India’s oilmeal export declined by 2.4 per cent in the first four months of 2025-26 due to a fall in the export of soyabean meal, rapeseed meal and castorseed meal.
Data compiled by the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) showed that India exported 15.16 lakh tonnes (lt) of oilmeal during April-July 2025-26, against 15.54 lt in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.
India exported 4.22 lt of oilmeal in July 2025 against 4.51 lt in July 2024, recording a decline of 7 per cent.
Export of soyabean meal declined to 6.76 lt during April-July 2025-26 from 6.92 lt in the corresponding period of 2024-25. While India exported 7.40 lt of rapeseed meal in the first four months of 2025-26 (7.58 lt in April-July- 2024-25), the country exported 85,032 tonnes of castroseed meal (1 lt) during the period.
BV Mehta, Executive Director of SEA, said India’s crushing activities have gained momentum due to strong domestic demand for mustard oil, especially the traditional ‘kachi ghani’ variety. This has resulted in higher production of rapeseed meal. This surplus has coincided with a surge in overseas demand with China emerging as the key growth driver.
Between April and July 2025, China imported nearly 2.77 lt of Indian rapeseed meal, a dramatic rise from just 12,011 tonnes in the same period last year.
He said this turnaround is largely attributed to India’s pricing advantage in global markets. As on August 14, India maintained its edge at $195 per tonne against Hamburg (ex-mill) price of $236 per tonne.
This price competitiveness, combined with India’s logistical proximity to major consuming markets, has reinforced its reputation as a reliable, cost-effective supplier in the global oilmeal trade. India has become a preferred supplier of rapeseed meal to China, he said.
Rice bran exports
Urging the government to lift the ban on export of de-oiled rice bran, he said India used to export 5-6 lt of de-oiled rice bran prior to July 2023, mainly to Vietnam, Thailand and other Asian countries, and was positioned as a reliable supplier in international market.
The government prohibited export of de-oiled rice bran on July 28 2023 attributing it to the high fodder prices with de-oiled rice bran being a major component. The prohibition extended from time to time and now it up to September 30 2025.
He said the de-oiled rice bran prices now are at the lower level and to go down further. In view of the above facts and sharp fall in prices of de-oiled rice bran, SEA has once again appealed to the government to lift the ban / not to extend beyond September 30, 2025. This will help the disposal of surplus of de-oiled rice bran.
Importers
During April-July 2025, South Korea imported 1.87 lt of oilmeals (3.22 lt). This included 1.27 lt of rapeseed meal, 39,858 tonnes of castorseed meal, and 20,218 tonnes of soyabean meal.
China imported 2.83 lt of oilmeals (16,416 tonnes). This consisted of 2.76 lt of rapeseed meal and 6,927 tonnes of castorseed meal. Bangladesh imported 1.47 lt of oilmeals (2.88 lt). This included 90,450 tonnes of rapeseed meal and 57,060 tonnes of soyabean meal. Germany and France imported 1.35 lt and 52,414 tonnes of soyabean meal, respectively.
Kharif
He said the total area under kharif oilseeds was at 178.64 lakh hectares (lh) as on August 15, lower than last year’s 185.38 lh. Crop-wise data reveals that groundnut acreage declined to 43.98 lh from 46.07 lh during the same period last year.
Soyabean acreage declined to 119.82 lh from 124.59 lh, possibly due to price volatility and competition from other remunerative crops. Cotton has been planted over 107.87 lh lower than 111.11 lh last year.
“Overall, the strong monsoon has laid a solid foundation for kharif output, although market dynamics and crop switching may influence the final acreage figures,” he said.
Published on August 20, 2025