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 Syngenta Seeds.

Soybeans were planted on 73.8 million acres (29.9 million hectares) in 2002, producing 2.730 billion bushels (74.31 million metric tons) of soybeans. The average price paid to farmers, $5.50 per bushel ($202 per metric ton), which was 29 percent higher than the historically low prices producers received in 2001. The total 2002 crop value exceeded $15 billion.

In 2002, soybeans represented 60 percent of world oilseed production, and 39 percent of those soybeans were produced in the United States. The United States supplied 44 percent of the world's soybean trade.

U.S. soybean and product exports were $7.1 billion in 2002. The European Union continued to be the No. 1 U.S. market for whole soybeans with purchases of $1.2 billion. China continued to be the largest single country customer for U.S. soybeans with purchases totaling $996 million. Japan was the second largest single country customer for U.S. soybeans with purchases of  $827 million, and Mexico was third at $788 million.

Canada was the largest customer for U.S. soybean meal at $209 million, the Philippines was second with purchases of $146 million, and Mexico was third with purchases of $87 million. Mexico was also 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 81 percent of the edible consumption of fats and oils in the United States. The domestic crush level was 1,615 million bushels (44 million metric tons), with U.S. ending stocks of soybeans down to 135 million bushels (3.67 million metric tons).