Indonesia's allowance of more exports globally and a reduction of palm oil prices in India have paved the way for a high palm oil import in 10 months
India, the world's leading vegetable oil buyer, imported 7,69,602 tonnes of palm oils in May 2021
India imported 514,022 tonnes of palm oil in May, down from 572,508 tonnes in April
India's palm oil exports in May were its highest in seven months as the country overcame curbs on Indonesian exports by sourcing more of the commodity from Malaysia, Thailand and Papua New Guinea
MUMBAI (Reuters) -India's palm oil imports could drop by nearly a fifth as now cheaper soyoil takes more market share, following Indonesia's curbs on palm oil exports and New Delhi allowing duty-free imports of soyoil, dealers said.
Lower palm oil purchases by the world's biggest vegetable oil importer could put pressure on Malaysian palm oil prices and may lift soyoil imports to record highs and support U.S. soyoil futures price
However, achieving self-sufficiency in edible oil will remain a distant dream unless drastic policy measures are taken
Policy support can increase edible oil production
Centre is monitoring prices regularly; has formed special teams to check hoarding
Indonesia has stopped palm oil export, the effect of which will soon be felt in India. Along with increased fertiliser subsidy bill and soaring fuel prices, it may widen India's current account defici
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India's palm oil imports in May are set to rise above 600,000 tonnes despite the restriction imposed by Indonesia on exports
Indonesia's ban on palm oil exports shocked global edible oils markets that already reached record high prices this year, and sparked alarm among major importers of the cooking medium.
India's palm oil imports in February fell 18% from a month prior because of higher prices, while sunflower oil imports plunged 50% as supplies from the Black Sea region were disrupted
India's imports of palm oils declined by 29.15 per cent to 5.44 lakh tonnes in December 2021, but the rise in shipments of RBD palmolein is threatening the survival of domestic refineries
Despite MSP spike and higher acreage and yields, India's dependence on imported cooking media has only grown
India on Monday allowed imports of refined palm oil until December 2022, the government said in a notification, as the world's biggest vegetable oil buyer tries to bring down edible oil prices.
The revised Basic Customs Duty (BCD) will be effective till the end of March 2022
It, however, added that the import is not permitted through any port in Kerala
Higher purchases by India, the world's biggest buyer of vegetable oils, could support palm oil prices that are trading near a record high hit earlier this week.