India Nov edible oil import seen at 7-month low on lower soft oil shipment
06/12/2025 (Informist), Mumbai - India’s total edible oil imports are likely to have fallen to a seven-month low level due to a decline in soyoil and sunflower oil imports, according to trade and industry sources.
Edible oil imports in November are estimated to be in the range of 1.12-1.17 million tonnes, down 25-28% from a year ago level, according to estimates of three leading market players accessed by Informist. On a monthly basis, imports are likely to have fallen by 12-15%. "In October, edible oil imports were slightly higher as there was festival demand," said Ashish Acharya, vice-president at Patanjali Foods Ltd.
In October, the country had imported 1.3 million tonnes of edible oil, with total vegetable oil imports at 1.33 million tonnes, according to data from The Solvent Extractors' Association of India. In the oil year 2024-25 (Nov-Oct), total vegetable oil imports were at 16.4 million tonnes, up from 16.2 million tonnes a year ago, the association said.
A fall in imports of soft oils, which mainly include soyoil, canola and sunflower oils, led to an overall drop in edible oils in November although palm oil imports were higher on month, according to market participants. India's import of soft oils in November is seen at 499,290 tonnes, much lower than 749,000 tonnes last year, according to the average of estimates of three trade bodies.
On other hand, imports of palm oil rose over 4% on month to 622,816.33 tonnes as demand increased when prices of competing oils were higher, according to average of three estimats. Of the total palm oil imports in November, crude palm oil imports are estimated at 591,722 tonnes and crude palm kernel oil accounted for 1,850 tonnes, according to estimates by Sunvin Group, a broker and consultant in the edible oils and oilseeds industry.
Prices of soyoil and sunflower oil are much higher than palm oil, hence, imports of the latter were higher in November. Sunflower crop in Russia and Ukraine is going to be lower this time, which supported sunflower oil prices, said Rahul Chauhan, director of IGrain India Pvt. Ltd. "Palm oil currently is at INR 1,139 per 10 kg or $126.6 per 100 kg, which is $100 cheaper than soyoil and $200 cheaper than sunflower oil," Chauhan said.
According to GGN Research, India's palm oil imports are estimated to have risen to 634,000 tonnes in November, up 6% from the previous month, and as per estimates by Patanjali foods, import of palm oil in November was 610,000 tonnes.
However, on a yearly basis, "India's palm oil imports in November are estimated to have fallen nearly 26% on year to 624,449 tonnes, as palm oil in the beginning of this year was costlier than soyoil, which is an alternative for the former," Sunvin Group Chief Executive Officer Sandeep Bajoria said.
Crude soyoil, which was the top performer in terms of imports until October, have likely fallen to 332,270 tonnes to 390,000 tonnes, in November due to higher prices, said traders. "Soyoil imports fell significantly by 11% on month to 371,000 tonnes in November, and fell 9% on a yearly basis," said Rajesh Patel, managing partner at GGN research.
Sunflower oil imports in November are estimated at a two-year low of 143,000 tonnes, down by a significant 45% on month and 58% on year, according GGN Research. Sunvin group estimated sunflower oil imports at 162,020 tonnes from 341,000 tonnes a year ago. Acharya said that sunflower oil imports during the month were 158,000 tonnes. Rapeseed oil imports in November were at 5,000 tonnes, according to Patanjali Foods Ltd.
The Solvent Extractors' Association will publish official figures of India's edible oil imports for November sometime in the second week of December.