Business · Trade · 9 hrs ago
India's oilmeal exports fall 28.5% as soybean meal sales slump
India's oilmeal exports fell 28.5% in April-August, dropping to 12.82 lakh tonnes from 17.93 lakh tonnes a year earlier.
Oilmeals are mainly used as animal feed, and the decline was driven by a 73% fall in soybean meal shipments.
Indian soybean meal cost about $622 per tonne in August, compared with global benchmarks near $445, making it harder to compete.
Cheaper supplies from Brazil and Argentina gained market share, while strong demand at home, Red Sea shipping disruptions and high freight costs also limited exports.
Rapeseed meal shipments eased only slightly, providing a partial cushion as sales of castorseed and groundnut meals also fell.
China, Bangladesh, South Korea and Vietnam were the main buyers; the figures cover April-August, and no further developments are specified.
India’s oilmeal exports fell 28.51% to 12.82 lakh tonnes in April-August of the 2025-26 financial year, the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India said.
Soybean meal exports dropped 73% to 2,05,000 tonnes from 7,57,000 tonnes a year earlier.
The association said Indian soybean meal was priced around $622 per tonne in August 2026, compared with global benchmarks near $445 per tonne.
Cheaper supplies from Argentina and Brazil, strong domestic demand, Red Sea shipping disruptions and high freight costs constrained exports.
China, Bangladesh, South Korea and Vietnam were the main importers of Indian oilmeals during the period.
- Who
- India’s oilmeal exporters, according to the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India.
- What
- Oilmeal exports fell 28.51% to 12.82 lakh tonnes. Soybean meal exports declined 73%.
- When
- April-August of the 2025-26 financial year.
- Where
- India’s export markets, including China, Bangladesh, South Korea and Vietnam.
- Why
- Soybean meal faced pricing pressure against global benchmarks and cheaper South American supplies. Domestic demand, shipping disruptions and high freight costs also constrained shipments.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Indian oilmeal exports totalled 17.93 lakh tonnes in the same period a year earlier.
Indian soybean meal traded around $622 per tonne, compared with global benchmarks near $445 per tonne, the SEA said.
India’s oilmeal exports totalled 12.82 lakh tonnes, including 2,05,000 tonnes of soybean meal.
The SEA reported the export figures.
- Total oilmeal exports
- 12.82 lakh tonnes in April-August 2025-26
- Year-on-year change
- Down 28.51% from 17.93 lakh tonnes
- Soybean meal exports
- 2,05,000 tonnes, down 73% from 7,57,000 tonnes
- Soybean meal price
- Around $622 per tonne in August 2026
- Global benchmarks
- Near $445 per tonne in August 2026
2 sources
What people are saying
Indian soybean meal has faced severe pricing pressure in international markets during August 2026, trading around $622 per tonne compared to global benchmarks near $445 per tonne,