Edible oil imports fall 15% in March
India’s edible oil imports fell 15% in March 2025, driven by a 31% drop in palm oil shipments, according to SEA. High palm prices and rising domestic output curbed demand. Meanwhile, imports of soft oils like soybean and sunflower surged, shifting their share to 57%. Total imports in Nov–Mar stood at 5.63 MT, with palm oil’s share down to 43%.
India’s edible oil imports dropped 15% in March 2025, led by a sharp fall in palm oil imports. Soft oil imports like soybean and sunflower surged, shifting preferences. High palm oil prices and rising domestic output continue to impact overall demand.
India’s edible oil imports declined sharply by 15% on year to 0.97 million tonne (MT) in March, primarily due to decline in palm oil imports.
In the first five months of the oil year (November – March), cooking oil imports declined by over 2% to 5.63 MT, the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) stated on Friday.
In the first five months of the current oil year, palm oil import sharply decreased by 31% to 2.41 MT.
However the import of soft oils — soybean and sunflower – has jumped to 3.22 MT from 2.23 MT for the same period of last year. The share of palm oil in the total cooking oil imports has declined to 43% from 61% while the share of soft oils rose to 57% from 39%.
During November, 2024 – March, 2025, 0.66 MT of refined oil palm oil or RBD Palmolein was imported compared to 0.88 MT in the same period previous oil year. Over 4.97 MT of crude oil was imported during the first five months of oil year compared to 4.87 MT in the previous oil year.
“The ratio of refined oil decreased to 12% from 15% due to lesser import of RBD Palmolien, while crude palm oil ratio increased to 88% from 85% mainly due to increase import of soybean oil,” SEA stated.
At the beginning of the month, the total stock of cooking oil reported at 1.66 MT compared to 1.87 MT a month back, a decrease by 0.21 MT.
While projecting that the growth in vegetable oil consumption is expected to slow down in 2024-25 oil year, trade body of edible oil processor had stated ‘the high price premium on palm oil has reduced both imports and consumption in recent months, leading to a sharp increase in the consumption of soybean oil and sunflower oil,’.
Cooking oil imports in 2023-24 oil year had declined marginally by 3% to 15.96 MT compared to previous oil year because of increase in domestic oil seeds output and decline in demand because of higher prices.
SEA has also noted that the exports of refined soybean oil to India from Nepal, taking advantage of duty-free access have increased. Similarly, exports of vanaspati from Nepal and Sri Lanka to India have also picked up recently.
India imports around 57% of its edible oils – palk, soybean and sunflower consumption of around 25 MT.
India imports crude palm oils from Malaysia and Indonesia while soybean and sunflower oils are imported by Argentina, Brazil, Russia and Ukraine.
To Read more about Edible Oil News continue reading Agriinsite.com
Source : Financial Express
