An increase in exports of rapeseed meal, especially to the Chinese market, helped boost the exports of oilmeals during the April-October 2025-26, registering a growth of 3.18 per cent.
Data compiled by the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) showed that India exported 24.64 lakh tonnes (lt) of oilmeals during the first seven months of 2025-26 against 23.88 lt in the corresponding period of 2024-25, registering a growth of 3.18 per cent.
BV Mehta, Executive Director of SEA, said strong demand from the Chinese market boosted the exports of rapeseed meal during the fist seven months of 2025-26. The overall exports of rapeseed meal increased to 12.52 lt during April-October 2025-26 (11.76 lt in April-October 2024-25). India’s rapeseed meal exports to China increased to 5.81 lt (14,886 tonnes) during the period.
A few new companies approached GACC, China, recently through Export Inspection Council of India (EIC) to approve their companies for export of rapeseed meal to China, he said. Currently, Indian rapeseed meal prices are being quoted at $217 a tonne compared to Hamburg (ex-mill) of $244 a tonne.
De-oiled ricebran exports
He said the government lifted the ban on export of de-oiled ricebran with effect from October 3,2025. This has helped resume export of ricebran extraction. India exported 14,589 tonnes of ricebran extraction to Vietnam and Nepal during October.
Increase in the production of groundnut for last two years has led to higher crushing, and this supported the export of groundnut meal, Mehta said. India exported 19,300 tonnes of groundnut meal during April-October 2025-26 (7,823 tonnes).
As per SEA kharif groundnut crop survey in Gujarat, area under groundnut cultivation has expanded from 19.09 lakh hectares (lh) last year to 22.02 lh during this season. The production of groundnut is estimated at 46.07 lt.
He said total area sown under groundnut across India is estimated to be at 48.36 lh (49.96 lh), a decrease of around 1.60 lh.
Meanwhile, exports of soybean meal and castorseed meal decreased to 10.19 lt (10.23 lt) and 1.58 lt (1.66 lt), respectively, during April-October 2025-26.
Major importers
South Korea imported 2.49 lt of oilmeals (4.33 lt) from India during April-October 2025-26. This included 1.31 lt of rapeseed meal, 87,425 tonnes of castorseed meal, and 30,465 tonnes of soybean meal.
India exported 5.88 lt of oilmeals (22,721 tonnes) to China during the first seven months of 2025-26. This included 5.81 lt of rapeseed meal and 6,927 tonnes of castorseed meal.
Bangladesh imported 2.60 lt of oilmeals (4.28 lt) from India during April-October 2025-26. This included 1.79 lt of rapeseed meal and 81,433 tonnes of soybean meal.
Germany and France imported 1.73 lt and 1.06 lt of soybean meals, respectively, from India during the first seven months of 2025-26.
–EOM–