NEW DELHI: The Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA), the apex body of the edible oil industry, has urged the government to lift the ban on exports of De-Oiled Rice Bran (DORB), citing benefits for domestic processors and farmers’ incomes. The current ban is in effect until September 2025.
In a statement on Thursday, SEA said it has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to withdraw the restriction and has requested that the ban not be extended beyond September 30, 2025. Letters were also sent to Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh.
The association noted that prior to the 2023 ban, India exported 5–6 lakh tonnes of DORB annually, valued at around ₹1,000 crore, primarily to Asian countries, helping stabilize feed and milk prices. “Protein meal prices have fallen nearly 50%, yet milk prices continue to rise, while DORB prices have dropped to ₹10,000–11,000 per tonne,” SEA said, adding that the ban has not achieved its intended objective.
The association argued that the export restriction has adversely impacted rice bran extraction units, rice mills, and farmers’ incomes, while also causing India to lose export markets to alternatives like DDGS and maize.
SEA emphasized that lifting the ban would revive exports, improve farmer returns, generate rural employment, enhance capacity utilization, and strengthen India’s global competitiveness. “Allowing DORB exports would be a win-win for all stakeholders,” it added.
