Indian oilmeal exports fell 36 per cent in August due to global pricing pressure. Data from the Solvent Extractors' Association showed exports hit 1.76 lakh tonnes against 2.76 lakh tonnes in August 2025. BV Mehta said, "Cheaper supplies from South American producers like Argentina and Brazil continue to capture major market share."
Indian oilmeal exports declined 36 per cent in August due to pricing pressures in international markets.
Data compiled by the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA) showed that India exported 1.76 lakh tonnes (lt) of oilmeals in August 2026 against 2.76 lt in August 2025.
The overall export of oilmeals declined to 12.82 lt during the first five months of the financial year 2026-27 from 17.93 lt during the same period of the previous financial year, recording a fall of 28.5 per cent.
BV Mehta, Executive Director of SEA, said Indian soybean meal faced severe pricing pressure in international markets during August 2026, trading around $622 a tonne compared to global benchmarks near $445 a tonne.
Cheaper South American supplies
"Cheaper supplies from South American producers like Argentina and Brazil continue to capture major market share. Strong domestic demand from livestock and poultry feed manufacturers, alongside persistent Red Sea shipping disruptions and elevated maritime freight costs have heavily constrained outward shipments," he said.
Soybean meal shipments from India crashed to 2.05 lt in April-August 2026-27 from 7.57 lt in the corresponding period of 2025-26, a decline of 73 per cent.
Stating that SOPA has estimated current kharif soybean crops at 108 lt, he said there is also opinion in the trade that soybean crop is lower than SOPA estimate. This is reflected in the increase in domestic prices of beans and meals over the last few days.
While soybean meal shipments suffered major slumps, rapeseed meal exports to key Asian destinations such as China, Bangladesh and Vietnam provided a partial cushion.
India exported 8.80 lt of rapeseed meal in the first five months of 2026-27 against 9.15 lt in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.
Major importers
China, Bangladesh, South Korea and Vietnam emerged as the major importers of Indian oilmeals during April-August 2026-27.
China imported 4.01 lt of oilmeals from India during April-August 2026-27 (3.75 lt in April-August 2025-26). This included 3.94 lt of rapeseed meal, 4,528 tonnes of soybean meal and 1,616 tonnes of castor meal.
India exported 2.17 lt of oilmeals to Bangladesh during the first five months of 2026-27 (1.78 lt). The imports included 2.08 lt of rapeseed meal, 8,204 tonnes of soybean meal and 911 tonnes of ricebran extraction.
South Korea imported 1.53 lt of oilmeals from India during April-August 2026-27 (2.09 lt). This included 86,636 tonnes of rapeseed meal, 48,796 tonnes of castor meal and 18,458 tonnes of soybean meal.
India exported 1.23 lt of oilmeals to Vietnam during the first five months of 2026-27 (92,189 tonnes). The imports included 65,510 tonnes of ricebran extraction, 53,580 tonnes of rapeseed meal, 4,600 tonnes of soybean meal and 261 tonnes of groundnut meal.