1. Origin and Scale: The Dominant Oil
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Source: Extracted from the seeds of the soybean plant (Glycine max).
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Key Producers: The global market is dominated by a few key players:
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Argentina: The world’s largest exporter of soybean oil and meal.
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Brazil: A massive producer and exporter of whole soybeans, oil, and meal.
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United States: A major producer and exporter.
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China: The world’s largest importer of soybeans to crush for oil and, primarily, to feed its vast livestock industry.
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Volume: Its production volume dwarfs that of all other vegetable oils. This massive scale makes it a benchmark for the global edible oil market.
