New uses are found continuously. Soybean oil has been a major export product of the United States. Some of the non food or feed uses of soybeans include a large number of industrial uses. Soybean oil can be used in paints, waterproof cements, alkyd resins, soaps, shaving creams, greases and lubricants, enamels, varnishes, leather dressing, caulking compounds, grain-dust suppressant and as an alternative fuel. Pharmaceutical uses can be made of by-products from the deodorization process such as tocopherols from natural vitamin E and sterols for synthetic hormones.
Soybean meal is a major export product of the United States.
Most of the soybean meal used in the United States is used for livestock feed. Some soy grits are used in various types of meat patties. Soy protein concentrate is manufactured in a variety of particle sizes and is made by removing the soluble sugars from the soy flour. The major use of isolates is as replacers for dairy protein in dairy type items such as whipped toppings and coffee whiteners, in a variety of meat product. Soy flour may be used in sausage to hole in the meat juices and fat.