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Informist, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026

 

By Taniva Singha Roy

 

MUMBAI – India is likely to have imported 1.33 million tonnes of vegetable oil in January, up over 27% from 1.05 million tonnes a year ago, driven by firm demand during festivals such as Makar Sankranti and the wedding season, according to estimates by Sunvin Group. However, on a month-on-month basis, vegetable oil imports are likely to have fallen by 3.5%. Sunvin Group is a broker and consultant in the edible oils and oilseeds industry.

 

In December, the country had imported 1.36 million tonnes of edible oil, with total vegetable oil imports at 1.38 million tonnes, according to data from The Solvent Extractors' Association of India. In Nov-Dec, total vegetable oil imports were at 2.57 million tonnes, down from 2.93 million tonnes a year ago, the association said.

 

India's palm oil imports are estimated to have risen sharply to 758,709 tonnes in January from 240,276 tonnes a year ago, as the oil became cheaper than other rival oils, such as soyoil and sunflower oil, Sunvin Group Chief Executive Officer Sandeep Bajoria said. "At the beginning of 2025, palm oil was costlier than soyoil, which is an alternative," Bajoria told Informist. On a month-on-month basis, palm oil imports likely rose nearly 51%. Of the total palm oil imports in January, crude palm oil is estimated at 714,381 tonnes, and crude palm kernel oil at 5,500 tonnes.

 

India's import of soft oils in January is seen at 576,208 tonnes, down from 732,310 tonnes a year ago, according to the estimates. Softoil imports in December were 855,041 tonnes. Soft oils include soyoil and sunflower oil. The prices of soyoil and sunflower oil were much higher than those of palm oil in January, so imports were lower.

 

Import of crude soyoil in January is estimated at 281,461 tonnes, down from 444,026 tonnes last year. "Soyoil has been the best performer last year in terms of imports until October," Bajoria said. However, as prices of soyoil increased, people shifted to palm oil. On the other hand, sunflower oil imports in January are estimated at 294,747 tonnes, up from 288,284 tonnes a year ago. 

 

The Solvent Extractors' Association will publish data on India's edible oil imports for January in the second week of February.  End

 

Edited by Saji George Titus

 

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