Russia to boost sunflower oil exports to India as Ukraine redirects its supplies to European markets
India remains the largest buyer of Russian sunflower oil, accounting for about one-third of Russia’s planned 5 million ton exports in 2025/26. Ukrainian sunflower oil exports to India fell in 2024/25, while India imports edible oils from Russia, Ukraine, Argentina, and Brazil. Russia expects record vegetable oil exports this year.
India is the main buyer of Russian energy and the two countries maintain close ties despite U.S. pressure on New Delhi to limit purchases, according to the report. The U.S. imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods, prompting India to look for alternative trading partners.
“Russia may strengthen its position in sunflower oil exports to the Indian market in the 2025/26 season. This may happen as Ukrainian suppliers shift their focus from Asia to Europe,” said Agroexport, an agricultural export agency.
Dmitry Rylko, head of the IKAR consulting company, said Russia plans to export a record 5 million tons of sunflower oil in the 2025/26 season. India is the largest buyer of Russian sunflower oil, accounting for one-third of total exports.
India imports soybean and sunflower oil from Argentina, Brazil, Russia and Ukraine.
“India is the world’s largest importer of edible oils and is open to the idea of increasing imports of sunflower oil from Russia,” a source in the Indian government told Reuters, adding that the purchases are made by private traders.
Mikhail Maltsev, head of the Russian Oil and Fat Union, said production of vegetable oils, including soybean and rapeseed, will increase this year by 7.5% to more than 10.5 million tons. He also forecasts record exports of vegetable oil this year.
In the 2024/25 marketing year (September 2024–August 2025), Ukraine exported 4.73 million tons of sunflower oil, 24% less than the previous season and the lowest level in the last three years.
The top three importers of Ukrainian oil in 2024/25 were: India, which increased purchases by 44% to 767,000 tons; Spain, which grew by 11% to 656,000 tons; and Italy, which rose by 28% to 504,000 tons.
In 2024, Ukraine exported $24.5 billion worth of agricultural products (59% of total exports), the second highest after 2021 when the figure reached $27.7 billion.
Overall, Ukraine exported 78.3 million tons of agricultural products last year.
The largest share of last year’s agricultural exports was sunflower oil — 21%. Nearly 6 million tons were exported, valued at $5.1 billion.
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Source : MSN
