India's edible oil import falls 40% in May, lowest since 2011: SEA

India's imports of edible oil fell by 40 per cent to 7.07 lakh tonnes in May, lowest in the month since 2011, due to sluggish demand from bulk users like hotels and restaurants which remained shut due to the COVID-19 lockdown, trade body SEA said on Thursday.

India, world's leading vegetable oil buyer, had imported 11.80 lakh tonnes of edible oil in May 2019.

Edible oil imports have been declining since the imposition of lockdown from March 25 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The nationwide lockdown continues to be in place till June-end, with relaxations in non-containment areas.

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