4.1.1 Agents
The Brazilian soybean business is dominated by a limited number of trading companies, which
account for approximately 80 % of the soybean commercialization. Cooperatives are covering
20 % of the traded volume (AMARAL, 2012).
The top four players on the Brazilian market are the international companies ADM, BUNGE, CARGILL
and LOUIS DREYFUSS COMMODITIES. Besides other agricultural products and inputs, these large companies
handle large volumes of soybeans (≥ 2 mmt/year) and account for a market share of 61 %
(see figure 4.2). Four medium-sized companies that rank within an annual trading volume between
one and two million tons of soybeans per year hold a market stake of 21 %, while about
thirteen small companies (≤ 1 mmt/year) cover the residual 18 % (AMARAL, 2012). Many of the
large and medium-sized trading companies, like the Brazilian ANDRÉ MAGGI GROUP, integrate back
in the value chain. The group incorporates a medium-sized trading companies and one of the
world's largest soybean producing companies. Besides, it maintains an own freight company (FERREIRA,
2012). ADM, CARGILL and BUNGE own large warehouses and crushing factories. They further
operate port terminals in Brazil. As a result these companies possess a strong market position,
which according to PEETERS (2012) enables them to force prices down or demand more services.