Oilmeal exports drop 10 per cent in February

The exports of oilmeals declined by 10.50 per cent to 5.92 lakh tonne in February compared with 6.62 lakh tonne in the same month last year, thanks to a 10 per cent slump in imports by China, according to a data released by the Solvent Extractors' Association of India.

Despite the monthly decline, the exports surged by 22 per cent to 44 lakh tonne during the 11 month period (April-February) in 2006-07 as against 36 lakh tonne in the same period in 2005-06. The phenomenal gain in oilmeals exports was mainly attributed to staggering performance in April (recording a gain of 81 per cent), September (105 per cent), October (59 per cent) and November (81 per cent).

The export of soymeal during the 11-month period jumped to 31 lakh tonne in the current financial year from 27 lakh tonne last year. Exports of rapeseed meal doubled at 8.46 lakh tonne from 4.87 lakh tonne, thanks to the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) making the commodity available during off seasons.

Ricebran extraction has also shown quantum jump at 2 lakh tonne in April-February 2006-07 compared with 1.15 lakh tonne in same period of 2005-06. In the same period, export of castor meal marginally fell and reported at 1.82 lakh tonne from 1.89 lakh tonne last year.

Exports to China in April-February was down to 4.5 lakh tonne against 5 lakh tonne in the same period last financial year. Exports to Japan also witnessed a 6 per cent fall in the period under consideration to 5.2 lakh tonne from 5.54 lakh tonne.

However, the country's export to Vietnam has shown a considerable jump at 10.3 lakh tonne, a gain of 43 per cent. Vietnam imported 7.9 lakh tonne of soybean meal, 4.1 lakh tonne of rapeseed meal and the remaining of 2 lakh tonne of ricebran extraction from India.

Exports through Kandla port was reported at 23.8 lakh tonne (54 per cent), followed by Mumbai, which handled 9.7 lakh tonne (22 per cent), Bedi 6.3 lakh tonne (14 per cent), Kakinada 2.1 lakh tonne (5 per cent), Vizag 2.1 lakh tonne (5 per cent), and Pipavav handled a small quantity of 6,525 tonne.