The popular national Japanese television program World Business Satellite (WSB) recently interviewed USSEC staff about the country’s soymilk business trends. James Echle, ASA-IM Japan country director, and Masi Tateishi, USSEC contractor, appeared as guests on the show which specializes in economic and financial information. Echle highlighted the U.S. soy industry’s interest in increasing U.S. soy inclusion in the soymilk market. Japan’s soymilk consumption reached a record high in 2011, at 221,187 kiloliters.
WBS also aired a series of segments featuring Japanese companies using soy in its products. Companies profiled include: Kikkoman, a soymilk plant; Noevier, a cosmetic company producing soy-based cosmetics; and Fuji Pan, a top bakery that recently released a series of soy pastries. Tateishi highlighted the increased use of U.S. soy for these popular consumer products.
Currently, Japan consumes more than one million metric tons (MT) of soy each year with 34,000 MT used for soymilk production. The inclusion of soybeans in soymilk increased by 400 percent in the last decade and USSEC will continue to focus on the growth potential for U.S. soy in this market.
Click here to view the WBS segment. 
TV Tokyo WBS crew filming U.S. identify preserved soybeans & U.S. soyfood products displayed in ASA-IM Japan office

USSEC recently participated in a seminar sponsored by the Colombian Poultry Federation (FENAVI). USSEC specialist Carlos Campabadal discussed poultry production and nutrition, focusing on the advantages of soybean meal in poultry diets including the high-protein and amino-acid values.
Colombia has South America’s largest potential to grow and increase production of poultry meat and eggs. Colombia's poultry meat sector grew 3.8 percent last year and egg production at 9.4 percent, generating $675 million. Currently, the country consumes 234 eggs and 23.8 kilograms of poultry meat per capita a year, but those numbers could increase with more efficient production.
Due to previous high importation taxes on U.S. soy, the majority of Colombia’s soybean meal comes from Argentina and Brazil, with only 16 percent imported from the United States. With the recent implementation of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, the U.S. soy market share has the potential to increase in the coming years. USSEC’s partnership and work with FENAVI provides a potential avenue for increased U.S. soy imports to Colombia.

USSEC recently visited Daehan Feed Co., Ltd., a leading Korean feed mill, to discuss strategies to expand the demand for soy-based extruded pellet feed in aquaculture. In Soo Shin, aquaculture utilization contractor, met with Daehan’s marketing manager to discuss soybean meal inclusion in aqua feed as well as continuing efforts to extend the use of extruded-pellet feed for all growth stages of flounder.
Daehan has an annual feed production capacity of 10,000 metric tons and expressed interest in partnering with USSEC for future projects to promote soy-based aqua feeds.

The world’s longest tempe bar recently debuted at the National Tempe Festival in Salatiga, Indonesia. The bar used more than 2.5 metric tons of U.S. soybeans and set the world record at 2,165 meters (7,100 feet). Tempe, a traditional fermented soybean dish unique to Indonesia, is a major source of protein in the human diet there. The City of Salatiga, Indonesian Cooperative of Tempe Producers, Satya Wacana Christian University, and the Indonesian Tempe Forum sponsored the festival. USSEC sponsors of the Indonesian Tempe Forum.
The record-breaking tempe bar included more than a dozen tempe producers and 55 volunteers. Local and national media covered the event to promote the Indonesian heritage of tempe and the health benefits of soy. The festival sold pieces of the bar and donated the remaining sections to local hospitals, schools and orphanages.
Indonesia is the fourth-largest consumer of U.S. soybeans, importing more than 1.7 million metrics tons per year. FKS Multi Agro, the country’s leading importer and the largest importer of U.S. soybeans in Southeast Asia, donated U.S. soybeans for the event.
Acceptance of the record by Cooperative of Tempe Producers.

USSEC provided technical support to CaliCerdos de Colombia, a deboning facility in Cali, Colombia, that recently earned hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) certification. Julio Chaves, USSEC consultant and technicians from the Colombian Swine Producers Association offered guidance during the certification process. Chaves’ technical support focused on compliance with international standards. CaliCerdos expects the certification by INVIMA, Colombia’s equivalent to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, will increase consumer confidence and demand in their products. USSEC will continue to promote the advantages of U.S. soy in feed as demand for pork products increase.

USSEC is seeking an experienced marketing program manager to provide oversight, professional project management, and direction to USSEC’s global animal utilization projects.
This excellent opportunity to represent U.S. soybean growers is located in St. Louis and reports to the Global Director of Commercialization and Marketing. Knowledge and experience in agribusiness and specifically the soy industry is a plus. Contact USSEC-HR@ussec.org for additional information.

Are you traveling to China for a marketing mission or hosting a Chinese trade team at your farm this year? If so, contact the USSEC office in St. Louis to request a copy of the new talking points and briefing paper. The document outlines up-to-date information regarding our largest soy trading partner and the most effective messages to improve relations with our largest customer. To request a copy, please contact Greg Olwig, golwig@ussec.org or Lisa Pine, lpine@ussec.org.