USSEC is providing trade and technical services to develop a private label brand of 100 percent soybean oil requested by the Mexican government.
USSEC will be working with AYPECSA, a soybean crusher and soybean oil producer who won the national tender of oil distribution from the government organization DICONSA.  DICONSA oversees the distribution and supply of basic products as well as food in rural, low income areas of Mexico.  This government organization has 26,580 stores in small towns and communities throughout the country.  As part of their strategy, DICONSA organized two regional meetings and product exhibitions for store representatives in the cities of Izamal and Ticul in the state of Yucatan.  USSEC participated in these meetings and exhibitions by giving training sessions on the uses of soybean oil as well discussing health benefits and the advantages of soybean oil over other oils with the goal of creating health conscious, valid sales arguments to carry this oil in all stores.  Soybean oil is one of DICONSA’s top sellers because it is used by mothers in their cooking practices.
As requested by AYPECSA and DICONSA, USSEC will continue participating in additional regional meetings that other Mexican states will organize during the 2014-2015 fiscal years.  The soybean oil producer began its agreement with DICONSA this past April, and current sales through August were about 1,200,000 liters of soybean oil, representing 6,600 metric tons of U.S. soybeans.  DICONSA programs are reevaluated on an annual basis and sales of soybean oil will continue until April 2015.