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India Jan vegetable oil imports up 20% on year, says SEA
This story was originally published at 13:24 IST on 13 February 2026
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--SEA: India Jan vegetable oil imports 1.34 mln tn vs 1.12 mln tn yr ago
--SEA: India Jan edible oil imports 1.31 mln tn vs 1.08 mln tn yr ago
--SEA: India Jan crude palm oil imports 757,084 tn vs 240,276 tn yr ago
--SEA: India Jan RBD palmolein imports 3,800 tn vs 31,995 tn yr ago
--SEA: India Jan crude soyoil imports 278,888 tn vs 444,026 tn yr ago
--SEA: India Jan sunflower oil imports 266,575 tn vs 288,284 tn yr ago
--SEA: India Nov-Jan sunflower oil imports 759,457 tn vs 893,780 tn yr ago
--SEA:India Nov-Jan crude palm oil imports 1.89 mln tn vs 1.11 mln tn yr ago
--SEA: India Nov-Jan crude soyoil imports 1.15 mln tn vs 1.27 mln yr ago
--SEA: India Nov-Jan RBD palmolein imports 9,784 tn vs 484,500 tn yr ago
--SEA: India Nov-Jan edible oil imports 3.88 mln tn vs 3.92 mln tn yr ago
--SEA: India Nov-Jan veg oil imports 3.96 mln tn vs 4.05 mln tn year ago
--SEA:India Feb 1 edible oil stocks at ports 864,000 tn vs 1.06 mln tn yr ago
--SEA:India Feb 1 edible oil pipeline stock 885,000 tn vs 1.12 mln tn yr ago
MUMBAI – India's vegetable oil imports, edible as well as non-edible oils, rose 20% on year to 1.34 million tonnes in January from 1.12 million tonnes a year ago, according to data released by the Solvent Extractors' Association of India Friday. Total edible oil imports in January rose to 1.31 million tonnes from 1.08 million tonnes a year ago.
Crude soyoil imports fell to 278,888 tonnes in January from 444,026 tonnes a year ago and crude sunflower oil imports fell to 266,575 tonnes from 288,284 tonnes, the association said. Imports of crude palm oil rose significantly to 757,084 tonnes from 240,276 tonnes a year ago.
Import of refined, bleached, and deodorised palmolein oil in January were at 3,800 tonnes compared with 31,995 tonnes a year ago. During Nov-Jan, only 9,784 tonnes of refined, bleached and deodorised palm oil was imported compared with 484,500 tonnes a year ago. "The ratio of refined oil sharply decreased to 2% from 16%, while crude oil ratio is increased to 98% from 84% due to rise in import of crude palm oil," the association said.
The government increased the duty difference between crude and refined oils from 8.25% to 19.25% on May 31, which resulted in a drop in refined palm oil imports. However, under the South Asian Free Trade Area agreement--SAFTA--a large quantity of refined soybean and sunflower oil were shipped to India from Nepal at zero duty.
Crude palm oil imports during the first three months of oil year 2025-26 were 1.89 million tonnes compared with 1.11 tonnes a year ago, it said. India's crude soyoil import during the same period was 1.15 million tonnes comapred to 1.27 tonnes a year ago, according to the association. During Nov-Jan, the country imported 759,457 tonnes of sunflower oil compared to 893,780 tonnes a year ago.
Indonesia and Malaysia are the major suppliers of refined, bleached and deodorised palmolein and crude palm oil to India. During Nov-Jan, Malaysia was major supplier of crude palm oil at 831,770 tonnes followed by Indonesia, which supplied 724,927 tonnes of crude palm oil and and 7,300 tonnes of refined, bleached and deodorised palmolein, according to the release.
During Nov-Jan, total edible oil imports by India were 3.88 million tonnes compared with 3.92 million tonnes a year ago. Vegetable oil imports during Nov-Dec were at 3.96 million tonnes compared with 4.05 million tonnes a year ago.
As of Feb. 1, domestic edible oil stocks at ports were 864,000 tonnes, down from 1.06 million tonnes a year earlier, and pipeline stocks fell to 885,000 tonnes from 1.12 million tonnes, the association said.
As of Monday, sowing for the 2024-25 rabi season concluded across India and the total oilseeds acreage was reported at about 9.7 million hectares, up 3.8% on year, broadly in line with earlier projections as sowing activity wrapped up, data released by the agriculture ministry showed.
The following table details edible oil imports in January, in tonnes, compared with year-ago levels, with the change in percentage, according to data from the SEA:
|
Edible oil |
January 2025 |
January 2024 |
Change (in %) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crude palm oil | 757,084 | 240,276 | 215.1 |
| RBD palmolein | 3,800 | 31,995 | (-)88.1 |
| Crude soyoil | 278,888 | 444,026 | (-)37.2 |
| Crude sunflower oil | 266,575 | 288,284 | (-)7.5 |
| Total (vegetable oils)* | 1,339,375 | 1,119,893 | 20 |
End
Reported by Taniva Singha Roy
Edited by Avishek Dutta
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