India exported 2.99 lakh tonnes (lt) of oilmeals in September 2025 against 2.13 lt in the corresponding period of the previous year, registering a growth of 40 per cent | Photo Credit: Getty Images
According to the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA), overall exports remained flat at 20.93 lt during April-September 2025-26 against 20.82 lt in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal, a marginal increase of 0.50 per cent.
India exported 2.99 lakh tonnes (lt) of oilmeals in September 2025 against 2.13 lt in the corresponding period of the previous year, registering a growth of 40 per cent. There was increase in the export of soybean meal, rapeseed meal, groundnut meal, and castorseed meal during September 2025 when compared to September 2024.
BV Mehta, Executive Director of SEA, said the export of soybean meal declined to 8.39 lt in first six months of 2025-26 from 9.08 lt during the same period of last year as soybean meal prices came under pressure during the period.
Indian soybean meal is facing poor demand in global market and stiff competition from South and North America producers for market share. The increase in supplies of DDGS in the feed market has reduced the domestic demand for soybean meal, he said.
Groundnut area up
Mehta said increase in production of groundnut in the last two years led to high crushing and export of groundnut meal. India exported 15,967 tonnes of groundnut meal during April-September 2025-26 against 5,090 tonnes in during the same period of last fiscal.
Citing the SEA Kharif Groundnut Crop Survey in Gujarat, he said the area under groundnut cultivation has expanded from 19.09 lakh hectares (lh) in the previous kharif season to 22.02 lh during the current season, a growth of 3 lh. SEA survey expects the groundnut production at 46.07 lt.
All-India total area sown under groundnut is reported at 48.36 lh from 49.96 lh of last year, a decrease of 1.60 lh.
Major importers
South Korea imported 2.32 lt of oilmeals from India during the first half of 2025-26 (3.59 lt in April-September 2024-25). This included 1.30 lt of rapeseed meal, 73,332 tonnes of castorseed meal, and 28,581 tonnes of soybean meal.
India exported 4.95 lt of oilmeals to China during April-September 2025-26 (17,806 tonnes). This included 4.88 lt of rapeseed meal and 6,927 tonnes of castorseed meal.
Bangladesh imported 2.12 lt of oilmeals from India during the first half of 2025-26 (3.98 lt). This included 1.55 lt of rapeseed meal and 57,060 tonnes of soybean meal.
Germany and France imported 1.43 lt and 56,959 tonnes, respectively, of soybean meal from India during April-September of 2025-26.
Ricebran
Referring to the government’s decision to lift ban on export of de-oiled ricebran with effect from October 3, he said the move is expected to benefit the rice milling and solvent extraction industry by opening export opportunities. This will also aid farmers and processors in securing better realisation for byproducts of ricebran oil extraction. This will also boost the processing of ricebran and production of ricebran oil.
Published on October 16, 2025
