SOPA 2025 – Price Outlook Session Summary
10-Oct-2025 04:40 PM
SOPA 2025 – Price Outlook Session Summary
Moderator: Mritunjay Jha, Zee Business
Panelist Views:
Janakiraman, Suguna Foods
★ DDGS is a new commodity for the meal industry but is expected to stabilize in 2-3 years.
★ DDGS cannot completely replace soyadoc.
★ Price Outlook: Prices are currently at a bottom level and may rise in the future.
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Vivek Pathak, Athena Trading
Meal prices are currently high.
★ Global trading patterns are changing – earlier Bangladesh purchased from India, now due to high prices, it imports directly from Argentina.
★ India should focus on its own consumption.
★ Soy acreage is stable; productivity improvement is the only solution.
★ Price Outlook: Palm oil is trending bullish. Rains in Indonesia and Malaysia are affecting production.
★ CPO in Malaysia may trend above 5,000 ringgits. Sunflower oil is around 1,350 USD/MT and may increase in the future.
★ A dynamic duty structure is needed. Prices may reach 5,000 INR/quintal in Jan–Mar.
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Sandeep Gupta, Bunge
★ Global business in the oil sector is rapidly changing.
★ Last year, 22 lakh tons of soy stocks held by the government kept the market under pressure; this year, procurement is also high.
★ Prices may stay around 4,200–4,300 INR/quintal till December and rise to 5,000 INR/quintal from January.
★ Price Outlook: Due to Bhavantar Yojana, prices may drop 5–7% from current levels.
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Prashant Reddy, LDC
★ US and global policies are changing regularly.
★ The oil complex is moving upward due to factors like biodiesel and the B50 program.
★ Price Outlook: Soy oil prices will increase, boosting crushing margins. Soy oil may reach 5,000 INR/quintal.
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Ajay Parmar, MOEL
★ India produces an average of 8 million tons of soymeal annually, of which 1.7–1.8 million tons is exported, the rest consumed domestically.
★ DDGS is currently a challenge but will stabilize in the future.
★ Price Outlook: Prices are not expected to fall further. Although the government has increased import duties on oils, soybean prices were in a lower trend. Prices may range between 4,500–5,000 INR/quintal in the future.
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Amit Jain, Abis Foods
★ Soymeal demand is growing 9–10% per year.
★ DDGS is currently fulfilling demand.
★ Maize DDGS production reached 3.1 million tons and rice DDGS 0.8 million tons.
★ DDGS competition is a hurdle for the soymeal industry.
★ Price Outlook: Soybean prices are at the lowest level and are expected to improve once demand picks up.
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DN Pathak, SOPA
★ Out of 65 districts in Madhya Pradesh, 55 received excessive rainfall, affecting crops.
★ Crop damage reported in Rajasthan, MP, and Maharashtra.
★ The impact of DDGS is short-term but beneficial for the soy industry in the long term.
★ High prices of soy products are determined by raw soybeans.
★ Bhavantar Yojana is a good initiative, but stakeholders must work honestly.
★ The only solution to all problems is improving productivity.
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Mehul, Africa Representative
★ East and West Africa experienced smaller crop size this year.
★ Africa produces a total of 2.2 million tons; after 1.3–1.4 million tons crushing, 0.6–0.7 million tons are exported.
★ Benin’s exports are restricted; if opened, India may import 0.1–0.2 million tons.
★ The Government of India should restart future trading of the oil complex.
★ Price Outlook: With current crop arrivals, prices may range between 4,200–4,500 INR, potentially rising to 5,000 INR/quintal from January.
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★ All experts agreed that improving productivity is the key solution to all challenges.
★ Regarding future prices, there is consensus that prices may reach the 5,000 INR/quintal level.