India’s oilmeal exports fell by 12.1% in August 2025, driven by a sharp decline in soybean meal shipments, according to the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA). Total exports in August stood at 2.76 lakh tonnes (lt), down from 3.14 lt in August 2024. Soybean meal exports dropped to 80,233 tonnes from 1.56 lt last year.
Cumulatively, oilmeal exports during April–August 2025-26 declined 4% to 17.93 lt, compared to 18.68 lt in the same period last year. SEA’s Executive Director, BV Mehta, attributed the fall to price pressures in the Indian market, making exports less competitive against cheaper American soymeal. Domestic soybean acreage also shrank by 5.81 lakh hectares, impacting supply.
Soybean meal is losing share to DDGS (distillers dried grains with solubles) in poultry feed, as DDGS production rises alongside India’s ethanol expansion.
In contrast, rapeseed meal exports rose by 3.5% to 9.15 lt in April–August 2025-26. Strong domestic demand for mustard oil, particularly kachighani, boosted crushing activity, increasing meal supply. China emerged as a major buyer, importing 3.68 lt, driven by India’s price advantage at USD 200/tonne versus Hamburg’s USD 236/tonne.
SEA urged the government to lift the export ban on de-oiled ricebran, in place since July 2023, citing price drops and surplus availability due to rising DDGS supply.
Top importers:
- China: 3.75 lt (mostly rapeseed meal)
- South Korea: 2.09 lt
- Bangladesh: 1.78 lt
- Germany: 1.35 lt
- France: 53,074 tonnes
