India’s oilmeal exports declined to 3.65 lakh tonnes (lt) in April 2026 from 4.65 lta year ago, registering a fall of 21.50 per cent.
BV Mehta, Executive Director of the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA), attributed this decline to the Red Sea shipping disruptions, higher freight costs, and intense price competition from South American soybean meal.
He said Indian soybean meal exports remained uncompetitive with FOB prices at $605 a tonne compared to the international price of around $430 a tonne (CIF Rotterdam). India exported 62,844 tonnes of soybean meals in April 2026 against 2.30 lt in April 2025.
Rapeseed meal exports up
India’s rapeseed meal exports increased to 2.48 lt in April 2026 from 2.13 lt in April 2025. This increase was supported by strong demand from China. Major buyers during included China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand, and emerging African markets during April.
He said exports to Europe and West Asia were adversely affected by longer transit times caused by vessel diversions around the Cape of Good Hope.
Stating that the demand for oilmeals is expected to remain mixed in the near term, he said while domestic demand from the poultry, dairy and livestock sectors is likely to remain steady, export demand may continue to face pressure due to ample supplies of soybean meal from South America and competitive pricing in the global market.
Rapeseed meal exports are expected to find support from continued buying interest from China and other Asian markets, subject to price competitiveness.
“In the near term, oilmeal prices are likely to remain range-bound with a weak bias, influenced by the progress of the domestic monsoon, availability of the new oilseed crop, global soybean fundamentals and freight costs. Any improvement in shipping conditions in the Red Sea region or a narrowing of the price gap between Indian and international quotations could support export demand in the coming months,” Mehta said.
Major importers
China imported 1.42 lt of oilmeals from India in April 2026 compared to 59,921 tonnes in April 2025. This included 1.41 lt of rapeseed meal and 998 tonnes of soybean meal.
India exported 69,272 tonnes of oilmeals to Bangladesh in April 2026 (50,191 tonnes in April 2025). This included 60,157 tonnes of rapeseed meal, 8,204 tonnes of soybean meal, and 911 tonnes of ricebran extraction.
Vietnam imported 49,350 tonnes of oilmeals (21,091 tonnes) during the period. This included 20,474 tonnes of rapeseed meal, 27,108 tonnes of ricebran extractions, and 1,638 tonnes of soybean meal.
Published on July 16, 2026
