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Container shipping keeping US soybean farmers in the game

A soybean transportation lead says container shipping is helping US soybean farmers stay competitive in the global market.

Scott Sigman with the Illinois Soybean Association tells Brownfield although container shipping costs more per ton, there is added value in having a reliable supply with less foreign material.

“In that way, raising the bar so that the customer recognizes that competitiveness is not just built on price. There is a quality component to being competitive as well.”

Sigman says applying tracking technology to the container shipping process will add to the competitive edge in the future.

“An ecosystem will form with partners along the supply chain and everyone will have some increased interest in managing the quality, managing the goods flow and managing that information flow.”  

Soybeans shipped in containers to Southeast Asia have grown 40% since the 2014-2015 marketing year and are projected to increase another 18% in the 2018-2019 marketing year.

Educating farmers and industry professionals about container shipping was the main focus for the Illinois Soybean Association at the 2019 Farm Progress Show.