India's oilmeal exports in the first quarter decreased due to soybean

According to statistics from the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA), India's oilmeal exports for the first quarter of 2026–27 totaled 9.57 lakh tonnes (lt) compared to 10.94 lt in the corresponding period of the previous year. In June 2026, volumes dropped by 30.67% down to 2.17 lt compared to 3.13 lt in June 2025.

SEA Executive Director BV Mehta explained that the reduction in soybean meal shipments (from 4.93 lt to 1.69 lt in the first quarter) was due to fierce price competition in the global market from South America, particularly Argentina and Brazil. Additional limiting factors included high domestic prices and strong demand from the local livestock and feed sector. Furthermore, maritime transport towards traditional Western markets continues to be affected by issues in the Red Sea and high freight rates.

The main buffer supporting export performance amid the decline in soybean meal extracts was active purchasing of rapeseed meal by Asian markets, primarily China. During the reporting period, India increased its rapeseed meal export to 6.60 lt compared to 5.31 lt in the first quarter of 2025–26.

Shipments to China in April–June 2026–27 reached 3.13 lt (including 3.09 lt of rapeseed meal, 1,616 tonnes of castor meal, and 2,118 tonnes of soybean meal) compared to 1.87 lt a year earlier. Bangladesh received 1.43 lt of oilmeals compared to 1.26 lt in the first quarter of 2025–26 (including 1.33 lt of rapeseed meal, 8,204 tonnes of soybean meal, and 911 tonnes of rice bran extraction). Vietnam imported 90,559 tonnes of Indian oilmeal compared to 58,067 tonnes in the comparable period of last year, including 35,154 tonnes of rapeseed meal, 51,641 tonnes of rice bran extraction, 3,634 tonnes of soybean meal, and 130 tonnes of peanut meal.