Soyabean stocks with crushing units, traders and farmers are estimated to be at least 50 per cent lower this year at 22.84 lakh tonnes against 45.71 lakh tonnes a year ago, even as the kharif planting season has begun. Soyabean is the major oilseed crop in the kharif season.

Including stocks of around 16 lakh tonne with the government agencies such as NAFED and NCCF as of June 11, 2025, the total soyabean stocks in the country currently are estimated at 38.84 lakh tonnes, lower than last year. Government agencies such as NAFED and NCCF had procured around 20 lakh tonnes of soyabean at minimum support price during the kharif 2024 season.

As per the latest supply and demand estimates by The Soyabean Processors Association of India (SOPA), the apex trade body, about 79 lakh tonnes of soyabean have been crushed till end-May, down 9 per cent from 86.50 lakh tonnes a year ago. Total market arrivals till May-end stood at 83.50 lakh tonnes, down from s 89.50 lakh tonnes. a year ago.

Drop in soyabean imports

SOPA estimates the 2024 kharif crop at 125.82 lakh tonnes, higher than t 118.74 lakh tonnes the previous year, Including the carryover stocks of 8.94 lakh tonnes and imports of 0.25 lakh tonnes. The total availability during the year was 135.01 lakh tonnes. Soyabean imports during the year decline to 0.25 lakh tonnes against 6.25 lakh tonnes a year ago, on muted offtake for both the oilseed and the meal during the year. Direct consumption of soyabean was a tad higher at 3.85 lakh tonnes (3.50 lakh tonnes).

Soyameal production till end-May was 62.34 lakh tonnes, down from 68.26 lakh tonnes. Prices have remain largely subdued and below the minimum support price on muted demand. Soyameal off-take by the livestock feed segment till end May was down at 42 lakh tonnes compared with 45.50 lakh tonnes a year ago. However, the offtake from the food sector was a tad higher at 5.55 lakh tonnes during this period over corresponding last year’s 5.45 lakh tonnes. Increase in availability of DDGS (Distiller’s Dried Grains with Solubles), a by-product of the grain based ethanol segment at a lower price, impacted the soyameal off-take with feed makers preferring to substitute a portion of soymeal with DDGS.

Soyameal exports down

Exports of soyameal was also impacted due to the higher price of the Indian meal. Soyameal exports in the oil year 2024-25 starting October stood lower at 14.63 lakh tonnes over same period last year’s 16.41 lakh tonnes.

Germany was the largest buyer of Indian soyameal till May end at 2.12 lakh tonnes, followed by France with 1.61 lakh tonnes, Bangladesh 1.54 lakh tonnes, Nepal 1.52 lakh tonnes, Netherlands 1.05 lakh tonnes and Kenya 1.04 lakh tonnes.

Published on June 13, 2025