After customer visits  to France and Belgium, a U.S. delegation including United Soybean Board (USB) director Bob Metz and American Soybean Association (ASA) director Willard Jack attended the European Commodities Exchange. The European Bourse represents 38 national exchanges from 12 European countries. The annual meeting, consisting of two days of work, meetings, and business events, has been held since 1961. The Bourse is a chance to bring together all the European companies operating in the oilseed, cereal, grain, fertilizer, and animal feed sectors, along with sectors for other related products as well as service sector businesses (banking, transport, insurance, etc.) that are interested in this broad product segment. This year, the event was celebrated in Brussels.
USSEC met with 2000 to 3000 people from Europe, but also from other parts of the world representing the grain and oilseed business at its booth in the Bourse. USSEC received many customers at the booth as well. The main companies, including Bunge, Cargill, ADM, Dreyfus, Cofco, Avenne, Invivo, FCStone, CME group, and Cereal Docks, visited, plus many others.
During only a day and a half, USSEC met with many in the European industry and the U.S. soybean industry was in the middle of the industry’s main event in Europe.
USSEC attendees included Mr. Metz, Mr. Jack, USSEC CEO Jim Sutter, Mr. Babb, USSEC Director – Market Access / USB Roz Leeck, and the south Europe team.