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Informist, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026

 

By Taniva Singha Roy

 

MUMBAI – India's palm oil imports in December are estimated at 504,000 tonnes, up nearly 1% on year but down over 20% from November, according to estimates by GGN Research accessed by Informist. Palm oil imports were at an eight-month low, it said.

 

However, according to estimates by Sunvin Group accessed by Informist, palm oil imports in December fell about 6% on year to 549,860 tonnes. On a monthly basis too, imports fell nearly 12%. "Of the total palm oil imports in December, crude palm oil imports are estimated at 534,354 tonnes and crude palm kernel oil is seen at 3,510 tonnes," Sunvin Group Chief Executive Officer Sandeep Bajoria said.

 

"Soft oil imports by India are estimated to have risen on monthly as well as yearly basis," Rajesh Patel, managing partner at GGN Research, said. India is estimated to have imported a total of 855,000 tonnes of soft oils, up 65% from November and 25% from a year ago, according to GGN Research. Soft oils include soyoil, canola oil, and sunflower oil.

 

"Soyoil imports rose 36% on month to 505,000 tonnes in December, and surged 20% on a yearly basis," GGN Research's Patel said. Sunflower oil imports likely more than doubled on month in December to 350,000 tonnes from 143,000 tonnes in November. Sunflower oil imports are estimated to have been 32% higher on year, at the highest monthly import level since July 2024, according to data by GGN Research.

 

Sunflower crop in Russia and Ukraine is going to be lower this time, which is likely to support sunflower oil prices, said Rahul Chauhan, director of IGrain India Pvt. Ltd.

 

According to Sunvin Group estimates, import of crude soyoil in December is estimated at 474,919 tonnes, up from 443,856 tonnes a year ago. "Soyoil has been the best performer this year in terms of imports until October," Bajoria said. Sunflower oil imports in December are estimated to have increased to 339,359 tonnes from 259,377 tonnes a year ago, he said.

 

India's edible oil imports in December are estimated to have been at a three-month high of 1.41 million tonnes, up nearly 15% on year and 22% from November, he said. Similarly, according to estimates by Sunvin Group, vegetable oil imports by India in December are seen at 1.36 million tonnes.

 

In November, the country had imported 1.15 million tonnes of edible oils, with total vegetable oil imports at 1.18 million tonnes, according to data from The Solvent Extractors' Association of India. 

 

As of Jan. 1, vessels carrying a total of 380,000 tonnes of edible oils were in line to arrive or discharge at Indian ports. Of the total, palm oil was 260,000 tonnes, soyoil was 75,000 tonnes, and sunflower oil was 45,000 tonnes, according to GGN Research.

 

In December, Nepal's edible oils imports through Indian ports are estimated at 78,000 tonnes, comprising 68,000 tonnes of soyoil and 10,000 tonnes of palm oil, according to GGN Research. In November, Nepal had imported 38,000 tonnes of soyoil and 3,000 tonnes of palm oil through Indian ports, it added.  End

 

Edited by Rajeev Pai

 

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