Rising trade tensions be­­­­tween the United States and China, combined with the severe outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in China, appear to be propelling long-term changes in the structure of the global soybean market. 

Those changes, according to Iowa State University’s (ISU) Chad Hart, could lead to greater soybean production in China, the emergence of new players, such as Ukraine, into the global soybean market and a potential cutback in U.S. soybean acreage.

“I think we are starting to see changes that will affect the soybean market for a long time,” said Hart, crop market specialist for ISU’s Extension Service. “Some would argue that the changes were coming anyway. But the combination of the trade dispute and ASF is forcing them to the...