DBT Bureau
Pune, 15 Sep 2026
Indian oilmeal exports declined sharply in June 2026, reflecting weaker competitiveness and supply constraints. Exports stood at 217,757 tonnes, down 31% from 313,404 tonnes a year earlier. During April-June 2026, total exports reached 957,224 tonnes, 12.55% below 1.095 million tonnes last year. Soybean meal faced strong competition from cheaper Argentine and Brazilian supplies, while high domestic prices and robust animal-feed demand limited exportable surplus. Red Sea disruptions and elevated freight costs further pressured shipments. China, Bangladesh and Vietnam remained key importers, with China’s purchases rising 67.26% and Vietnam’s increasing 55.96%, partly offsetting weakness in other markets.
Key Highlights
• Indian oilmeal exports fell 31% to 217,757 tonnes in June 2026.
• April-June oilmeal exports declined 12.55% to 957,224 tonnes year-on-year.
• Soybean meal faced pricing disadvantages against cheaper Argentine and Brazilian supplies.
• China imported 313,384 tonnes, up 67.26% from 187,361 tonnes last year.
• Vietnam imports surged 55.96% to 90,559 tonnes during April-June 2026.
Indian oilmeal exports remained under pressure in June 2026, with shipments declining 31% year-on-year to 217,757 tonnes from 313,404 tonnes. The weakness followed a broader decline during the first quarter of 2026/27, when total oilmeal exports stood at 957,224 tonnes, down 12.55% from 1,094,593 tonnes in April-June 2025.
Soybean meal remained a major drag on overall exports as Indian supplies continued to face significant pricing disadvantages against cheaper meal from Argentina and Brazil. High domestic soybean prices, combined with strong demand from India’s animal-feed and livestock sectors, restricted the availability of competitively priced surplus for large-scale exports.
Shipping constraints added further pressure. Lingering disruptions across the Red Sea and elevated freight costs continued to weigh on export realizations and maritime shipments to traditional Western and European markets. Meanwhile, strong rapeseed meal purchases from Asian markets, particularly China, provided some support and partially cushioned the decline in soybean meal exports.
China, Bangladesh and Vietnam emerged as the leading destinations for Indian oilmeals during April-June 2026. China imported 313,384 tonnes, sharply higher by 67.26% from 187,361 tonnes a year earlier, with rapeseed meal accounting for 309,650 tonnes. Bangladesh imports increased 13.19% to 143,013 tonnes, while Vietnam purchases surged 55.96% to 90,559 tonnes.
However, South Korea and Thailand recorded lower imports of Indian oilmeals, declining 25.48% and 12.50%, respectively. Domestic feed demand also faced competition from cheaper alternatives such as Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGS), reducing traditional oilmeal consumption in cattle and poultry feed.
India’s oilmeal exports face near-term pressure from weak soybean meal competitiveness, high domestic prices and freight disruptions, despite strong demand from China and Vietnam.
Source: Kedia Stocks & Commodities Research Pvt. Ltd.
