EU remains dependent on soy imports

The European Union still relies heavily on imported soy to feed its poultry sector, even as new sourcing rules tighten scrutiny on every shipment. (allaboutfeed.net) Soybean meal is the high-protein part left after soybeans are crushed for oil, and it remains a core ingredient in poultry feed because it combines dense protein, digestibility and a competitive price. The European Commission said on October 8, 2024 that the bloc still “greatly relies” on imported soybeans and soy meal. (ec.europa.eu) The Commission said the European Union imported plant-based products equal to 19 million tonnes of crude protein to cover its protein deficit, while the European arable crop sector supplied 64 million tonnes in 2023-24. Dry pulses accounted for just 1.1 million tonnes in that domestic mix. (ec.europa.eu) Feed manufacturers say the gap is sharpest in richer protein ingredients, not in total feed volume. The European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation says the bloc meets 78% of total feed protein demand overall, largely through forage, but only 26% of its needs for high-protein feed materials, with imports of soybean meal covering much of the shortfall. (fefac.eu) That leaves Europe trying to balance supply security with tougher environmental checks. Soy is one of the commodities covered by the European Union Deforestation Regulation, which requires products placed on the European Union market to be deforestation-free, legal in the country of production and backed by a due diligence statement. (eur-lex.europa.eu) The compliance system is already shaping trade behavior. The amended regulation published on December 23, 2025 said the European Commission’s information system for due diligence statements had launched on December 4, 2024, and was being simplified after officials projected much heavier use than first expected. (eur-lex.europa.eu) Feed companies warned earlier that the transition could raise costs before it reduces risk. In a 2024 assessment of the 2025 market, the European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation said the European Union feed sector needs about 30 million tonnes of soybean meal a year and estimated extra costs for compliant soy supplies at 5% to 10% above normal quotations. (fefac.eu) The same federation estimated direct extra costs for soybean meal supplies at about €750 million to €1.5 billion, with the broader impact across soy and alternative proteins reaching as much as €2.25 billion. It also said Europe accounts for less than 15% of global soy use, which limits the bloc’s leverage when exporters can sell elsewhere. (fefac.eu) At the same time, sustainability programs are expanding but have not ended import dependence. The ProTerra Foundation said on July 1, 2025 that soy meeting the European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation sourcing guidelines rose from 42% in 2019 to 54% in 2023 across the European Union plus neighboring markets. (proterrafoundation.org) That same report said the European Union plus market remained heavily dependent on imported soy, especially for pork and poultry, and still sourced from higher-risk regions including the Cerrado, Amazon and Gran Chaco. For now, Europe’s soy policy is not about replacing imports quickly; it is about keeping them flowing with paperwork that buyers can defend. (proterrafoundation.org)