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Informist, Monday, May 5, 2025

By Anjali Lavania

MUMBAI – India's edible oil imports in April are estimated to have fallen to 863,000 tonnes, marking a decline of 11% on month and 34% on year, due to lower imports of palm oil and sunflower oil, according to estimates by GGN Research accessed by Informist. In March, the country's edible oil imports were at 970,602 tonnes, according to data from The Solvent Extractors' Association of India.

"This is the lowest monthly import level since February 2021," Rajesh G. Patel, managing partner at GGN Research, said. India's edible oils import during the first half of the oil year 2024-25 (Nov-Oct) is likely to have decreased by 8% on year to 6.5 million tonnes, he added.

Palm oil imports are expected to have fallen 24% on month to 321,000 tonnes in April, according  to estimates shared by Patel. "This is a staggering 53% drop year-over-year, making it the lowest import level for April since 2008 and a three-month low," he said. 

Sunflower oil imports are estimated to have fallen sharply to a seven-month low of 180,000 tonnes in April, which is a 6% month-on-month decline and a fall of 23% on year, the data showed. In April last year, sunflower oil imports were at 235,000 tonnes. "Sunflower oil is now trading at a premium to palm oil and soyoil," Patel said. "Hence, sunflower oil imports are estimated to have narrowed in April."

On the other hand, soyoil imports are estimated to have risen to a three-month high of 362,000 tonnes in April, up 2% from March, the data showed. "However, this is still down 6% compared to the same month last year," Patel said. Last year, in April, soyoil imports were at 386,000 tonnes.

As of May 1, more vessels were set to arrive at Indian ports in the next few days, carrying 260,000 tonnes of edible oil. Of this, 80,000 tonnes is palm oil, 120,000 tonnes is soyoil, and the rest is sunflower oil, according to GGN Research.

In April, Nepal's edible oils import through Indian ports added up to 85,000 tonnes, comprising 71,000 tonnes of soyoil and 14,000 tonnes of sunflower oil. "These import figures for Nepal are not included in the total estimates (for India)," Patel said. In March, Nepal's edible oils import through Indian ports added up to 135,000 tonnes--130,000 tonnes of soyoil and 5,000 tonnes of sunflower oil--the data showed.

The Solvent Extractors' Association of India is scheduled to release data on imports of edible oil for 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

Edited by Rajeev Pai

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