India's soybean output set to jump as farmers expand area on ample rains

"Farmers are expanding area. If monsoon remains good, I am expecting at least 15 percent rise in the output," said Angshu Mallick, deputy chief executive of Adani Wilmar, a leading edible oil refiner.

Farmers have planted soybean on 10.15 million hectares as on July 10, compared with 5.17 million hectares a year earlier as the monsoon covered the entire country nearly two weeks earlier than usual, according to the farm ministry.

India produced 9.3 million tonnes of soybean in 2019.

The central state of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra in the west account for more than 80 percent of India's total soybean output. Both states received 15 percent above average rainfall since the start of monsoon season on June 1, weather department data showed.

India raised the minimum buying price for soybean by 4.6 percent from a year earlier to 3,880 rupees per 100 kg, even as prices came under pressure in the last few months due to weak demand for soymeal from poultry industry.

The bumper crop would put additional pressure on local soybean prices as the country is expected to start the new marketing year with carry forward stocks of 1.28 million tonnes, up from 170,000 tonnes a year ago, said Davish Jain, chairman of the Soybean Processors Association of India.

"Local demand is weak and soymeal exports are not picking up. The government needs to restore 10 percent incentive for soymeal exports to support soybean prices," Jain said.