West Asia conflict: India's soybean meal exports fall 63%

Indore, India's soybean meal exports fell nearly 63 percent to 60,000 tonnes in March due to high prices and the conflict in West Asia, a processors' association said on Tuesday.

According to the Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) estimates, 1.62 lakh tonnes of soybean meal had been exported in March 2025.

Soybean meal is left after soybean oil is extracted in processing plants. It is a significant source of protein and used to produce food products like soy flour and soybean chunks, as well as animal feed and poultry and fish feed.

SOPA Executive Director D N Pathak told PTI that Indian soybean meal prices have remained higher than those in other major exporting countries like the US, Brazil and Argentina for a long time.

"Due to the conflict in West Asia, the supply of Indian soybean meal to countries like Iran, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, and Oman has been disrupted, increasing pressure on exports," Pathak said.

However, domestic consumption of soybean meal remained strong in March. According to SOPA estimates, soybean meal consumption in India rose to six lakh tons last month, up from five lakh tons in March 2025.

It indicated that the domestic animal feed industry is supporting demand for soybean meal.

The conflict in West Asia began after the US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28.