Soy Stats™, A Reference Guide To Important Soybean Facts & Figures, is a comprehensive resource for statistical information about the U.S. soybean industry and its relationship to world oilseed production. Publication of the Soy Stats Online Guide here on SoyStats.com will make this information available to millions of people in the United States and around the world. This resource is made possible through the financial support of Dow AgroSciences.

Soybeans were planted on 74.1 million acres (30.0 million hectares) in 2001, producing a record 2.891 billion bushels (78.68 million metric tons) of soybeans. The average price paid to farmers, $4.25 per bushel ($156 per metric ton), was lower than the average price in 1972, and a 42 percent decline since 1996. As a result of low prices, the total 2001 crop value was $12.28 billion.

In 2001, soybeans represented 57 percent of world oilseed production, and 42 percent of those soybeans were produced in the United States. The United States supplied 48 percent of the world's soybean trade.

U.S. soybean and product exports increased to $7.1 billion in 2001. The European Union continued to be the No. 1 U.S. market for whole soybeans with purchases of $1.167 billion, an increase of $134 million or 13 percent higher than in 1999. China continued to be the largest single country customer for U.S. soybeans with purchases totaling slightly more than $1 billion. Mexico became the second largest single country customer for U.S. soybeans with purchases of $755 million, and Japan was third with $724 million.

Canada became the largest customer for U.S. soybean meal at $200 million, Indonesia was second with purchases of $167 million, and the Philippines was third with purchases of $138 million. Mexico was the largest customer for U.S. soybean oil with purchases of $38 million, and Canada was second with purchases of $25 million.

Domestically, soybeans provided 83 percent of the edible consumption of fats and oils in the United States. The domestic crush level increased to 1,690 million bushels (46 million metric tons), while U.S. ending stocks of soybeans were down to 260 million bushels (7.08 million metric tons).