Industry differs with govt on soybean output, says edible oil price to stay high
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. A price-signalling war is on between the government and processors of soybean, as the two have put out conflicting production estimates of the key cash crop that's an affordable source of edible oil. According to the Union agriculture ministry’s second advance estimates, there has been a record production of soybean in the country at 15.1 million tonnes during the kharif marketing season 2024-25.
However, the industry pegs it at just 12.6 million tonnes. Currently, the price of soybean oil in the wholesale market hovers at ₹129 -132 per kg. "The trade feels that the data released by the central government is too high, as area has fallen by seven lakh hectares.
Ideally, the difference between the government data and the industry data varies by 5-10%, but this time it is too high. The industry feels that the total production would be around 12.6 million tonnes. So, considering the production number, we don't see softening of prices [of soybean oil] in the near future." said B.V.
Mehta, executive director, The Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA). According to him, during the kharif season 2024-25, soybean was sown over 11.83 million hectares, compared to 12.54 million hectares in 2023. However, the industry saw an increase in production in 2024 at 12.58 million tonnes, mainly on account of high yield.
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