Oilmeal Exports Slip By 30-Pc

Mumbai: The country's oilmeal exports fell by 30 per cent in June at 153,625 tonnes compared with 219,650 tonnes in the corresponding month last year. The drop was due to a significant decrease in soybean meal and groundnut meal, according to data compiled by the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA). Soybean meal exports witnessed a decline of 25 per cent in June at 424,900 tonnes compared with 565,975 tonnes in the same month last year, while groundnut meal exports toppled by 89 per cent to 4,775 tonnes from 43,100 tonnes. On the contrary, the shipment of castor meal recorded a growth of 185 per cent to 97,225 tonnes from 34,000 tonnes in the period under consideration. On a quarterly basis, however, the exports of oilmeal recorded a 7 per cent decline in the first quarter of the current financial year to settle at 816,600 tonnes compared with 875,200 tonnes in the comparable quarter last year. Vietnam witnessed a quantum jump in import of oilmeals from India at 315,500 tonnes, consisting of 238,500 tonnes of soybean meal, 21,250 tonnes of rapeseed meal and 55,275 tonnes of ricebran extraction. South Korea reported imported 195,775 tonnes of oilmeal from India, making up 110,925 tonnes of rapeseed meal, 72,700 tonnes of castorseed meal and 12,150 tonnes of soybean meal. Japan imported 96,400 tonnes, comprising 93,900 tonnes of soybean meal and 2,500 tonnes of rapeseed meal, while China purchased 65,175 tonnes of rapeseed meal from India during the first quarter of the current financial year. The exports from Kandla were reported at 540,000 tonnes (66 per cent), followed by Mumbai, which handled 115,750 tonnes (14 per cent), Bedi 63,900 tonnes (8 per cent), Kakinada 60,300 tonnes (8 per cent) and Vizag 35,900 tonnes (4 per cent).