Germany is tightening its requirements for imported soya — Ukraine is one of the main suppliers

Germany, one of Europe’s major consumers of soybeans for the feed industry, is tightening requirements for the traceability and verification of imported raw materials. According to the first Soy Status Report by the German Feed Association (DVT), sustainably produced and deforestation-free soy has already become an important part of supply chains used by German feed manufacturers.

In 2024/25 MY, Germany imported 2.4 mln tons of soybeans, including 1.7 mln tons from the United States and around 0.2 mln tons from Ukraine. The country also imported 1.6 mln tons of soybean meal, including 1.2 mln tons from South America and 0.3 mln tons from India. Ukraine therefore already holds a notable position among soybean suppliers to the German market.

At the same time, Germany’s feed industry is rapidly moving from conventional certification toward more detailed supply-chain traceability. In 2023, only 35% of surveyed market participants were able to provide information on the chain-of-custody models they used, while in 2024–2025 this share increased to 88%. The introduction of the mandatory QS SojaPlus module was one of the factors behind this shift.

According to DVT, around 90% of soybean meal currently used in Germany already comes from areas that meet the deforestation-free criteria under the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Requirements for the sustainability of feed ingredients and transparency of their origin are expected to tighten further, driven by EU legislation and growing demands from buyers.

For Ukrainian exporters, this means that access to the German and broader EU markets will increasingly depend not only on soybean prices and quality, but also on the ability to verify their origin and ensure traceability throughout the supply chain. With Germany already importing around 200 thsd tons of Ukrainian soybeans annually, compliance with these requirements could become an important factor in maintaining Ukraine’s position in this market.

Tags: soybean, imports, Germany, Ukraine