India's February sunflower oil imports fall as war disrupts shipments

Ukraine and Russia account for more than 90% of India's imports of sunflower oil

India's sunflower oil imports plunged 54% in February from the prior month as shipments from the Black Sea region were hit after Russia invaded Ukraine, while palm oil imports fell 15% because of higher prices, four dealers told Reuters.

February's lower imports could force India, the world's biggest importer of edible oil, to step up overseas buying of palm oil and soyoil in March, boosting prices already hovering near records. In February 140,000 tonnes of sunflower oil landed in India, down from 307,684 tonnes in January, said a Mumbai-based dealer with a global trading firm.

"Even before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, vessel