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Informist, Thursday, Apr. 2, 2026

 

By Taniva Singha Roy

 

MUMBAI – India's edible oil imports in March are estimated at an eleven-month low of 1.18 million tonnes, down 9% on month, as imports of palm oil and soyoil declined, according to GGN Research. However, on a year-on-year basis, imports of edible oil in March are estimated to have risen 13%.

 

India's palm oil imports are estimated to have fallen to a three-month low of 695,000 tonnes in March, registering a 18% on-month decline. On the other hand, palm oil imports on a yearly basis were 64% higher.

 

Soyoil imports fell by 4% in March to 287,000 tonnes and were down 19% on a year-on-year basis, Rajesh Patel, managing partner at GGN Research, told Informist. "Palm oil and soyoil imports fell as prices in the international markets rose by 10-15% since the war in West Asia began," said Rahul Chauhan, director of IGrain India Pvt. Ltd. He added that traders are cautious due to shipment worries amid the war so instead of stocking up they are only making contracts according to the immediate requirement.

 

Since the hostilities started, edible oil prices have risen significantly. The surge is being driven by a combination of the war in West Asia leading to higher global crude oil prices, rising freight costs, and a slowdown in import shipments, raising concerns among traders, processors, and consumers ahead of the summer demand, Indrajit Paul, head of research at Agrocorp International, said.

 

Freight charges have increased to $120-$130 per tonne from $70-$80 per tonne since end of February, according to market participants. India largely imports palm oil from Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia and Malaysia, soyoil is sourced mainly from Argentina and Brazil. The ongoing conflict has created logistical and supply chain challenges across global shipping routes.

 

Sunflower oil imports surged both on a monthly and a yearly basis. Imports rose by 35% on month in March to 196,000 tonnes and were 3% higher compared to last year, according to Patel.

 

In February, the country had imported 1.29 million tonnes of edible oil, with total vegetable oil imports at 1.32 million tonnes, according to the Solvent Extractors' Association of India. During Nov-Feb, total vegetable oil imports were at 5.32 million tonnes, up from 5.02 million tonnes a year ago, the association said.

 

India's import of edible oils from Nepal in March will be around 60,000 tonnes which is not included in the above total import figures. Nepal's edible oil imports through Indian ports were around 92,000 tonnes, including soyoil imports of 76,000 tonnes, 5,000 tonnes of palm oil, and 11,000 tonnes of sunflower oil.  End

 

Edited by Ashish Shirke

 

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