Traders in India are expecting a 10-15% increase in oilseed exports during the current fiscal year, with strong orders coming from markets such as Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa. In the fiscal year 2022-23, oilseed exports already saw a significant growth of over 20% to reach $1.33 billion (approximately Rs. 10,900 crore). The main oilseeds exported by India include groundnut, sesame, soy, castor, niger, and sunflower, with groundnut and sesame seeds accounting for 80-85% of the total oilseed exports.
Mr. Khushwant Jain, the former Chairman of the Indian Oilseeds and Produce Export Promotion Council (IOPEPC), highlighted that soybean and groundnut occupy 61% and 23% of the entire kharif oilseeds area, respectively. Sunflower and sesame cultivation account for 19.7% and 12.4%, respectively. Among the states, Madhya Pradesh holds the largest share of the country’s oilseeds area at 34.64%, followed by Maharashtra (22%), Gujarat (13.53%), Rajasthan (11.43%), Karnataka (5.04%), Andhra Pradesh (5.02%), Uttar Pradesh (2.66%), Telangana (1.74%), and Tamil Nadu (1.21%).
Mr. Jain also noted that the expected increase in acreage would contribute to higher production, enabling the country to export more oilseeds. Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, and the European Union rank among the top export destinations for India’s oilseeds.
