Oilmeal Exports Down 26.7%

Oilmeal exports during April-August 2001 decreased by 26.7 per cent at 512,160 tonne over the same period last year due to increased sales in the domestic market, according to data released by Solvent Extractors' Association of India.

The decline was mainly due to increased sales of soyameal in the domestic market on firm local prices. Soyameal accounted for about 80 per cent of India's total oilmeal exports in April-August.

Soyameal exports totalled 410,276 tonne in the first five months of 2001-02 , down 33 per cent from 615,309 tonne in the same period a year ago, said the Solvent Extractors' Association of India.

Exports of rapeseed meal rose to 70,652 tonne during the period under review from 27,379 tonne a year ago, the release stated.

In August 2001, India exported 143,025 tonne of oilmeal, compared with 66,234 tonne in the same month last year. Soyameal exports increased to 109,850 tonne from 48,063 tonne, while exports of rapeseed meal were up at 22,625 tonne from 4,000 tonne in the same month last year.

India exported 2.34 million tonne of oilmeal in 2000-01 against 2.43 million tonne a year earlier.