India exported 7.81 lakh tonnes (lt) of oilmeals during the first two months of 2025-26 against 7.67 lt in the corresponding period of 2024-25, registering a marginal growth of 1.79 per cent.
Data compiled by the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) showed that India exported 3.15 lt of oilmeals in May 2025 against 3.02 lt in May 2024, registering a growth of 4.31 per cent.
Citing Oil World report, BV Mehta, Executive Director of SEA, said the consumption of soyabean meal in African countries is rising. This is driven by increasing livestock production and rising share of soyabean meal in mixed feed.
India exported over 1.18 lt of soyabean meal to West Asia and African countries in first two months of financial year 2025-26, mainly shipped to Kenya and Kuwait. In 2024-25, India had exported over 8 lt of soyabean meal mainly to the UAE (for further shipment to Iran and other countries) to enhance India’s export to this region.
Logistical advantage
Stating that the African countries are a growing market for soyabean meal, he said India has a logistical advantage and can ship small parcels in containers to African countries.
Total exports of soyabean meal increased to 3.87 lt during the first two months of 2025-26 from 3.44 lt in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.
Mehta said Indian rapeseed meal is well accepted in cattle feed formulation in Far-Eastern countries due to the logistical and price advantages. India exported 3.47 lt of rapeseed meal to China, South Korea, Thailand and Bangladesh during the first two months of 2025-26 (3.64 lt during April-May of 2024-25). This also supported domestic price of rapeseed, he said.
In 2024-25, India had exported over 18.62 lt of rapeseed meal to Far Eastern and South Eastern countries mainly to South Korea, Thailand and Bangladesh due to price parity.
The current FOB price of rapeseed meal (Kandla) is $200 a tonne compared to rapeseed meal (canola meal) FOB ex-mill (Hamburg), which is quoted at $290 a tonne. This provides an opportunity to push export of rapeseed meal from India, he said.
Major importers
South Korea imported 84,966 tonnes of oilmeals from India during April-May of 2025-26 (compared to 1.66 lt during April-May 2024-25). This included 60,856 tonnes of rapeseed meal, 13,681 tonnes of castorseed meal, and 10,429 tonnes of soyabean meal.
India exported 1.17 lt of oilmeals to China (4,810 tonnes) during the first two months of 2025-26. This included 1.13 lt of rapeseed meal and 3,552 tonnes of castorseed meal.
Bangladesh imported 1.02 lt of oilmeals from India (1.39 lt) during the period. This included 54,762 tonnes of rapeseed meal and 47,880 tonnes of soyabean meal.
Germany and France imported 58,945 tonnes and 16,705 tonnes of soyabean meal from India, respectively, he said.