Explore Business Standard
India imported 16 million tonnes of edible oils for nearly Rs 1.61 lakh crore during the 2024-25 marketing year ended October to meet domestic demand, according to industry body SEA. In the 2023-24 marketing year (November-October), India's edible oil imports stood at 15.96 million tonnes worth Rs 1.32 lakh crore, as per the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA) data released on Thursday. The increase in edible oil imports in value terms was 22 per cent because of higher global prices. India imports palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia while the soyabean oil comes from Argentina and Brazil. "To bridge the gap between supply and demand, India has resorted to imports since 1990s. In the initial period, the import volume was very low. However, in the last 20 years (2004-05 to 2024-25), import volume has increased by 2.2 times while cost of import has gone up nearly 15 times," the association said. In 2024-25, India had to spend nearly Rs 1.61 lakh crore (USD 18.3 billion) in
The Union Food Ministry has drafted a new order to regulate vegetable oil products in India by introducing more modern, transparent, and technologically advanced regulatory provisions, with a stronger emphasis on stakeholder participation and adaptability to industry changes. The 2025 draft Vegetable Oil Products, Production and Availability (VOPPA) Regulation Order seeks to replace the 2011 order, and the ministry has sought public comments on the same by July 11. The 2025 draft order emphasises enhanced monitoring with increased surveillance of edible oil imports, production, stocks, and sales, likely using digital tools for better transparency and control. The earlier order was based on the regulatory environment and technology available at that time, focusing on traditional production, stocking, and reporting methods. The draft aims to streamline registration and compliance, possibly introducing online systems and an updated reporting format. The earlier order required periodic
Gujarat's Kandla Port has pledged to address vessel congestion issues and ensure uninterrupted edible oil supplies, the Indian Vegetable Oil Producers' Association (IVPA) said on Monday. The assurance came during a meeting between industry representatives and Kandla Port Chairman Sushil Kumar Singh, aimed at resolving bottlenecks that have affected imports of palm oil and other edible oils. Singh outlined infrastructure improvements, including new 14-inch pipelines and preparations to handle edible oil at two additional berths with dedicated pipelines, the IVPA said in a statement. The port authority agreed to maintain its existing system of imposing penalty charges for delayed vessel discharges rather than moving ships to outer anchorage for re-berthing, which creates additional costs for importers, the association said. Singh emphasised the need for coordination between port officials and importers to minimise delays after vessels dock, and urged vessel agents to flag potential .
India's import of crude soyabean oil more than doubled to 19.11 lakh tonne in the first five months of current oil marketing year ending October 2025, according to edible oil industry body SEA. The Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA) data showed that the country imported 19,11,420 tonne of crude soyabean degummed oil during November 2024 and March 2025 period as against 8,82,943 tonne in the corresponding period of the 2023-24 marketing year. Edible oil marketing year runs from November to October. In case of crude soyabean degummed oil, India mainly imported from Argentina, Brazil and Russia. Imports from Argentina jumped to 12,16,291 tonne from 4,50,602 tonne. Shipments of crude soyabean oil from Brazil fell marginally to 3,27,936 tonne from 3,29,843 tonne. Shipments from Russia too jumped at 1,62,347 tonne during November 2024-March 2025 from 41,497 tonne in the corresponding period of the preceding oil marketing year. Overall, India's total edible oil imports fell