July oilmeal export falls 22 pc

MUMBAI: Oilmeal exports in July were down 22% at 1.40 lakh tonnes against 1.79 in July last year. Oilmeal exports between April-July 2007 were down 9% at 9.56 lakh tonnes compared to 10.55 tonnes in the corresponding period last year. In May-July quarter, exports dropped by 20% at 5.23 lakh tonnes.

However, oilmeal exports for the first nine months in current oil year (Nov 2006-Oct 2007) were up by 5% at 41.6 lakh tonnes against 39.77 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period last year.

Soya bean meal exports fell to 4.91 lakh tonnes against 6.85 lakh tonnes earlier. Groundnut meal exports fell to 4,775 tonnes from 43,100 tonnes due to failure of groundnut crop, according to the data compiled by the Solvent Extractors Association of India.

Castor meal export jumped to 1.13 lakh tonnes from 34,000 tonnes due to increase buying from South Korea. Rice bran export increased to 66,925 tonnes from 32,400 tonnes in the corresponding period last year.

Vietnam has shown 42% jump in import of oilmeal at 3.6 lakh tonnes followed by South Korea at 2.27 lakh tonnes. China cut imports by 68% to 65,175 tonnes on better local crushing.