- Structural Expansion: Russia advances a 35.3 billion ruble soybean and rapeseed processing hub in Amur Region, targeting 1 million tons of annual capacity by Q1 2027.
- Export Orientation: The Belogorsk complex will enhance value-added exports of soybean meal and oil from the Far Eastern Federal District into Asian markets.
- Demand Signal: South Korea’s FLC buys 60,000 tons of soybean meal at $362.31/ton C&F, underscoring firm Asian demand and supportive crush margins.
- Market Tone: Overall impact is neutral to moderately bullish, with long-term support from capacity growth and steady international meal demand.
Russia’s Amur Region Processing Expansion
Russia’s state development corporation VEB.RF has begun financing a large export-oriented soybean and rapeseed processing and logistics complex in Belogorsk, Amur Region. The total project cost is estimated at 35.3 billion rubles, with VEB.RF providing 6 billion rubles in preferential funding via the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East. An initial tranche of 155.4 million rubles has already been allocated for oil extraction equipment purchases.
The facility will integrate an oil extraction plant, bulk cargo terminal, and supporting rail and road infrastructure. Designed capacity is up to 1 million tons of raw materials annually, equivalent to processing 3,000 tons of soybeans or 2,000 tons of rapeseed per day. Construction and equipment installation are underway, with commercial operations targeted for the first quarter of 2027. The project is expected to create around 550 jobs and will source raw materials from across the Far Eastern Federal District.
International Soybean Meal Purchase
In the international feed market, South Korean animal feed producer FLC secured approximately 60,000 tons of soybean meal via an international tender held on January 14. The cargo was awarded to COFCO at a price of $362.31 per ton C&F, including port unloading surcharges. The meal will be sourced from the United States, China, and South America, with deliveries to be completed by June 2025 and South American shipments scheduled between April 6 and May 6.
| Item | Metric | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Total Project Investment | RUB | 35.3 billion |
| VEB.RF Preferential Financing | RUB | 6 billion |
| Initial Tranche Disbursed | RUB | 155.4 million |
| Annual Processing Capacity | Tons/year | Up to 1,000,000 (soybeans & rapeseed) |
| Daily Soybean Throughput | Tons/day | 3,000 |
| Daily Rapeseed Throughput | Tons/day | 2,000 |
| Planned Start of Operations | Timeline | Q1 2027 |
| Estimated New Jobs | People | 550 |
| FLC Soybean Meal Purchase Volume | Tons | 60,000 (approx.) |
| FLC Purchase Price | $ / ton (C&F) | 362.31 |
| Delivery Window Completion | Date | By June 2025 |
| South American Shipment Window | Date | April 6 – May 6, 2025 |
Market Impact and Outlook
The Belogorsk complex marks a structural expansion of Russia’s soybean and rapeseed processing capacity and is poised to shift the country further up the value chain toward exports of meal and oil rather than raw beans. While the commissioning target of Q1 2027 limits immediate supply-side effects, the 1 million ton capacity supports a long-term increase in regional crush volumes and exportable surpluses into Asia.
FLC’s 60,000-ton soybean meal purchase at $362.31 per ton C&F signals resilient Asian demand and underpins global crush margins. The multi-origin sourcing from the US, China, and South America highlights ongoing competition between key exporters and a continued focus on supply diversification, contributing to a neutral to moderately bullish tone for the soybean meal market.
Source: Market Data
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