India's edible oil imports increased by 3.27 per cent during the first 11 months of oil year 2025-26 (November-October), reaching 151.64 lakh tonnes compared to 146.83 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period of 2024-25, according to the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA). The growth was primarily driven by higher palm oil imports, which increased by 5.32 per cent to 73.52 lakh tonnes from 69.80 lakh tonnes in the previous year.
Soybean oil imports showed modest growth of 3.25 per cent, rising from 50.13 lakh tonnes to 51.76 lakh tonnes during November-September 2025-26. However, sunflower oil imports declined by 1.90 per cent from 26.75 lakh tonnes to 26.24 lakh tonnes in the same period. As reported by SEA, crude edible oil imports increased significantly from 129.93 lakh tonnes to 144.23 lakh tonnes, while refined edible oil imports declined sharply to 7.40 lakh tonnes from 16.89 lakh tonnes in the previous year.
Nepal continued to be a significant supplier of refined oils to India, exporting 6.82 lakh tonnes during November-September 2025-26. According to SEA's BV Mehta, this included 6.05 lakh tonnes of refined soybean oil, 37,734 tonnes of refined sunflower oil, 31,633 tonnes of RBD palmolein, and 7,189 tonnes of rapeseed oil. Nepal imports crude soybean oil, sunflower oil, and palm oil from India and refines them locally, benefiting from nil import duty under the SAFTA agreement for exports to India.
Argentina emerged as the largest supplier with 34.43 lakh tonnes of edible oils, including 27.14 lakh tonnes of crude soybean oil and 7.29 lakh tonnes of sunflower oils. Russia exported 12.89 lakh tonnes comprising 11.76 lakh tonnes of crude sunflower oil and 1.12 lakh tonnes of crude soybean oil. Malaysia supplied 29.76 lakh tonnes of palm oil, including 29.42 lakh tonnes of crude palm oil and 19,998 tonnes of RBD palmolein. Indonesia exported 29.05 lakh tonnes of palm oils, primarily 28.60 lakh tonnes of crude palm oil and 45,180 tonnes of RBD palmolein.
According to SEA's BV Mehta, most edible oil prices recorded increases in September 2026 compared to September 2025. RBD palmolein prices rose by 9.7 per cent from $1,119 per tonne to $1,228 per tonne, while crude palm oil increased by 10.4 per cent from $1,164 per tonne to $1,285 per tonne. Crude soybean oil prices surged by 11.2 per cent from $1,182 per tonne to $1,314 per tonne, and crude sunflower oil prices rose by 10.8 per cent from $1,293 per tonne to $1,432 per tonne. The exchange rate also depreciated from ₹88.32 to ₹95.51 per US dollar, representing an 8.1 per cent rupee depreciation.
