India’s import of edible oils declined by 21.56 per cent on lower shipments of palm oil and sunflower oil in May 2025. However, data showed that palm oil imports surged to the highest this season, which began on November 1, to 5.93 lakh tonnes.

Overall, edible oil imports declined by 10.39 per cent in the first seven months of the current oil season. The share of palm oil in the total edible oil imports decreased to 43 per cent (58 per cent) during the first seven months of the oil year 2024-25, and soft oils increased to 57 per cent (42 per cent). The data did not include edible oil import from Nepal.

Data compiled by the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) showed that India imported 11.75 lakh tonnes (lt) of edible oil in May 2025 against 14.98 lt in May 2024, a decline of 21.56 per cent.

India imported 76.77 lt of edible oil during November-May of the season to October against 85.67 lt in the same period a year ago.

BV Mehta, Executive Director of SEA, said the total palm oil imports decreased to 33.29 lt during November-May 2024-25 from 49.77 lt in the corresponding period of the previous oil year. However, palm oil imports increased due to the pipeline lacking ample stocks and palm oil being offered at a discount to rival soya oil and sunflower oil. 

During the first seven months of the oil year 2024-25, India’s refined, bleached and deodorised (RBD) palmoleinimport decreased to 8.19 lt (12.36 lt in November-May of 2023-24), and crude palm oil (CPO) to 24.70 lt (36.65 lt).

Import of soft oils jumped to 43.47 lt (35.90 lt) during November-May of the oil year 2024-25. While the import of sunflower oil declined to 16.76 lt (19.79 lt), soyabean oil jumped to 26.70 lt (15.92 lt) during the period.

Imports slip

Mehta said the May 30 notification of the government slashed the basic import duty on crude edible oils — palm, soyabean, and sunflower — from 20 per cent to 10 per cent, effectively reducing the total import duty from 27.5 per cent to 16.5 per cent.

Terming the widened duty differential of 19.25 per cent between crude and refined oils as a strategic masterstroke, he said it would reinvigorate domestic refining, reduce dependency on cheap imports, and firmly place ‘Make in India’ efforts at the heart of our agri-value chain.

Stating that SEA truly appreciates this decisive step, Mehta said it would discourage imports of refined palmolein and shift demand back to CPO, thereby revitalising the domestic refining sector.

“This move will not impact the overall volume of edible oil imports and is unlikely to cause any upward pressure on edible oil prices. On the contrary, the reduction in duty on crude edible oil will help reduce domestic prices, benefiting consumers. The association has appealed the members to pass on duty cut benefits to consumers,” he said.

Country-wise import

Indonesia exported 9.96 lt of CPO and 6.77 lt of RBD palmolein during November-May of the oil year 2024-25. This was followed by Malaysia at 10.84 lt of CPO and 1.23 lt of RBD palmolein.

India imported 15.80 lt of crude soyabean degummed oil from Argentina, followed by Brazil (5.73 lt), the US (1.88 lt) and Russia (1.62 lt) during the period. Russia exported 9.70 lt of crude sunflower oil during the first seven months of the oil year 2024-25. This was followed by Ukraine at 3.92 lt and Argentina at 1.66 lt.

Published on June 12, 2025