The Indian edible oil sector continued to import more edible oils in the first six months of the 2025-26 (November-October) oil year leading to a 13.66 per cent increase in volume and a 19 per cent increase in value.

Data compiled by the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) showed that the country imported 78.15 lakh tonnes (lt) of edible oils during November ‘25-April ‘26 against 68.76 lt in the corresponding period of the previous oil year, registering a growth of 13.66 per cent.

BV Mehta, Executive Director of SEA, said the value of imported edible oils increased to around ₹87,000 crore during the first six months of the oil year 2025-26 from ₹73,000 crore in the corresponding period of 2024-25, a growth of 19 per cent.

Palm oil imports decline

Though edible oil imports increased to 13.07 lt in April from 11.73 lt in March, palm oil imports declined during April. India imported 5.10 lt of crude palm oil (CPO) in April against 6.73 lt in March, a decline of 24.21 per cent. RBD palmolein imports witnessed a sharp decline of 88.62 per cent from 13,498 tonnes in March to 1536 tonnes in April.

Mehta attributed this decline to the weak demand and higher prices, marking a shift in purchasing patterns. Sunflower oil imports more than doubled, and soybean oil imports rose 25 per cent month-on-month as refiners shifted to alternatives. A price rally in palm oil reduced its discount to rival oils, reducing its appeal to refiners, he said.

India’s sunflower oil imports increased to 4.34 lt in April from 1.96 lt in March. The country imported 3.60 lt of soybean oil in April as against 2.87 lt in March.

“While current supplies remain sufficient due to high domestic mustard seed crushing, low inventory levels may prompt increased imports in the coming months,” he said.

However, overall palm oil imports (including CPO and RBD palmolein) increased to 39.67 lt during November-April 2025-26 from 27.44 lt in the corresponding period of the previous oil year.

During the first half of the oil year 2025-26, India imported 15.50 lt of sunflower oil (15.29 lt in November-April 2024-25), and 22.91 lt of soybean oil (26 lt).

Mehta said the import price of palm oil increased by 14-15 per cent in April 2026 when compared to the April 2025 levels, and the price of soybean and sunflower oils increased by 17-22 per cent.

Stating that rupee depreciated by over 9.2 per cent in the last one year, he said it is a cause of concern to Indian importers and refiners.

Country-wise imports

Indonesia supplied 16.3 lt, and Malaysia 15.2 lt of palm oil to India during the first six months of the oil year 2025-26.

India imported 13.32 lt of soybean oil from Argentina. This was followed by Brazil at 4.25 lt. During the period, Russia and Ukraine exported 8.1 lt and 2.74 lt of sunflower oil, respectively, to India.

Nepal factor

Nepal exported around 2.17 lt of refined oils during November-February 2025-26. This included 1.90 lt of refined soybean oil, 14,580 tonnes of refined sunflower oil, 10,530 tonnes of RBD palmolein and a small quantity of 2,359 tonnes of rapeseed oil.

He said Nepal exported around 63,000 tonnes of refined oil in March and around 65,000 tonnes in April. This included soybean oil and a small quantity of sunflower oil and RBD palmolein.

Published on May 13, 2026