India to import record 900,000 tons soybeans in 2025-26
India is on track to import a record 900,000 tons of soybeans in 2025-26, a huge leap from almost nothing in the previous oil year (2024-25).
This rush is all about filling the gap left by falling local production, which has dropped 14% due to less planting and rough weather.
By May, imports had already hit 630,000 tons, most of it just in the past few months.
Indian soybean meal prices ₹65-66/kg
Most of these soybeans are non-GMO and come from African countries like Niger, Togo, and Nigeria.
With fewer soybeans at home, prices for soybean meal have surged over 40%, now costing ₹65-66 per kg, a real headache for feed and poultry businesses.
To help manage the shortage, Soyabean Processors Association of India (SOPA) has bumped up its processing targets and export estimates for soybean meal for the 2025-26 oil year.