Oilmeal exports dropped 13 per cent in November to 5,60,648 tonnes (6,41,607 tonnes) due to lower demand from the importing countries as prices ruled higher.
However, oilmeal exports in eight months of the current fiscal are up 18 per cent at 25,80,718 tonnes (23,91,019 tonnes), according to Solvent Extractors Association.
Soybean meal prices were up $557 a tonne in November from $541 tonnes in October, while rapeseed and castorseed meal were up at $242 a tonne ($240 a tonne) and $97 a tonne ($93 a tonne).
Rapeseed meal shipments declined by over 50 per cent to 27,993 tonnes in November compared with 66,966 tonnes in the same period last year, while that of soyabean slipped to 5,03,269 tonnes (5,17,103 tonnes). Castorseed meal dipped to 27,586 tonnes (45,216 tonnes).
During April-November, oilmeal imports by South Korea were up 22 per cent at 7,03,212 tonnes (5,78,431 tonnes).
Imports consisted of 3,15,168 tonnes of rapeseed meal, 3,46,797 tonnes of castor meal and 41,247 tonnes of soyabean meal. Iran imports were up at 7,89,031 tonnes (4,61,687 tonnes), consisting of 7,86,369 tonnes of soyabean meal and 2,662 tonnes of rapeseed meal.
Thailand and Vietnam imported 1,53,523 tonnes (1,43,325 tonnes) and 98,069 tonnes (2,66,111 tonnes). India lost several of its customers in Vietnam due to stiff competition from other origins and increased domestic crushing.
Indonesia imported 60,017 tonnes (1,33,180 tonnes), consisting of 32,050 tonnes of rapeseed meal and 27,967 tonnes of soyabean meal.
Indonesian end-users prefer high protein with low fibre of 4 per cent against 6 per cent supplied by India, said association members.
Europe has turned out to be a bigger market for Indian soyameal.
Europe imported 2,12,545 tonnes compared with 88,973 tonnes last year.