New Delhi (PTI): Soyameal exports are expected to jump more than two-fold to about three lakh tons this month due to better demand in the global market and record domestic production of soyabean.

"Soyameal export in May is estimated at around 3 lakh tons," Indore-based Soyabean Processors' Association of India (SOPA) Coordinator Rajesh Agrawal told PTI.

India exported 1.21 lakh tons of soyameal last May.

The export price currently stands at 417 dollars per tonne, which is much higher than about 275 dollars a tonne when the season started in October 2007, he said.

Soyameal exports have risen by 26 per cent at 37.74 lakh tons during October 2007-April 2008 compared to 29.94 lakh tons in the corresponding period of previous season.

Record output of soyabean during 2007-08 season has been the major factor for increase in exports. As per government's third advance estimate, soyabean output is pegged at 94.3 lakh tons in 2007-08 against 88.5 lakh tons in the previous year. Soyabean is grown during the Kharif season and harvest begins in September-October.

The exports would decline from this month onwards till September as availability of soyabean would be lower, Agrawal said, adding that overseas sales in 2007-08 season ending September would be between 40-45 lakh tons against 35.25 lakh tons in 2006-07.