Kandy, Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka’s industry marked a new chapter with the launch of the Sri Lanka Association of Animal Nutrition (SLAAN) at an event hosted in collaboration with the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) in Kandy earlier this month.
“As Sri Lanka’s livestock sector continues to expand, stronger collaboration among academia, industry, and key stakeholders is essential to drive sustainable sector development,” stated S.M. Rohitha Samarakoon, Founder President of SLAAN. “Recognizing this timely need, we established the Sri Lanka Association of Animal Nutrition (SLAAN) as a professional body dedicated to advancing the livestock industry through science, innovation, and sustainability. Together with partners such as USSEC, we remain committed to supporting the sector’s evolving needs through technical collaboration, knowledge sharing, and sustainable growth initiatives.”
Sri Lanka’s growing industry, especially the poultry sector, is playing a pivotal role in strengthening the nation’s food and nutrition security. Fueled by high-quality feed ingredients, the animal feed industry produces approximately 1.3 million metric tons (MMT) of feed annually. Poultry remains the largest customer of this feed, meeting its demand through U.S. soybean meal imports, which are up 30% year over year.
According to industry sources, in 2025, Sri Lanka ranked as the largest market for containerized U.S. soybean meal, importing 255,000 MT.[1] This demonstrates Sri Lanka’s strategic sourcing as a lever for industry growth. Containerized U.S. soybean meal shipments have emerged as Sri Lanka’s preferred choice, offering greater procurement flexibility, ease of handling specific quantities, and enhanced supply chain resilience in times of disruption
“As South Asia’s largest market for U.S. soybean meal, U.S. Soy is proud to support Sri Lanka’s supply chain resilience through high-quality and sustainable feed ingredients,” added Kevin Roepke, Executive Director at USSEC.
Growth Grounded in Resilience and Vision
Sri Lanka’s industry has continued to show resilience even amid disruptions. Prioritizing long-term value in feed ingredients, such as U.S. Soy, has strengthened the industry’s supply chain while boosting animal performance. Sri Lankan customers benefit from U.S. Soy’s advantages of its “4Ds”, including naturally sun-dried, lower damage, higher digestibility, and deforestation-free production. These traits improve animal outcomes while increasing profit potential.
“As nutritionists, we are committed to using the highest quality raw materials to harness the best for our feed millers and farmers, and through our partnership with U.S. Soy, we are strengthening performance, reliability, and long-term growth,” added Ajith Weerasinghe, advisor to SLAAN and President of Lanka Poultry Forum.
While recent global supply chain disruptions have limited the availability of critical amino acids used in feed ingredients, such as lysine and methionine, increasing formulation costs, data shows that feed made from U.S. soybean meal requires fewer synthetic amino acids, making it more cost-effective, reliable, and efficient, with a better nutritional profile.
Sustainability – A Shared Value Gaining Momentum
With sustainability integration taking priority across Sri Lanka’s agriculture and feed value chain, U.S. Soy, verified under the U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) – an audited framework that ensures responsible growing practices – allows users to meet customer and regulatory requirements.
To date, 16 Sri Lankan poultry producers and feed millers have also signed to feature the Sustainable U.S. Soy or Fed with Sustainable U.S. Soy labels on their packaging, signaling a strong shift toward verified, sustainable sourcing. To feature the label, qualifying companies must purchase more than 60% of SSAP-verified U.S. Soy.
About U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC):
The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) focuses on differentiating, elevating preference, and attaining market access for the use of U.S. Soy for human consumption, aquaculture, and livestock feed in more than 90 countries internationally. USSEC members represent the soy supply chain including U.S. Soy farmers, processors, commodity shippers, merchandisers, allied agribusinesses, and agricultural organizations. USSEC is funded by the U.S. Soy Checkoff, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service matching funds, and industry. Visit www.ussec.org for the latest information about USSEC and U.S. Soy internationally.
[1] United States Department of Agriculture – Foreign Agricultural Service
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