Despite the growth in soyabean meal exports, total oilmeals shipments from India declined by around 10 per cent during the first nine months of 2024-25.
According to the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA), India exported 31.50 lakh tonnes (lt) of oilmeals during the April-December period of the 2024-25 fiscal against 34.96 lt in the same period a year ago, down 9.89 per cent.
The decline was at around 25 per cent in December. India exported 3.98 lt of oilmeals in December 2024 against 5.32 lt in December 2023, recording a decline of 25.15 per cent.
Higher Europe buy
BV Mehta, Executive Director of SEA, attributed this decline in oilmeals export to the reduction in export of rapeseed meal and castorseed meal.
Export of soyabean meal increased to 14.85 lt during April-December 2024-25 against 12.11 lt in the corresponding period of 2023-24, recording a growth of 22.64 per cent. He attributed this to higher imports by European buyers such as Germany and France. India exported 97,408 tonnes of soyabean meals to Germany and 1.50 lt to France during the period.
However, Indian soyabean meal is facing severe competition due to increase in its supply in world market in the recent months. Crushing was lower till end of December, resulting in soyabean meal production drop, he said, adding, consumption and export are likely to slow down in the coming months.
Bangla uncertainty
Increase in the production and supply of DDGS (dried distiller grain solids) from maize and grains is affecting the demand for oilmeals in the local market.
On rapeseed meal, he said the major market Bangladesh is faced with uncertainty. This led to reduction in volume in the recent months, reflecting in the overall reduction in export of rapeseed meal during the last few months. India exported 14.10 lt of rapeseed meal during April-December 2024-25 against 18.23 lt in the corresponding period of 2023-24.
India’s castorseed meal export decreased to 2.26 lt during the first nine months of 2024-25 from 2.96 lt in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.
Major importers
South Korea imported 5.34 lt of oilmeals from India during the first nine months of 2024-25 (compared to 7.30 lt during April-December 2023-24). This included 3.54 lt of rapeseed meal, 1.37 lt of castorseed meal, and 43,261 tonnes of soyabean meal.
India exported 1.93 lt of oilmeals to Vietnam (3.91 lt) during April-December 2024-25. This included 1.58 lt of rapeseed meal, 20,365 tonnes of soyabean meal, 10,970 tonnes de-oiled ricebran extraction and 2,871 tonnes of groundnut meal.
Thailand imported 3.25 lt of oilmeals (4.95 lt) from India during the first nine months of 2024-25. This included 3.09 lt of rapeseed meal, 12,159 tonnes of soyabean meal and 4,500 tonnes of groundnut meal.
India exported 5.47 lt of oilmeals (6.62 lt) to Bangladesh during April-December 2024-25. This included 4.58 lt of rapeseed meal and 89,557 tonnes of soyabean meal.
Iran imported 1.54 lt of soyabean from India (including shipment via Dubai) during the first nine months of 2024-25.