Indian rapeseed meal exports surge amid China’s shift from Canada

China is expected to import a record 500,000 metric tons of rapeseed meal from India in 2025-26 after imposing a 100% tariff on Canadian supplies. This shift has made Indian exports more competitive and is boosting domestic rapeseed crushing, leading to increased availability of rapeseed oil in India.

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According to senior industry officials, China is poised to significantly ramp up imports of rapeseed meal from India following its decision to impose a 100% retaliatory tariff on Canadian rapeseed meal and oil. This development is expected to benefit both countries: India will find a major new market for its surplus stockpiles of rapeseed meal, while China, the world’s largest consumer of the product, will find a competitively priced alternative to Canadian supplies.

Mr B.V. Mehta, executive director of the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India, highlighted that India’s rapeseed meal exports to China are expected to reach a record 500,000 metric tons in the 2025-26 marketing year, a sharp rise from just 60,759 tons the previous year. Already, in the first two months of 2025-26, India has shipped 113,836 tons to China. This shift comes after China imposed steep tariffs on Canadian imports starting March 20, pushing it to diversify its sourcing.

Previously, India struggled to export significant quantities to China due to relatively higher prices. However, with Indian rapeseed meal now priced around US$ 202 per ton on a free-on-board (FOB) basis—compared to US$ 300 from the European Union—China has emerged as India’s top buyer, overtaking traditional markets like South Korea, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Vietnam.

In 2024, China imported over 2 million tons of rapeseed meal from Canada, making the loss of that supply particularly impactful. 

India’s rise as a major supplier comes at a crucial time. Surging Chinese demand is prompting greater rapeseed crushing domestically, leading to improved availability of rapeseed oil in the local market. This development is especially significant as India deals with a recent drop in edible oil imports. As the world’s largest buyer of vegetable oils, India mainly imports palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia, and soy oil and sunflower oil from Argentina, Brazil, Russia, and Ukraine.