India: Oilseeds and Products Update

India's peanut oilseed harvested area for marketing year (MY) 2025/26 is projected to reach 5.6 million hectares, a three percent increase, as farmers shift from cotton to peanuts due to better financial returns and timely rainfall. Production is forecasted to grow two percent to 7.5 million metric tons (MMT), with stable yields of 1.33 metric tons per hectare, supported by favorable monsoon conditions. Exports are expected to rise 16 percent to 928 thousand metric tons (TMT), driven by global trade opportunities and the India-UK Free Trade Agreement. Ending stocks are anticipated to increase five percent to 500 TMT, potentially lowering market prices. Peanut oilmeal production and consumption are projected to remain unchanged at 1.8 MMT and 1.7 MMT, respectively, while peanut oil production is estimated to hold steady at 1.4 MMT.