Soymeal exports down 22 per cent

Soymeal exports declined by 22 per cent to 1,40,175 tonnes in July this year (1,79,950 tonnes during the same month last year) due to a decline in soybean exports. Soybean exports during the month slumped by 44 per cent to 66,700 tonnes from 1,19,450 tonnes.

The overall export of oilmeals for the period between April - July was reported to be 956,775 tonnes compared with 1,055,150 tonnes. The exports recorded a decline of 9 per cent due to a decrease in export of soybean meal from 685,425 tonnes to 491,600 tonnes. Groundnut meal exports also fell from 43,100 tonnes to 4,775 tonnes in the first four months of the current year due to failure of the crop. However, castor meal exports increased to 112,975 tonnes from 34,000 tonnes on South Korean buying. Ricebran exports also increased to 66,925 tonnes from 32,400 tonnes in the same period last year.

Vietnam has pumped up Indian oilmeal import to 360,125 tonnes, of which 267,750 tonnes are soybean meal, 24,975 tonnes are rapeseed meal and th remaining 66,925 tonnes of ricebran extraction.

South Korea has imported 227,425 tonnes from India which consist of 134,825 tonnes of rapeseed meal, 80,450 tonnes of castorseed meal and 12,150 tonnes of soybean meal. Japan's import from India, recorded at 104,550 tonnes, consists of 102,050 tonnes of soybean meal and 2,500 tonnes of rapeseed meal.

However, China has reduced Indian imports due to better local availability. It imported only 65,175 tonnes of rapeseed meal during the April - July period.

Meanwhile, Kandla handled 639,150 tonnes (67 per cent) of the total oilmeal exports while Mumbai shipped 145,125 tonnes (15 per cent). Bedi transported 63,900 tonnes or 7 per cent, Kakinada 71,950 tonnes (8 per cent) and Vizag handled 35,900 tonnes (4 per cent).

The total oilmeal exports during the first nine months of the current oil year (Nov 2006 - Oct 2007) jumped by 5 per cent but in the last quarter (May - July dropped by 20 per cent due to poor demand and disparity in export realisation.