CHS is investing more than $60 million in updates for the soybean processing plant at Mankato, Minnesota to expand oil refining capacity. CHS Vice President of Global Grain and Processing Operations Tom Malecha says this will expand CHS’s existing footprint. “We just got done expanding the Fairmont, Minnesota soybean crush facility.” Soybean oil demand has been on a steady, upward trend since the early 1990s. The soybean oil market remains strong, due in part, to renewable diesel needs. “California has a low carbon fuel standard and one of the key ingredients is soybean oil,” explains Malecha. When the Mankato upgrades are complete, the annual refined soybean oil production will increase by more than 35 percent. Construction will begin in the next three to six months. CHS is expecting this expansion to be complete toward the end of July 2023. Hear the story.
