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Informist, Thursday, Jun. 5, 2025

By Anjali Lavania

MUMBAI – India's edible oil imports in May are estimated to have surged to 1.18 million tonnes, marking an increase of 37% on month, according to estimates by GGN Research, accessed by Informist. In April, the country's vegetable oil imports were at 891,558 tonnes, according to data from The Solvent Extractors' Association of India. The imports comprised 862,558 tonnes of edible oils and 29,000 tonnes of non-edible oils, the association said. Edible oil imports fell 34% on year in April and were the lowest since May 2020.

"This (imports estimated for May) is the highest monthly import level in five months," Rajesh G. Patel, managing partner at GGN Research, said. However, this figure is still 21% lower compared to the same month last year, he added.

Palm oil imports are expected to increase by 87% on month to 600,000 tonnes in May, according to estimates. "Palm oil imports surged to a six-month high of 600,000 tonnes. However, this figure, too, is 21% lower compared to the same month last year," Patel said.

Sunflower oil imports are estimated to have increased marginally by 2% to 183,000 tonnes in May. "However, this modest growth belies a significant 55% year-over-year decline," said Patel.

Soyoil imports are estimated to have risen to a four-month high of 399,000 tonnes in May, up 11% from April and 23% up when compared to the same month last year, the data showed. 

As of Jun 1, more vessels were set to arrive at Indian ports in the next few days, carrying 430,000 tonnes of edible oil. Of this, 270,000 tonnes is palm oil, 90,000 tonnes is soyoil, and 70,000 tonnes is sunflower oil, according to GGN Research.

In May, Nepal's edible oil imports through Indian ports added up to 132,000 tonnes, comprising 118,000 tonnes of soyoil and 8,000 tonnes of sunflower oil. "These import figures for Nepal are not included in the total estimates (for India)," Patel said. "This marks the second-highest monthly import for Nepal in the current oil year, with March 2025 seeing the highest import at 135,000 tonnes."

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

Edited by Deepshikha Bhardwaj

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