U.S. Soy Marks 30 Years of Partnership with the Philippines
USSEC marked a major milestone in Manila, celebrating 30 years of partnership between U.S. Soy and the Philippines. The anniversary event highlighted three decades of collaboration that have supported the country’s feed milling, livestock, poultry and aquaculture sectors – and reinforced the Philippines’ position as one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic and fast‑growing markets for U.S. Soy.
The celebration took place alongside USSEC’s regional Feed Technology and Animal Nutrition Conference, bringing together experts from across East Asia to advance feed innovation, nutrition research and technical capacity. The discussions aligned closely with the Philippines’ priorities in feed efficiency, quality and sustainable production.
Three Decades of Shared Progress
For 30 years, U.S. Soy and the Philippines have built a partnership grounded in reliability, quality and consistent supply. The Philippines has been the top export market for U.S. soybean meal for nine consecutive years, reflecting strong confidence in U.S. Soy’s nutritional value, digestibility and performance across feed applications.
This year, total U.S. soybean meal commitments to the Philippines are up 53%,1 representing an increase of more than one million metric tons – a significant milestone that underscores the country’s continued confidence in U.S. Soy and the strength of this longstanding partnership.
A young population, rising incomes and strong demand for fresh pork and poultry continue to drive growth across the feed and animal protein sectors. These trends reinforce the Philippines’ position as one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic markets and highlight the importance of long‑term supply chain reliability.
USSEC also recognized the longstanding support of the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), whose partnership – including recent agricultural trade missions – has strengthened market access, technical cooperation and industry development in the Philippines.
Deepening Collaboration Through a New MOU
To commemorate the anniversary, USSEC and the Philippine Association of Feed Millers, Inc. (PAFMI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) reaffirming their longstanding cooperation. The agreement outlines deeper collaboration in areas such as feed formulation, nutritional research, supply chain transparency and sustainability verification through U.S. Soy programs.
“PAFMI plays a central role in advancing feed quality and food security in the Philippines,” said USSEC CEO Jim Sutter. “This MOU reflects our shared commitment to supporting a modern, efficient feed industry and ensuring that manufacturers have access to a reliable, high‑quality supply of U.S. Soy – a supply that delivers the value customers rely on and is produced with verified sustainability that aligns with the Philippines’ long‑term goals.”
Advancing Sustainability and Innovation
U.S. soybean farmers continue to lead in climate‑smart agriculture, adopting practices that reduce environmental impact while improving productivity. Programs such as the U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) and the Sustainable U.S. Soy label provide verified sustainability that aligns with the Philippines’ increasing focus on responsible sourcing, carbon footprint reduction and supply chain transparency.
Today, more than 95% of U.S. Soy exports to the Philippines carry SSAP verification, supporting the country’s growing emphasis on traceability and responsible sourcing.2 These efforts help feed manufacturers strengthen efficiency, transparency and long‑term resilience across livestock and aquaculture value chains.
A Growing Market with Long-Term Potential
The Philippines’ feed industry remains one of the fastest‑growing in Southeast Asia. Total feed use is projected to grow 32% by 2035, with poultry feed demand expected to rise 37% and aquaculture feed 28%.3 These trends underscore the country’s strong and sustained need for high‑quality protein ingredients.
With U.S. Soy commitments rising sharply this year, opportunities for expanded technical collaboration and sustainability engagement continue to grow. As the Philippines’ feed and livestock industries evolve, U.S. Soy remains committed to supporting the sector’s continued growth through innovation, technical exchange and reliable supply.
Partially funded by the Soybean Checkoff
1 USDA FAS Export Sales through Week Ending May 7, 2026
2 USSEC U.S Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) shipment data
3 USSEC Philippines Market Snapshot, January 2026