Exports of oilmeals during May 2008 have doubled to 4.73 lakh tonne compared with 2.35 lakh tonne in May 2007 on good demand from Vietnam and South Korea.

The overall export of oilmeals for April and May 2008 was reported at 11.11 lakh tonne compared to 6.71 lakh tonne, up by 66% over the same period last year.

During the review period, Vietnam showed a quantum jump in import of oilmeals from India at 3.10 lakh tonne compared to 2.71 lakh tonne in the same period last year which consist of 2.55 lakh tonne of soybean meal, 11,750 tonne of rapeseed meal and entire 42,725 tonne of rice bran extractions from India, according to the data prepared by the Solvent Extractors? Association of India (SEAI).

South Korea reported import of 1.92 lakh tonne compared to 1.54 lakh tonne of last year that consist of 1.07 lakh tonne of rapeseed meal and 21,925 tonne of castorseed meal.l

The export from Kandla was reported at 6.96 lakh tonne (63% share), followed by Mumbai, which handled 1.92 lakh tonne (17%), Bedi port 1.17 lakh tonne (11%), Kakinada 65,250 tonne (6%) and Vizam 39,775 tonne (4%).

Due to record output and demand abroad, the export of soybean meal in the country has recorded an increase of whopping 151% during May 2008.

Meanwhile, according to Soyabean Processors Association of India (SOPA), the exports of soybean meal exports during May 2008 rose to 3.06 lakh tonne as against 1.21 lakh tonne achieved during same period last year.

The exports during the April – May 2008 also registered a big 142% hike compared to the same period last year. The soybean meal export grew to 8.56 lakh tonne as compared to 3.53 lakh tonne during the period, a SOPA statement on Monday said.

Similarly, the exports during the period October 2007 – May 2008 was 4.8 million tonne as compared to 3.1 million tonne, registering a 30.97% growth over the same period last year.

There has been significant increase in exports of soybean meal to countries like Vietnam and Japan. The exports were placed at 1.04 million tonne to Vietnam as against 7. 3 lakh tonne achieved last year, showing a growth of 43.13% and 6.9 lakh tonne to Japan as against 4. 08 lakh tonne recorded last year, an increase of 71.20%.

As per the government?s third advance estimate, soyabean production is pegged at a record 9.4. million tonne during 2007-08 against 8.8 million tonne achieved the previous year.