USSEC Participates In Jordan Roundtable, Followed By Risk Roundtable Teleconference

USSEC recently participated in a roundtable discussion in Amman, Jordan. The meeting was followed by a teleconference with Scott Singlestad, United Soybean Board (USB) Director; Steve Wellman, American Soybean Association (ASA) Chair; Antoine Sayegh, President and Owner of Middle East and North Africa Poultry Magazine; and USSEC Regional Director Mit Goblirsch. Reporters from U.S. agricultural publications were included in the conference call.

The focus of the roundtable was to help the U.S. soy industry understand and recommend opportunities for ways that Eastern Mediterranean markets can minimize U.S. soy trade interruptions during times of political unrest. Prior to the turmoil that began two years ago, the Middle East was a promising market for U.S. soy, but the events known as Arab Spring have disrupted lines of trade amid regional instability. At this meeting, the U.S. soy family listened to their customers to learn about areas in which help is most needed. According to Mr. Goblirsch, much of what was learned at the roundtable dealt with the difficulty of moving product to get it to where it is needed. “Transportation and logistics affect every aspect of soy imports into these areas, including crush, refining, and production of meal and oil,” he stated.