deforestation-free soybean sourcing, ensuring compliance with global environmental regulations. The market is shaped by trade agreements, consumer-driven demand for transparency, and government incentives promoting responsible soybean sourcing, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s position as a key player in the Middle Eastern soybean industry.

Raw soybeans, sourced primarily from Brazil, the United States, and Argentina, are essential for animal feed formulations, providing high-quality protein and amino acids for poultry, dairy, and aquaculture nutrition. Due to Saudi Arabia’s arid climate and limited agricultural capacity, the country relies entirely on imported raw soybeans, ensuring stable supply chains through long-term trade agreements with major global exporters. These soybeans are further processed by local crushing facilities, supporting the growing demand for soybean meal in the livestock industry, where nutritional efficiency and high feed conversion rates are critical factors. The Processed soybean segment, encompassing soybean meal, soybean oil, and soy-based food products, plays a pivotal role in Saudi Arabia’s agribusiness and food sectors due to its widespread applications in animal nutrition, plant-based food alternatives, and industrial manufacturing. Soybean meal, derived from crushed raw soybeans, is a fundamental component in compound feed formulations, ensuring optimal protein intake for livestock growth and sustainability. The food industry incorporates processed soybeans into soy milk, tofu, textured vegetable protein, and other plant-based alternatives, catering to the increasing adoption of vegan and vegetarian diets among health-conscious consumers. Meanwhile, soybean oil, extracted through advanced processing techniques, is widely utilized in cooking, food manufacturing, and biodiesel production, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s commitment to renewable energy integration and sustainable fuel alternatives. The industrial sector benefits from soy-based derivatives which serve as emulsifiers, stabilizers, and bio-based additives in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and chemical manufacturing, offering eco-friendly replacements for synthetic compounds.

Direct Sales involve transactions between soybean importers and large-scale buyers, including feed manufacturers, food processors, and biodiesel producers, where companies establish long-term contracts to ensure stable pricing and supply security. Saudi Arabia, being import-dependent, relies heavily on strategic trade agreements with major soybean-producing countries such as Brazil, the United States, and Argentina, enabling uninterrupted supply chains for raw soybeans and processed soybean derivatives. The direct sales channel is particularly significant for non-GMO soybean suppliers, catering to specialized markets requiring traceability and sustainability compliance, especially as Saudi Arabia emphasizes responsible sourcing and environmental impact. Wholesale distribution serves as the backbone of the soybean supply chain in Saudi Arabia, bridging the gap between importers, processors, and end-users by facilitating bulk transactions for soybean meal, oil, and whole soybeans. Large agribusiness firms and commodity traders dominate Saudi Arabia’s wholesale market, ensuring logistical efficiency and supply chain optimization for industries reliant on soybean-based products. Wholesale distributors primarily source soybeans from global exporters, ensuring availability for animal feed producers, food manufacturers, and industrial processors. The retail segment of Saudi Arabia’s soybean market focuses on consumer-oriented soybean products, including soy milk, tofu, soy-based meat alternatives, cooking oils, and specialty health foods, catering to the growing demand for plant-based, organic, and sustainable food options among Saudi consumers. Supermarkets, specialty stores, and e-commerce platforms play a vital role in making processed soybean products accessible to health-conscious and environmentally aware buyers, responding to the shift toward sustainable food sources.

Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report
• Soybean Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Type
• GMO
• Non GMO

By Applications
• Animal Feed
• Food & Beverages
• Industrial
• Other

By Form
• Processed
• Raw

By Distribution Channel
• Direct Sales
• Wholesale
• Retail

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analyzing the government generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to agriculture industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.