More Stories

Informist, Wednesday, Apr. 2, 2025

 

By Anjali Lavania

 

MUMBAI – India's edible oil imports are estimated at 971,000 tonnes in March, compared to 886,000 tonnes in February, due to high imports of palm oil and soyoil, according to estimates by GGN Research, accessed by Informist. India's edible oil imports were, however, at 1.15 million tonnes in March last year, according to the data.  

"This represents a 10% increase from the previous month. However, this is still 16% lower than the volume imported in the same month last year. Notably, this figure marks the lowest monthly import for March since 2021," said Rajesh G. Patel, managing partner of GGN Research.

 

Data from the Solvent Extractors' Association of India showed that vegetable oil imports consisted of 885,561 tonnes of edible oils and 14,004 tonnes of non-edible oils in February. Vegetable oil imports in February had fallen 7% on year to 899,565 tonnes. India's edible oil import basket comprises crude palm oil, soyoil, and sunflower oil. 

 

GGN Research estimates total palm oil imports in March to have increased 14% to 425,000 tonnes from 374,000 tonnes in February. However, palm oil imports in March are estimated to be 12% lower on year, according to the data. Palm oil imports are estimated to have reachd a three-month high during March, Patel said.

 

Similarly, soyoil imports are estimated to increase 25% on-month to 355,000 tonnes in March. "This represents a substantial 62% increase compared to March 2024," Patel said. 

 

However, sunflower oil imports are estimated to have plummeted to a six-month low, reaching 191,000 tonnes in March, the data showed. This marks a 16?cline from the previous month and a significant 57?crease from the same month last year, said Patel.  

 

As of Tuesday, vessels carrying 200,000 tonnes of edible oil are set to arrive in the next few days. Of this, 60,000 tonnes comprises palm oil, 110,000 tonnes soyoil, and 30,000 tonnes is sunflower oil, the report said.

 

Nepal's edible oil imports through Indian ports totalled 74,000 tonnes in March – 60,000 tonnes of soyoil, and 14,000 tonnes of sunflower oil, Patel said. This data is not included in the estimated figures for the month. 

 

Patel further estimates imports of palm oil in April at around 500,000 tonnes, soyoil at around 350,000-400,000 tonnes and sunflower oil at around 175,000-200,000 tonnes.

 

The Solvent Extractors' Association of India is scheduled to release data on imports of edible oil for March by Apr. 15. India imports palm oil from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, and imports soyoil and sunflower oil from Argentina, Brazil, Ukraine and Russia.  End

 

Edited by Tanima Banerjee

 

For users of real-time market data terminals, Informist news is available exclusively on the NSE Cogencis WorkStation.

 

Cogencis news is now Informist news. This follows the acquisition of Cogencis Information Services Ltd by NSE Data & Analytics Ltd, a 100% subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. As a part of the transaction, the news department of Cogencis has been sold to Informist Media Pvt Ltd.

 

Informist Media Tel +91 (22) 6985-4000

Send comments to feedback@informistmedia.com

 

© Informist Media Pvt. Ltd. 2025. All rights reserved.