Soybean plant to close in South Carolina amid Trump trade war

Archer Daniels Midland, a multinational food processing corporation, is closing its soybean processing plant in Kershaw, South Carolina. The business confirmed to WBTV on Wednesday, April 16 that the Kershaw plant will “permanently close later this spring.”

“ADM is always assessing its portfolio as part of its commitment to capital discipline,” the statement read Wednesday. “As part of the process, after exploring a wide variety of alternatives, we’ve determined that our Kershaw crush plant no longer aligns with our future operational needs.”

It wasn’t immediately clear how many people would be affected by layoffs due to the closure. The business said in a statement that they’re working with employees, and that some will stay with the company while others will be given financial severance.

Employees had reportedly been notified of the plant closure.

The business has not released a specific reason for closing its Kershaw plant. The closure comes at a time, however, when soybean farmers across the country expect to be impacted by the Donald Trump administration’s tariffs, especially those on China.

China is a big importer for the U.S., and mainly buys agricultural products from the U.S. -- including soybeans, oilseeds and grains.

In response to Trump’s trade war, China imposed a 125% tariff on all U.S. imports. China could look to other countries for their agricultural products due to the tariffs.