In 2024-25, the export of rapeseed meal declined to 18.75 lt
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cueapi
A decline in the export of rapeseed meal and castorseed meal led to an 11 per cent reduction in the overall exports of oilmeals during 2024-25. Data compiled by the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) showed that India exported 43.42 lakh tonnes (lt) of oilmeals during April-March 2024-25 against 48.85 lt in the corresponding period of the previous year. Overall exports, in terms of FOB (free on board) value, declined by 21 per cent – from ₹15,368 crore in 2023-24 to ₹12,171 crore in 2024-25.
BV Mehta, Executive Director of SEA, attributed this decline in export to the reduction in export of rapeseed meal and castorseed meal during the period.
Potential opportunities
In 2024-25, the export of rapeseed meal declined to 18.75 lt (22.13 lt in 2023-24). The export of castorseed meal fell to 2.99 lt (3.72 lt in 2023-24).
He said rapeseed meal export plummeted due to lack of demand from destinations and fall in price in last one year from $278 (average price in April 2024) to $209 as on Apr 15 2025.
Highlighting the potential opportunities in recapturing Chinese market for the export of rapeseed meal, he said the ongoing shortage of rapeseed meal in the European Union (EU) has led to a significant increase in global prices. China, which is a major consumer of rapeseed meal, currently imports primarily from Canada and the EU. “Given the current supply constraints and rising prices, India has a renewed opportunity to explore and recapture its lost share in the Chinese market,” he said.
If China relaxes the existing stringent conditions on the import of Indian rapeseed meal, India could become a key supplier and meet a substantial portion of China’s demand. Currently, rapeseed meal in international market is quoted at $335 a tonne (ex-Hamburg), while Indian rapeseed meal (ex-Kandla) FAS (free alongside ship) quoted just at $209 per ton. He said leveraging this opportunity could not only boost India’s exports but also help stabilise prices in the international market.
DORB ban
The export of soyabean meal remained more or less same in 2024-25. India exported 21.27 lt of soyabean meal in 2024-25 (21.33 lt). He attributed this to larger imports by European Countries as India supplies non-GM soyabean meal.
Stressing the need to lift the ban on export of de-oiled rice bran (DORB), Mehta said the government imposed a ban on export of DORB in July 2023, citing concerns over high domestic prices, which had reached approximately ₹18,000 a tonne. Prior to the ban, India was exporting around 4-5 lt of DORB annually, primarily to Vietnam, Bangladesh and other Asian countries.
Stating that the market dynamics have significantly shifted since then, he said the current price of DORB has fallen sharply to below ₹8,000 a tonne. Additionally, the increased availability and adoption of distillers dried grains with soluble (DDGS) in animal feed has substantially reduced domestic demand for DORB, aggravating the challenge of surplus disposal, he said.
Prices decline
In the last one year, oilmeal prices (in terms of dollar) declined in the international market, leading to a drop in exports. The FAS price of soyabean meal declined from $491 a tonne in April 2024 to $356 a tonne in March 2025, and rapeseed meal from $285 a tonne in April 2024 to $196 a tonne in March 2025. During the period, the rupee weakened with the exchange rate increasing from ₹83.62 to ₹86.52 per US dollar.
Major importers
Despite political turbulences, Bangladesh emerged as the largest importer of Indian oilmeals by importing 7.42 lt during 2024-25 It included 5.88 lt of rapeseed meal and 1.54 lt of soyabean meal. Bangladesh had imported 8.92 lt of oilmeals in 2023-24.
India exported 6.99 lt of oilmeals to South Korea in 2024-25 (8.32 lt in 2023-24). This included 4.62 lt of rapeseed meal, 1.80 lt of castorseed meal and 0.57 lt of soyabean meal.
Thailand imported 4.48 lt (6.32 lt) of oilmeals from India during 2024-25. This included 4.05 lt rapeseed meal and 0.31 lt of soyabean meal.
Iran (1.56 lt), Germany (2.01 lt) and France (2.22 lt) were the other importers of soyabean meal from India (including shipment via Dubai) during 2024-25.
Published on April 18, 2025
