Key facts
- Argentina's soybean acreage is projected to decrease to 40.8 million acres in the 2025-26 season.
- Despite reduced acreage, soybean production is forecast to slightly increase to 49.5 million metric tons.
- The pullback in soybean planting is attributed to farmers returning to corn rotations.
- Soybean growers are expected to reduce planting by nearly 2.5 million acres.
- The FAS report highlights potential impacts from El Niño and fertilizer prices on the 2026-27 harvest.
Soybean growers in Argentina are expected to reduce planting by nearly 2.5 million acres in the upcoming season, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). This pullback is largely due to farmers reverting to traditional corn rotations following a year where pest concerns drove a record expansion of soybean acreage.
Despite the anticipated decrease in planted area to 40.8 million acres for the 2025-26 season, the FAS forecasts a slight increase in soybean production to 49.5 million metric tons. This projection is up from the current estimate for the 2024-25 season, which saw acreage at 43.2 million and production at 49 MMT.
The FAS report indicates that first or early-planted soybeans will likely see the largest reduction in acreage, though this will be partially offset by an expected increase in second (late) soybean plantings. The agency also forecasts soybean crush to rise to 42 MMT in 2025-26, with the crushing sector expected to operate above 60% of capacity. Whole soybean exports are also projected to increase to 5.5 MMT in 2025-26, with China being a primary destination.
Factors such as El Niño and fertilizer prices are noted as potential influences on the 2026-27 harvest. The report also touches on Argentina's role in global soybean oil and meal markets, with processors expected to continue importing soybeans, primarily from Paraguay, to maintain crush volumes.