Oilmeals exports surge 39% in Dec quarter

Driven by surging demand in the overseas markets, oilmeals exports zoomed 39 per cent to 1,542,550 tonne in the last quarter of 2006, according to a release by the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA).

In comparison, the exports stood at 1,110,817 tonne in the corresponding period last year, the release said.

Oilmeals exports had shot up 32 per cent in the previous quarter (the third quarter) of the year to settle at 7,58,275 tonne from 5,73,033 tonne in the comparable period last year. 
 

OIL'S WELL Major oilmeals importers (in tonne)
Country	April-December		% chg
	2,005	2006
Vietnam	4,85,600	7,23,000	49
South Korea	4,29,275	5,94,075	38
Indonesia	2,95,600	5,10,475	73
China	3,10,500	3,70,425	19
Japan	4,27,425	3,44,725	-19

The exports had recorded 22 per cent growth to 8,75,200 tonne in the second quarter of 2006 from 7,18,275 tonne in the same quarter of 2005, the SEA said.

Last month, exports rose 8 per cent to 6,26,675 tonne from the 5,79,700 tonne level posted in December 2005. The April-December period saw a soaring 32 per cent growth at 3,176,025 tonne from 2,402,125 tonne during the same period last year.

Exports of soybean meal during April-December last year rose to 2,159,225 tonne from 1,641,775 tonne a year earlier. Rapeseed meal exports jumped to 6,56,825 tonne from 4,41,500 tonne owing to availability of rapeseed during off-season from National Agricultural Co-operative Marketing Federation of India.

This not only upped crushing and oil availability but also increased availability of rapeseed extraction, boosting exports of rapeseed meal. Ricebran extraction also showed a quantum jump to reach 1,57,150 tonne from 60,450 tonne in the same period last year.

Exports to China increased significantly to 3,70,425 tonne during April-December 2006 from 3,10,500 tonne during the same period last year. China mainly imported rapeseed meal (2,14,875 tonne), followed by soybean meal (94,900 tonne) and groundnut meal (60,650 tonne) from India.

Vietnam became the largest importer of soybean meal at more than 5,41,300 tonne. The country also supported exports of ricebran extraction, buying the entire quantity from India. South Korea, a traditional importer of rapeseed meal, bought nearly 2,62,425 tonne.

Exports of castor meal, however, slumped to 1,37,275 tonne between April and December 2006 from 1,62,450 tonne in the same period last year. South Korea scaled down imports to 87,025 tonne from 1,10,975 tonne in the previous year.

Kandla reported 54 per cent higher exports at 1,720,675 tonne in the April-December period, followed by Mumbai's 22 per cent at 7,11,675 tonne, Bedi's 15 per cent at 4,62,775 tonne, Kakinada's 5 per cent 1,62,350 tonne and Vizag's 4 per cent at 1,14,625 tonne. Pipavav shipped just 3,925 tonne.