Indian 2025/26 soyabean production forecast to decline by 12% to 10.7M tonnes

In its 26 August Oilseeds and Products Update, the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) said India’s soyabean output would drop to 10.7M tonnes, a 12% decline compared to this year’s initial forecast.

The production decline was linked to a 12% decrease in projected planted area, down from an initial forecast of 13M ha to 11.5M ha, the USDA said.

“Untimely rainfall during the sowing period disrupted planting activities, necessitating re-sowing efforts,” the USDA said.

“Additionally, growers shifted to alternate water-intensive crops like rice and sugarcane, benefiting from the excessive rainfall. Growers also turned to cultivating more corn, anticipating better monetary returns.”

The report also noted that soyabean crushing was projected to fall by 6% compared to 2024/25, to 9.5M tonnes, driven by declining feed demand and narrowing profit margins.

Soyabean meal output was forecast to decline as Indian producers would face “operational and financial challenges due to reduced crushing volumes and increased competition from Argentine soya meal”, the USDA said. “Exports remain constrained and ending stocks are forecast to drop by 52% to 455,000 tonnes.”

Tags: India, forecast, soyabeans, planted area, Production