February 27, 2026

India's soybean meal exports dropped in volume year-on-year in January 2026

The Indian feed meal market is declining amid a sharp price spike in January, according to the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA).

In January 2026, soybean meal export volumes from the country more than halved. While 286,000 tonnes of the product were shipped to foreign buyers in January of last year, this figure fell to 132,000 tonnes in the first month of this year.

Despite the overall decline, Indian suppliers are maintaining their positions in key destinations. The main importers in January were the European Union, Nepal, and Kenya.

Analysts particularly highlight the African market: Kenya has become an anchor market for Indian feed in recent years. In 2025, India met approximately 80% of the country's needs for this type of feed.

Rapeseed meal exports plummeted to a multi-year low in January, reaching just 65,000 tonnes, compared to 132,000 tonnes a year earlier.

The key decline, more than halving, was in shipments to China.

Market participants attribute the collapse to the depletion of old-crop rapeseed stocks and a seasonal reduction in soybean processing volumes, which experts predict will continue to put pressure on shipment volumes in the coming weeks.

In January 2026, the average price of rapeseed meal in Indian ports reached $248 per tonne. This is a significant jump compared to the $195–217 per tonne range that prevailed in the market from March to December 2025.

- OleoScope