India's soyameal export during the current-month is expected to touch a record of 4 lakh tonnes, thus taking total shipments in the current oil year to 24.5 lakh tonnes, according to the industry estimates.
The total export of soyameal, used mainly as animal feed, till August during the current-oil year stood at 2.05 million tonnes, against 3.04 million tonnes during the same period last year, down by 32.41 per cent, as per the data available with the Soyabean Processors Association of India (SOPA).
The oil year runs from October to September.
Soyameal exports during September is expected to be at a record high of 4 lakh tonnes, SOPA Co-ordinator Rajesh Agrawal said, while adding that a record shipment in September would help in checking decline of the commodity exports.
Soyameal is obtained from crushing soybean, which is an important source of protein for people.
Earlier, SOPA had projected a 30 per cent decline in India's total soyameal exports in the current-oil year ending September, to 2.3 million tonnes due to lower availability of soyabean for crushing.
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However, the increased shipments in the current-month would help the country to achieve an overall export of soyameal of more than 2.5 million tonnes.
The country had exported 3.21 million tonnes of soyameal in 2008-09 oil year (October-September). In value terms, the exports stood at Rs 5,686 crore.
Due to the lower crushing activities in the current-oil year, exports of soyameal will remain low in the current oil year, Agrawal has said.
He said, earlier farmers were holding back supplies in anticipation of soyameal prices, which are already high in the domestic market, now as the fresh arrivals are expected to reach market soon, there is a surge in the availability of soyabean for processing.
In India, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh are the major producers of soybeans.