By Scout Nelson
The Kansas Soybean Commission (KSC) has announced its participation in a major national export initiative by contributing $25,000 toward a soybean meal export expansion project at The Andersons grain terminal in the Port of Houston.
The project, supported by the Soy Transportation Coalition (STC), is designed to expand export capacity by one million metric tons of soybean meal and soybeans annually, strengthening the U.S. soybean industry’s global competitiveness.
On September 24, KSC representatives joined STC officials at the Port of Houston, where STC presented The Andersons, Inc. with a $275,000 check to support ongoing terminal development. The funds will be used for research, analysis, pre-engineering, and site development tied to the expansion, which is expected to benefit producers in Kansas and across the Midwest.
“We sincerely appreciate the opportunity to work with soybean farmers on this important investment,” said Matt Dvorak, The Andersons Houston Business Manager. “As domestic soybean crush increases, we are identifying new opportunities for the export of soybean meal via our Houston facility.
We look forward to working with the Soy Transportation Coalition and the broader soybean farmer community on this project which will help connect U.S. soybean meal with international customers.”
The initiative is intended to strengthen U.S. export infrastructure, address supply chain challenges, and open new market pathways. By using rail transportation instead of relying solely on the inland waterway system, this project will help mitigate the effects of low Mississippi River levels while expanding trade access to key regions, including the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America.
“This project is essential to marketing Kansas soybeans,” said Kaleb Little, KSC administrator. “One-half of the U.S. soybean crop is exported, and we can only do that through the best rail, river, and port infrastructure. This investment in the Port of Houston is an investment in those international markets.”
The expansion project marks a vital step in ensuring Kansas soybeans reach more global buyers efficiently, supporting U.S. agriculture’s long-term export sustainability and market growth.
Photo Credit:istock-sandramatic
Categories: Kansas, Business, Crops, Soybeans