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Informist, Wednesday, May 27, 2026

MUMBAI – India's oilmeal exports fell 33% on year to 274,887 tonnes in March, according to data released by The Solvent Extractors' Association of India Wednesday. For 2025-26 (Apr-Mar), oilmeal exports were at 3.77 million tonnes, down from 4.34 million tonnes a year ago. 

Some of the key issues include severe disruptions in Red Sea shipping routes, which have sharply increased freight costs and intense price competition from South American and European suppliers. In value terms, exports fell to INR 93.40 billion from INR 121.71 billion during the same period.

Exports of soymeal in March fell over 66% to 63,019 tonnes from 187,678 tonnes a year ago. In 2025-26, soymeal exports were at 1.56 million tonnes, down from 2.13 million tonnes a year ago. India's oilmeal exports continue to face significant market and logistical challenges, adversely affecting export realisations and profitability, the association said. 

Indian soymeal exports remain uncompetitive globally due to price disparities with major producers like Argentina and Brazil, it said. Furthermore, domestic livestock feed makers have increasingly shifted toward cheaper alternatives like distillers' dried grains with solubles, a by-product of ethanol, at the cost of soymeal and other oilmeals, the association said.  

Geopolitical conflicts have forced shipping companies to bypass the Red Sea. Detouring around the Cape of Good Hope has added 10-15 days to shipping journeys, creating container shortages and inflating freight costs. Approximately 20% of India's oilmeal exports destined for West Asia and 15% destined for Europe are highly vulnerable to these logistical delays and costs, according to the release.
 

Exports of mustard meal fell over 18% on year to 157,291 tonnes in March. Exports of mustard meal in 2025-26 fell to 1.75 million tonnes from 1.87 million tonnes a year ago. Exports of castorseed meal fell nearly 36% on year to 15,996 tonnes in March, and were down 11% on year during 2025-26 at 266,498 tonnes, the association said. 

Exports of groundnut meal fell over 97% on year to 95 tonnes in March, but were largely steady on year at 24,372 tonnes for the full year. An increase in production of groundnut for the past two years has led to more crushing and export of groundnut meal during the period, the association said earlier. 

Exports of rice bran meal rose to 38,486 tonnes in Mar from no exports a year ago. In 2025-26, rice bran meal exports rose to 167,272 tonnes from 15,833 tonnes a year ago. The government has lifted the ban on export of de-oiled rice bran with effect from Oct. 3. In July 2023, the government had banned the export of de-oiled rice bran citing high domestic prices of cattle feed and milk products. 

Soybean meal prices jumped to $477 per tonne in March from $356 per tonne a year ago, rapeseed meal price increased to $228 per tonnes from $196 per tonne while those of castorseed meal was more or less same at $78 per tonne compared with $75 per tonne. Rupee depreciation of about 8% over the year helped the exporter to face the competition in international market, the association said.

For 2025-26, China became the largest importer of Indian oilmeals, importing a total of 878,000 tonnes from India, which included 871,000 tonnes of rapeseed meal and a small quantity of 7,581 tonnes of castor meal. South Korea became the second largest importer of Indian oilmeals, importing 350,000 tonnes, which included 154,000 tonnes of castorseed meal, 138,000 tonnes of rapeseed meal, and 59,000 tonnes of soymeal. 

Bangladesh was one of the key importers of Indian soybean and rapeseed meal; however, in the last one year, due to political disturbance, the export volume from India reduced nearly 50% from the previous year.  

The following table details exports of various oilmeals, in tonnes, in March and Apr-Mar, compared with the year-ago numbers, according to the latest data from SEA, with the year-on-year change in percentage terms:

End

Reported by Taniva Singha Roy

Edited by Akul Nishant Akhoury

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