India’s soybean and palm oil imports will rise by 20% thanks to lower prices
India’s palm oil imports are set to rise nearly 20% in 2025/26 to 9.3 million tonnes, driven by competitive pricing versus soybean and sunflower oil. Soybean oil imports may slightly increase, while sunflower oil drops. Total edible oil imports could hit a record 16.5–17 million tonnes as consumption grows.
India’s palm oil imports will rise by nearly 20% in the new marketing year thanks to competitive prices that are helping the tropical oil regain its market share, Sanjeev Asthana, president of the Edible Oils Association of India (SEA), said last week.
“Palm oil prices have become competitive with other oils after the recent decline, and this will stimulate import demand,” Sanjeev Asthana told Reuters .
Increased purchasing by the world’s largest buyer is likely to lead to a reduction in stocks in key producing countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia.
The country’s palm oil imports in 2025/26 could rise to 9.3 million tonnes from last year’s 7.58 million tonnes, the lowest in five years and 15.9% lower than the previous season, as the tropical oil traded at a premium to soybean for much of the period.
However, palm oil is now selling at a discount of about US$100 per tonne to soybean oil and more than US$200 per tonne to sunflower oil, prompting processors to book supplies for the coming months.
Soybean oil imports in the new season are expected to slightly exceed last year’s record of 5.47 million tonnes, while sunflower oil purchases are expected to fall to 2-2.5 million tonnes, down from 2.9 million tonnes a year earlier, as crop damage in the Black Sea region has pushed up prices.
India’s total edible oil imports in the new season are expected to reach a record 16.5-17 million tonnes due to increased consumption compared to 16 million tonnes last year.
It was previously reported that India’s imports of five key vegetable oils fell to 1.35 million tonnes in October 2025 , representing a 9% decrease from October 2024, and from 1.67 million tonnes in September 2025. However, the country’s oil reserves are also declining, and analysts expect Indian buyers to step up their vegetable oil purchases in the coming months to ensure domestic market stability.
To Read more about Edible Oil News continue reading Agriinsite.com
Source : Ukr Agro Consult
