U.S. soybean farmer leaders are backing a major infrastructure upgrade at the Port of Houston that will enable soybean meal exports starting in early 2026. Representatives from the United Soybean Board (USB), Soy Transportation Coalition and Midwest state groups toured the site and presented a ceremonial $275,000 investment to The Andersons Inc., supporting design, research and engineering work.
The project is funded through the Soybean Checkoff via a coalition of farmer-led organizations, underscoring efforts to strengthen supply chain efficiency as soybean processing capacity grows nationwide.
As more facilities crush soybeans for renewable fuels, surplus soybean meal needs new destinations. While much will supply domestic livestock markets, industry leaders say export growth is essential.
The Port of Houston expansion offers an alternative to Mississippi River routes, which have been repeatedly hindered by low water levels. Using rail networks like BNSF and Union Pacific, the Gulf facility will diversify transportation channels and reduce export risk.
Leaders say the investment reflects three strategic priorities: building meal export capacity, spreading dependence across multiple transport corridors, and attracting new foreign buyers.
With storage for 6.3 million bushels and capacity to move more than 2 million tons of grain annually, the Houston terminal positions U.S. growers to reach emerging markets in North Africa, Europe, Latin America and Asia.
Primary soybean meal supplies will come from processing growth in states including Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska. The Andersons will fund construction, while farmers’ contributions support planning and design.
Industry officials say the effort highlights how checkoff dollars convert into visible improvements that broaden market access and strengthen international competitiveness for U.S. soybean producers.
