India’s edible oil import jumps 33% in July on higher palm, soybean oil demand
The Hindu Business Line (13/08/2026) - An increase in demand for palm oil and soybean oil led to an increase of 33.3 per cent in India’s total import of edible oils during July compared with June.
Data compiled by the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) showed that India imported 14.81 lakh tonnes (lt) of edible oil in July 2026 against 11.11 lt in June 2026.
BV Mehta, Executive Director of SEA, said this increase was primarily driven by an increase in demand for palm oil and soybean oil.
Up 5% for season
India imported 7.30 lt of palm oil (includes (RBD palmolein, crude palm oil, crude olein and crude palm kernel oil) in July against 4.87 lt in June, an increase of 49.89 per cent. India’s soybean oil imports increased to 4.98 lt in July from 3.80 lt in June, a growth of 31.05 per cent.
Total edible oil imports also recorded a growth of 5 per cent in the first nine months of the 2025-26 season (November-October). India imported 119.23 lt of edible oils during October-July of the oil year 2025-26 against 113.46 lt in the corresponding period of the oil year 2024-25.
Mehta said the latest figures indicate that vegetable oil imports have remained higher overall during the current oil year.
During November-July of the oil year 2025-26, total palm oil imports increased 11.51 per cent, and sunflower oil by 9.77 per cent. However, the import of soybean oil declined 5.63 per cent during the period.
India imported 57.45 lt of palm oil during the first nine months of the oil year 2025-26 (51.52 lt in November-July of 2024-25), and 23.48 lt of sunflower oil (21.39 lt). India’s soybean oil imports stood at 38.20 lt during November-July of the oil year 2025-26 (40.48 lt).
Imports from Nepal continue
Mehta said that imports of refined oils from Nepal continued at significant levels. During November-May 2025-26, Nepal exported approximately 3.93 lt of refined oils to India, comprising 3.46 lt of refined soybean oil, 22,361 tonnes of refined sunflower oil, 21,213 tonnes of RBD palmolein, and 3,536 tonnes of rapeseed oil.
Nepal’s refined oil exports to India were estimated at around 56,000 tonnes in June and 61,000 tonnes in July 2026, consisting mainly of refined soybean oil, along with smaller quantities of sunflower oil and RBD palmolein. Nepal enjoys nil import duty under SAFTA agreement for export to India.
Major exporters
Argentina was the largest supplier of edible oils to India during the first nine months of the oil year 2025-26 with 27.35 lt. This included 21.34 lt of crude soybean oil and 6.01 lt of sunflower oil.
Russia exported 11.35 lt of edible oils to India during the period. This included 53,650 tonnes of crude soybean oil and 10.81 lt of crude sunflower oil.
Malaysia was the major supplier of palm oils at 22.61 lt during the period. It exported 22.39 lt of crude palm oil to India, 8,000 tonnes of RBD palmolein, and 14,850 tonnes of crude palm kernel oil.
Indonesia exported 22.36 lt of palm oil to India during the first nine months of the oil year 2025-26. This included 21.99 lakh tonnes of crude palm oil, and 36,478 tonnes of RBD palmolein.
Price up year-on-year
Comparing the current price level of imported edible oils with July 2025’s levels, he said crude palm oil price increased 13 per cent, RBD palmolein by 9 per cent, soybean oil by 8 per cent, and sunflower oil 20 per cent. Depreciation of rupee by over 11 per cent in last one year is a cause of concern to Indian importers and refiners, he said.