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GM Soyabean Import
Soybean Processors Association (SOPA) on Thursday urged the commerce ministry to reject any proposal to allow imports of genetically modified soybean meal from the United States, saying the country has sufficient domestic supplies and such a move would hurt farmers. In a letter to Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, the industry body said India currently holds more than adequate stocks of soybean meal to meet entire domestic demand for the marketing year 2025-26 running from October to September. "Permitting GM Soybean Meal imports at this juncture will have devastating consequences for India's agricultural sector," the association said in the letter. The association warned that allowing such imports would severely harm Indian soybean farmers already grappling with prices below the government's minimum support price, and further depress market rates due to oversupply. It also said the move would threaten the viability of India's domestic soybean processing industry and undermine the
India's import of crude soyabean oil more than doubled to 19.11 lakh tonne in the first five months of current oil marketing year ending October 2025, according to edible oil industry body SEA. The Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA) data showed that the country imported 19,11,420 tonne of crude soyabean degummed oil during November 2024 and March 2025 period as against 8,82,943 tonne in the corresponding period of the 2023-24 marketing year. Edible oil marketing year runs from November to October. In case of crude soyabean degummed oil, India mainly imported from Argentina, Brazil and Russia. Imports from Argentina jumped to 12,16,291 tonne from 4,50,602 tonne. Shipments of crude soyabean oil from Brazil fell marginally to 3,27,936 tonne from 3,29,843 tonne. Shipments from Russia too jumped at 1,62,347 tonne during November 2024-March 2025 from 41,497 tonne in the corresponding period of the preceding oil marketing year. Overall, India's total edible oil imports fell
India's soybean import is estimated to decline by 9.90 per cent to 5 lakh tonnes in the ongoing 2022-23 oil year (October-September), as against 5.55 lakh tonnes in the previous year, on higher domestic supplies, industry body SOPA said on Monday. Similarly, import of soybean meal -- an animal feed -- is also expected to decline substantially to 4,000 tonnes from 6.45 lakh tonnes in the said period, it said. Oil year runs from October to September. Releasing the estimates, the Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) said domestic production is pegged at 124.11 lakh tonnes during the 2022-23 oil year, as against 118.89 lakh tonnes in the previous year. The carry over stock is estimated higher at 25.15 lakh tonnes, as against 1.83 lakh tonnes in the said period. As a result, total import of soybean and soybean meal is projected to be lower this year. However, export of soybean meal is likely to increase substantially to 17 lakh tonnes in 2022-23, from 6.44 lakh tonnes in the
India's soyabean import is pegged lower by 64 per cent at 2 lakh tonnes in the 2022-23 season on prospects of higher domestic production, industry body SOPA said on Wednesday. The country had imported 5.55 lakh tonnes of soyabean during the 2021-22 season (October-September), it said. According to the Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA), the domestic production of soyabean is estimated to increase to 120.40 lakh tonnes in the 2022-23 season when compared with 118.89 lakh tonnes last season. Even the carry-over stock remains higher at 25.15 lakh tonnes as against 1.83 lakh tonnes in the previous year. The total availability of soyabean is estimated at 147.55 lakh tonnes this season, higher than 126.27 lakh tonnes in the previous season, the industry body said in a statement. Out of the total soyabean, about 100 lakh tonnes would be available for crushing this season as against 84 lakh tonnes in the previous 2021-22 season. About 13 lakh tonnes are estimated to be retain
The Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) on Tuesday demanded the government take immediate action against the illegal import of genetically modified (GM) soyabean. Currently, the import of GM products is prohibited. "However, it has come to our knowledge that some unscrupulous companies are importing GM soybean, in contravention of every rule and regulation," SOPA Executive Director D N Pathak said in a letter to the Union Agriculture Ministry. A vessel carrying 17,741 tonnes of GM soyabean is currently discharging the cargo at Mumbai port, he claimed, and requested the ministry to take "immediate action". "If immediate action is not taken, and such imports are permitted, it will open the flood gates for illegal imports of GM soybean which will destroy our soybean cultivation," Pathak said. The soybean may find its way even to the farmers, causing irreparable damage to Indian soybean cultivation, he added. Soyabean is one of the major oilseeds that India is focusing on