``Decreased arrivals and increased prices of soy products like soyoil and soymeal have boosted soybean prices,'' said a soybean trader, Prakash Vohra, in Indore in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.

Traders said arrivals were low because of rains and the festival season.``Due to the rains, arrivals were limited in the markets. The festival season was the other reason for decreased arrivals. Some farmers are busy in fields,'' said a broker, Shantilal Ajmera.

Soybean prices have risen by about Rs 300 a tonne in central Indian markets to Rs 8,700-8,900 a tonne from Rs 8,400-8,600 a week ago.

Soybean prices were at about Rs 8,850-9,150 a tonne at the same time last year.

Soybean arrivals have fallen to about 600 tonnes a day from about 700 tonnes a week ago. They were about 500 tonnes at the same time a yearago.

The state is India's soybean bowl and accounts for about 75 per cent of the country's production.

Traders said purchasing from soybean processing plants had also been increasing because there was a good demand for finished soya products and prices of these products had risen in the previous week.

Soymeal prices were firm on good domestic demand, especially from southern millers, while export demand is still poor despite a low price this year.

Currently, soymeal was quoted at $155-156 per tonne FAS (free alongside ship) Bedibunder for export, which was $152-153 per tonne a week ago.

The bullish trend continued in soyoil prices. Currently, soyoil solvent are quoting at Rs 26,200-26,300 per tonne in plant delivery conditions, up from Rs 23,200-23,300 per tonne a week ago.

``Soybean and its finished products' prices may rise further as they are in good demand against limited availability,'' according to a soybean trader.