Indore: The growing use of cost-effective Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) in poultry feed is significantly impacting the demand for soybean meal, leading to a downward revision in domestic feed consumption estimates, according to the Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA).
SOPA announced on Tuesday that it has reduced its forecast for soybean meal consumption in poultry feed for the ongoing oil year (October 2024 – September 2025) by approximately 5%, lowering the estimate from 66 lakh tonnes to 63 lakh tonnes. Additionally, the association has revised the total estimated soybean crushing for the current marketing year, cutting it by 5 lakh tonnes to 110 lakh tonnes.
The impact is also visible on the export front, as India’s soybean meal exports saw a sharp decline of nearly 35% in February 2025. Exports dropped to 1.54 lakh tonnes compared to the 2.78 lakh tonnes exported in January. SOPA attributed this decline to reduced demand from key international buyers such as France, Germany, and the Netherlands.
“The increased utilisation of DDGS in place of soybean meal in poultry feed continues to affect soybean meal demand and adversely impact the industry. Considering this shift, we have adjusted our domestic consumption estimate downward by 3 lakh tonnes,” said D.N. Pathak, Executive Director of SOPA.
Madhya Pradesh, a leading soybean-producing state, is expected to feel the impact of these changing consumption patterns as poultry farmers increasingly opt for DDGS as a more economical alternative.
With poultry feed formulations evolving, industry stakeholders will need to reassess supply chain strategies and explore alternative uses for soybean meal to counteract declining demand.
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