India’s soyabean imports have risen to over 3.09 lakh tonnes during the oil year 2025-26 starting October, so far, on improving commercial viability over same period last year’s 0.02 lakh tonnes. The increase in imports has been largely noticed during the first three months of the calendar year 2026.

DN Pathak, Executive Director, The Soyabean Processors Association of India (SOPA), attributed the recent rising trend in soyabean imports to the improving commercial viability amidst the tightness in domestic demand supply situation. SOPA has projected soyabean imports of 6 lakh tonnes for the oil year 2025-26 ending September.

India allows the imports of only non-genetically modified (non-GMO) soyabean and the key origins for such imports are producers in West Africa such as Togo, Niger and Benin. Imports from these African producers are allowed at zero duty under the least developed countries scheme.

SOPA has projected a decline in soyabean output at 110.26 lakh tonnes for oil year 2025-26 over previous year’s 128.82 lakh tonnes. Of the estimated production of 110 lakh tonnes about 63 lakh tonnes have arrived into the market during Oct-March, down from corresponding last year’s 72 lakh tonnes.

As a result of the lower arrivals, the crushing of soyabean has also been lower at 57 lakh tonnes (60.50 lakh tonnes in the same period last year). Stocks with the trade and the government agencies are estimated at 51.1 lakh tonnes. The Central agencies are holding about 7 lakh tonnes of soyabean procured under the price support scheme.

Due to the lower soyabean crushing, the production of meal has also declined to 44.98 lakh tonnes during the Oct-March period of the current oil year over same period last year’s 44.74 lakh tonnes.

The off-take of meal from the feed segment is flat at 32.50 lakh tonnes, while the food segment has witnessed a marginal decline at 4.20 lakh tonnes (4.35 lakh tonnes).

Exports of soyabean meal were down by 30 per cent at 7.72 lakh tonnes during Oct-March over same period last year’s 11.12 lakh tonnes. Pathak attributed the decline in exports to the higher domestic prices.

The All India Mandi average price of soyabean was down at ₹4943.6 per quintal as on April 12, lower than a month ago period’s ₹5327.21 per quintal. However, the prevailing prices are higher than the year ago period’s ₹4212.23 per quintal. The Government had announced a minimum support price of Rs 5328 per quintal for soyabean for the kharif 2025-26 season.

Published on April 14, 2026