India’s oilmeal exports declined 21.5% year-on-year to 3.65 lakh tonnes (lt) in April 2026, down from 4.65 lt in April 2025, according to data released by the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA).
Price competitiveness and Red Sea disruptions
BV Mehta, Executive Director of SEA, attributed the decline to Red Sea shipping disruptions, higher freight costs, and intense price competition from South American soybean meal. Indian soybean meal exports became uncompetitive, with FOB prices at $605 per tonne compared to the international price of around $430 per tonne (CIF Rotterdam). As a result, soybean meal exports plummeted to 62,844 tonnes in April 2026 from 2.30 lt in April 2025.
Rapeseed meal outperforms
In contrast, rapeseed meal exports increased to 2.48 lt in April 2026 from 2.13 lt a year earlier, supported by robust demand from China. Mehta noted that exports to Europe and West Asia were adversely affected by longer transit times caused by vessel diversions around the Cape of Good Hope, while demand from China and other Asian markets remained strong.
Key destination markets
Country-wise export data for April 2026 highlights the shift in demand:
| Destination | Total Oilmeals (Apr 2026) | Total (Apr 2025) | Key Products |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 1.42 lt | 59,921 tonnes | Rapeseed meal: 1.41 lt; Soybean meal: 998 t |
| Bangladesh | 69,272 tonnes | 50,191 tonnes | Rapeseed meal: 60,157 t; Soybean meal: 8,204 t; Ricebran extraction: 911 t |
| Vietnam | 49,350 tonnes | 21,091 tonnes | Rapeseed meal: 20,474 t; Ricebran extraction: 27,108 t; Soybean meal: 1,638 t |
Other major buyers during April included Thailand and emerging African markets, according to SEA.
Near-term outlook
Mehta said the demand for oilmeals is expected to remain mixed in the near term. While domestic demand from the poultry, dairy and livestock sectors is likely to stay steady, export demand may continue to face pressure due to ample supplies of soybean meal from South America and competitive global pricing. 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,” said BV Mehta.
The data underscores the challenges faced by India’s oilmeal exporters in a global market dominated by competitively priced South American supplies, while highlighting the resilience of rapeseed meal demand from Asia.
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