Poultry Industry Urges Permission to Import 1.5 Million Tonnes of Soy Meal

24-Mar-2026 01:47 PM

New Delhi. Due to a decline in soybean production, the supply and availability of soy meal have become limited, creating an environment of rising and firm prices; this raises concerns regarding potential difficulties for consumer industries, including the poultry sector. In light of this, the Poultry Federation of India has urged the government to grant permission for the import of 1.5 million tonnes of GM soy meal. This measure would provide relief to the industry.

Although the Union Ministry of Agriculture has projected a domestic soybean production of 12.72 million tonnes for the 2025-26 season, the Indore-based Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) has estimated that production will decline from 12.58 million tonnes in the 2024-25 season to 10.53 million tonnes. Similarly, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has projected a 15 percent drop, bringing the total down to 10.7 million tonnes.

The poultry industry asserts that importing soy meal—which is rich in protein—from abroad is essential to ensure an uninterrupted and adequate supply, thereby guaranteeing its proper availability during the off-season. A ban on futures trading in soybeans remains in effect until March 31, 2026—a deadline that is now fast approaching.