India’s oilmeal exports declined 28.51% to 12.82 lakh tonnes during April-August 2026, mainly due to a sharp fall in soybean meal shipments. High domestic prices and cheaper supplies from Argentina and Brazil have reduced India’s competitiveness in global markets.
New Delhi, November 9 — India’s oilmeal exports fell 28.51% during the April-August period of the current financial year, as a steep decline in soybean meal shipments weighed on the country’s overseas sales.
According to data from the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA), oilmeal exports stood at 12.82 lakh tonnes during April-August 2026, compared with 17.93 lakh tonnes during the corresponding period a year earlier.
India had exported a total of 37.68 lakh tonnes of oilmeals in FY2025-26.
Soybean meal exports plunge 73%
Soybean meal was the biggest drag on exports.
India exported just 2.05 lakh tonnes of soybean meal, down 73% from 7.57 lakh tonnes in the year-ago period.
One of the major reasons for the decline is the significant price difference between Indian soybean meal and international supplies.
According to SEA, Indian soybean meal was trading at around $622 per tonne in August 2026, compared with global benchmark prices of approximately $445 per tonne.
This has made Indian supplies less competitive, while cheaper soybean meal from major South American producers such as Argentina and Brazil has captured a larger share of the international market.
Strong domestic demand from the livestock and poultry feed industries has also limited the amount of oilmeal available for exports.
At the same time, disruptions to shipping routes through the Red Sea and elevated maritime freight costs have added pressure on Indian exporters.
Rapeseed meal provides some support
Rapeseed meal exports provided a partial cushion to the overall decline.
India exported 8.80 lakh tonnes of rapeseed meal during April-August, compared with 9.15 lakh tonnes a year earlier.
Castorseed meal exports declined to 96,245 tonnes from 1.06 lakh tonnes, while groundnut meal shipments dropped sharply to 3,231 tonnes from 14,960 tonnes.
China remains major buyer
China, Bangladesh, South Korea and Vietnam remained major destinations for Indian oilmeals.
China purchased 4.01 lakh tonnes, up from around 3.75 lakh tonnes a year earlier, with rapeseed meal accounting for the bulk of shipments.
Bangladesh increased its purchases to 2.17 lakh tonnes, while Vietnam’s imports rose to around 1.24 lakh tonnes.
South Korea, however, reduced purchases to approximately 1.54 lakh tonnes, compared with 2.10 lakh tonnes a year earlier.
The latest numbers show that India’s oilmeal export outlook will depend heavily on global prices, domestic feed demand and shipping costs. Unless Indian soybean meal becomes more competitive, exporters could continue to face pressure from cheaper South American supplies.
