Indore, Jul 13 (PTI) India's soybean meal exports fell nearly 69 per cent to 30,000 tonnes in June amid high prices and weak demand in major importing markets, the Indore-based Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) said on Monday.

According to data made available by SOPA, 97,000 tonnes of soybean meal was exported from the country in June 2025.

"A total of 5.52 lakh tonnes of soybean meal was produced in the country in June. During this period, 75,000 tonnes of soybean meal was used for human consumption and 5 lakh tonnes for animal, poultry, and fish feed, while the total stock, including old stocks, stood at 1.27 lakh tonnes at the end of the month," it said.

SOPA Executive Director DN Pathak said Indian soybean meal prices have remained higher than those of competing countries in the international market for a long time, impacting exports.

Geopolitical tensions in the West Asia region and weak demand in some key markets have also impacted Indian exports, he added.

According to SOPA estimates, total soybean meal exports during the first nine months of the current oil marketing year (October 2025-September 2026) were approximately 900,000 tonnes, compared to 15.60 lakh tonnes in the same period of the previous oil marketing year.

Soybean meal is the product left after soybean oil is extracted in processing plants. It is a major source of protein and is used to produce food products such as soy flour and soybean chunks, as well as animal feed and poultry and fish feed. PTI HWP MAS BNM

Soybean meal export decline reflects weak international demand, higher domestic pricing, and reduced trade performance during the current oil marketing year. Soybean meal exports in June 2026 fell sharply to 30,000 tonnes from 97,000 tonnes a year earlier, driven by higher Indian prices than competing countries, weak demand in major importing markets, and geopolitical tensions in West Asia. June production was reported at 5.52 lakh tonnes, with utilisation split between human consumption and animal, poultry, and fish feed. Month-end stock, including old stock, stood at 1.27 lakh tonnes, while cumulative exports in the first nine months of the current oil marketing year remained below the corresponding period of the previous year.