Soya is one of the world's most traded commodities and is produced on around 9.5% of global arable land. In the last 40 years, demand and production of soya have increased fivefold. The main reasons for this development are the pent-up demand for animal proteins in Asia and the shift towards greater consumption of low-fat poultry meat in Western countries.

According to FAOSTAT, 350 million tonnes of soybeans were produced on 133 million hectares of land worldwide in 2022. The USDA expects almost 400 million tonnes of soybeans produced in 2023. The USA, Brazil and Argentina are responsible for 80% of total production. The largest producing countries are also the largest exporters of soya. The largest importing country is China. Until 1990, China imported almost no soya. Today, the country imports around three times the amount consumed in the EU (approx. 100 million tonnes).