MARKET DEVELOPMENT
Branded palm oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil makers to cut prices by up to Rs 15 per litre
Branded palm oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil makers to cut prices by up to Rs 15 per litre
16.06.2022 (apnlive.com) - Branded edible oil makers have reduced the prices of palm oil, soybean oil, and sunflower oil, bringing some relief to the people. Consumers who have been reeling under inflationary pressure can breathe a sigh of relief as international prices have softened.
According to the report, palm oil prices have dropped by Rs 7-8 per litre, soybean oil and sunflower oil have seen a fall of Rs 5 per litre and Rs 10-15 per litre, respectively.
Sudhakar Rao Desai, president of the Indian Vegetable Oil Producers Association, said prices have dropped, prompting distributors to stock up ahead of expected demand. The fall in edible oil prices will also have an impact on food inflation, a major part of which comes from edible oils. In May, the edible oil and fat category witnessed 13.26% inflation, owing primarily to an increase in domestic edible oil prices in the past one year.
India is the world’s largest importer of palm oil, and its demand is met primarily by Indonesia and Malaysia. Every year, India imports around 13.5 million tonnes of edible oil, of which 8-8.5 million tonnes (almost 63%) is palm oil. Every year, India imports about 4 million tonnes of palm oil from Indonesia. However, Indonesia put a ban on palm oil exports in April but later lifted the restriction on May 23.
Gemini Edibles & Fats, based in Hyderabad, had reduced the maximum retail price (MRP) of its Freedom Sunflower Oil by Rs 15 to Rs 220 for a one-litre pouch in the last week. This week, the company will slash the price by another Rs 20 to Rs 200 a litre.
The ban on palm oil imports led to the price hike in food products, cosmetics, detergents, biofuels, biscuits, noodles, shampoos, soaps, margarine and chocolates. As a result, any increase in palm oil prices will raise input costs in these industries.