Exports of oilmeal up 26% in H1

MUMBAI: India has more than doubled its exports of oilmeal year-over-year at 324,325 tonnes in September ’06 against 158,150 tonnes. The total export of oilmeals in the first-half of the current fiscal stand at 16.3 lakh tonnes, up 26% over 12.9 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period of FY06.

Export of soyabean meal in the relevant period jumped 35.2% to 9.8 lakh tonnes while rapeseed meal exports rose 34.6% to 4.5 lakh tonnes due to the availability of rapeseed during off-season from Nafed, which not only boosted crushing and oil availability but also increased availability of rapeseed extractions, lead to doubling of exports in the second-quarter from 1.2 lakh tonnes to 2.4 lakh tonnes.

Ricebran extraction has also shown a quantum jump, touching 95,000 tonnes compared to 41,000 tonnes in first-half of FY06, the Solvent Extractors Association said in a statement here on Monday.

Exports to China during April-September ’06 increased to 2.9 lakh tonnes from 1.3 lakh tonnes. China mainly imported soyabean meal (79,800 tonnes), rapeseed meal (1.7 lakh tonnes ) and groundnut meal (43,200 tonnes) from India.

Vietnam has became largest importer of soyabean meal with over 3.3 lakh tonnes. South Korea bought nearly 1.7 lakh tonnes, while Vietnam supported export of ricebran extraction to a great extent in first six months of the current fiscal.

During the first half, export of castor meal reduced to less than half at 63,575 tonnes as South Korea reduced import from 81,050 tonnes last year to just 27,425 tonnes during the current year.

Oilmeal export from Kandla was more than 10 lakh tonnes (62%), followed by Mumbai 3.3 lakh tonnes (20%), Bedi 1.5 lakh tonnes (9%), Vishakhapatnam 49,725 tonnes (3%) and Kakinada 99,950 tonnes (6%).