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Informist, Friday, May 2, 2025

 

MUMBAI – India's edible oil imports are estimated to have fallen further to 909,238 tonnes in April on lower imports of sunflower oil, according to the Sunvin Group. According to data from The Solvent Extractors' Association of India, the country's vegetable oil imports in March consisted of 970,602 tonnes of edible oils and 27,742 tonnes of non-edible oils. Edible oil imports in March had fallen 16% on year. India's edible oil import basket comprises crude palm oil, soyoil, and sunflower oil. 

 

"From Jan-Apr, in four months, the average imports are seen at 900,000 tonnes per month and the total is around 3.6 million tonnes, which is one the lowest imports till now," Sunvin Group Chief Executive Officer Sandeep Bajoria told Informist. The fall in imports is due to increased domestic oilseeds production and some imported oil coming from Nepal, he said. Oil imports from Nepal are not included in the total import quantity, the report said. 

 

Crude palm oil imports in April are estimated to have risen slightly to 355,346 tonnes, according to the Sunvin Group. A few months ago, palm oil became one of the costlier oils globally owing to a fall in supply. Prices have since come down, leading to a rise in imports, Bajoria said. Crude palm oil imports were seen at 343,949 tonnes in March, according to the SEA.

 

"On an average, palm oil imports have been around 350,000-400,000 tonnes per month in the recent four months," Bajoria said. "May palm imports will be around 500,000-550,000 tonnes. June palm imports are seen at 600,000-650,000 tonnes, and July-Sept imports are estimated to be around 800,000-850,000 per month," Bajoria said.

 

India's crude soyoil imports are estimated to have risen to 373,264 tonnes in April. Crude soyoil imports were at 355,358 tonnes in March, according to the SEA.

 

However, crude sunflower oil imports are estimated to have fallen to 180,628 tonnes in April, according to the Sunvin report. Crude sunflower oil imports were at 190,645 tonnes in March, the association said. Sunflower oil demand is low due to higher prices, Bajoria said.  

 

May shipment contract prices are currently at about $1,050 per tonne for crude palm oil, $1,095 per tonne for soyoil, and $1,200 per tonne for sunflower oil, Bajoria said. "I believe from May-Aug, overall imports will step up from this average of 900,000 tonnes per month," he continued. "May imports will cross 1.0 million tonnes, June imports should be around 1.1 million tonnes, and Jul-Aug imports are estimated at 1.25-1.30 million tonnes per month."

 

The SEA is scheduled to release data on the import of edible oils in April by May. 15. India imports palm oil from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand and soyoil and sunflower oil from Argentina, Brazil, Ukraine, and Russia.  End

 

Reported by Anjali Lavania

Edited by Rajeev Pai

 

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