Reduction in oilmeal exports from India in July 2026

According to the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA), in July 2026 the country exported 1.48 lakh tonnes of oilmeal, whereas a year earlier this figure stood at 4.22 lakh tonnes. The main reasons for the decline were high prices for Indian soybean meal against the backdrop of cheaper products from South America, as well as an increase in freight costs due to the situation in the Red Sea.

SEA Executive Director B.V. Mehta noted that in July 2026, Indian soybean meal was quoted at approximately $613 per ton against global prices of about $428 per ton, which made Indian supplies uncompetitive. Additional impact came from increased demand from domestic poultry and livestock animal feed producers and a reduction in export opportunities. Soybean meal exports in July plummeted by nearly 90% to 17,810 tonnes compared to 183,553 tonnes in July 2025. Rapeseed meal exports also decreased: from 209,128 tonnes to 96,539 tonnes.

Overall, for the period from April to July of the 2026–2027 financial year, India's oilmeal shipments decreased by 27%, amounting to 11.05 lakh tonnes versus 15.16 lakh tonnes for the same period last year. The decline was mainly driven by weak soybean meal shipments, which fell to 1.87 lakh tonnes from 6.76 lakh tonnes. At the same time, the increase in rapeseed meal exports (particularly to China) to 7.56 lakh tonnes against 7.40 lakh tonnes failed to compensate for the overall drop.

The main importers of Indian oilmeal in the first four months of the season were China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam. China imported 3.55 lakh tonnes (including rapeseed, castor, and soybean meal), Bangladesh imported 1.72 lakh tonnes (rapeseed, soybean meal, and rice bran extraction), and Vietnam for the period from April to June imported 1.08 lakh tonnes of the specified products.