Decline in Soymeal Production and Exports in May

16-Jun-2026 06:08 PM

Indore: Latest data from the Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA), a leading industry body, reveals that the country exported only 50,000 tonnes of soymeal in May 2026—a 64% drop compared to the 137,000 tonnes shipped in May 2025.

Similarly, soymeal exports during the eight-month period of October 2025 to May 2026 slumped to 872,000 tonnes, down from 1.46 million tonnes (14.60 lakh tonnes) during the corresponding period of the 2024-25 marketing season.

According to the SOPA report, domestic soymeal production fell from 710,000 tonnes in May 2025 to 631,000 tonnes in May 2026. Domestic production for the first eight months (October–May) of the 2025-26 season stood at 5.76 million tonnes (57.60 lakh tonnes), significantly lower than the 6.23 million tonnes (62.30 lakh tonnes) produced during the 2024-25 season.

Soybean arrivals in domestic markets dropped from 600,000 tonnes in May 2025 to 500,000 tonnes in May 2026, while total supplies for the eight-month period also declined from 8.35 million tonnes to 7.25 million tonnes.

Due to low domestic stocks and high prices, total soybean imports are expected to rise to a record level of 900,000 tonnes. Large quantities of soybeans are being imported from African countries.