Vegetable Oil Import

India's vegetable oil imports flat at 16.3 million tonnes in 2024-25: SEA

India's vegetable oil imports were unchanged at 16.3 million tonnes in the 2024-25 marketing year that ended in October, matching the previous year's level, the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA) said on Thursday. The imports included 1.33 million tonnes of edible oils and 4,625 tonnes of non-edible oils in October, down 9 per cent from 1.46 million tonnes a year earlier, the industry body said. Soybean oil imports hit a record 5.47 million tonnes in 2024-25, surpassing the previous high of 4.23 million tonnes set in 2015-16, SEA said. Palm oil imports fell sharply to 7.58 million tonnes from 9.02 million tonnes a year earlier, while soft oil imports jumped to 8.43 million tonnes from 6.95 million tonnes, driven by higher soybean oil purchases. Palm oil's share of total imports dropped to 47 per cent from 56 per cent, while soft oils' share rose to 53 per cent from 44 per cent, the data showed. The government in May widened the import duty gap between crude and refined

Vegetable oils body IVPA urges govt to lift GST refund restrictions

Vegetable oil industry body IVPA has urged the government to lift restrictions on tax credit refunds in place since July 2022, saying the curbs are straining working capital and deterring investment in the sector. The Indian Vegetable Oil Producers' Association (IVPA) said the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council's restriction on refunds of accumulated Input Tax Credit (ITC) under the inverted duty structure was causing cash flow problems, particularly for small and medium enterprises. Under the current system, edible oil attracts 5 per cent GST while input materials such as packaging, chemicals and processing materials are taxed at 12-18 per cent, leading to substantial accumulation of unutilised tax credits. "With refunds blocked, companies face working capital shortages and disrupted cash flows, making operations less viable, especially for MSMEs and domestic manufacturers," the IVPA said in a statement. The association said that higher costs due to unrecovered tax credits are

India buys record soyoil from China as prices fall below South America

India has imported a record 150,000 tonnes of soyoil from China, driven by steep discounts and faster shipping, as Chinese crushers seek to clear excess stock amid slowing domestic demand

Indian vegetable oil body demands review of Nepal imports, packaging rules

IVPA also urged the government to reintroduce standard packaging sizes for edible oils, saying the current variety of pack options creates consumer confusion over pricing

Govt seeks public input on draft order to regulate vegetable oil industry

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

India's vegetable oil imports dip 32% in April on lower palm oil demand

India's vegetable oil imports fell 32 per cent to 8.91 lakh tonnes in April from a year earlier, industry body Solvent Extractors Association (SEA) said on Wednesday, as shipments of both palm and refined oils declined. Vegetable oil imports, comprising edible and non-edible oils, stood at 13.18 lakh tonnes in the year-ago period. "The import in the last three months was at a very low level due to reduced demand for palm oil coupled with increased crushing of mustard in the country," SEA said in a statement. Import of refined edible oils from Nepal, estimated at 60,000 to 70,000 tonnes monthly, also affected overall imports and stock positions, it added. For the first six months of the 2024-25 oil year (November-October), total vegetable oil imports decreased to 65.02 lakh tonnes, from 70.69 lakh tonnes a year earlier. Palm oil imports plunged 53 per cent to 3.21 lakh tonnes in April, from 6.84 lakh tonnes a year ago, with crude palm oil shipments down 55 per cent to 2.41 lakh ...

India's vegetable oil stocks drop to three-year low on lower palm imports

Depleted stocks could force the world's biggest buyer of vegetable oils to increase imports of palm oil and soyoil in the coming months, supporting Malaysian palm oil prices and US soyoil futures

Govt may raise vegetable oil import taxes again to support local farmers

The government would take into account the impact of the decision on food inflation, said another government source who also did not wish to be identified, citing official rules

India's veg oil imports likely to decline further in 2024-25, says SEA

Weather has been favourable for Indian crops this year, resulting in higher production of soybean and ground nuts, Mehta said, adding that rapeseed output was also expected to rise

Vegetable oil imports up 18% at 1.55 million tonnes in June: SEA data

Import of vegetable oils, comprising edible and non-edible oils, rose 18 per cent in June to 15.5 lakh tonnes on higher imports of crude palm oil and crude sunflower oil, according to trade data. Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA) data showed that import of vegetable oils during June 2024 stood at 15,50,659 tonnes compared to 13,14,476 tonnes in the year-ago period. Edible oils import increased in June to 15,27,481 tonnes from 13,11,576 tonnes in the same month last year. However, the imports of non-edible oils jumped to 23,178 tonnes from 2,300 tonnes during the period under review. During the first eight months of 2023-24 oil year ending October, the imports of vegetable oils fell 2 per cent to 1,02,29,106 tonnes compared to 1,04,83,120 tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous year. SEA data showed that imports of refined oil declined 2 per cent to 13,81,818 tonnes during November 2023-June 2024 period of 2023-24 oil year from 14,03,581 tonnes in the ...

India permits limited imports of corn, vegetable oils at concessional duty

India has set import limits at 150,000 metric tonnes for sunflower or safflower oil, 500,000 tonnes for corn, 10,000 tonnes for milk powder, and 150,000 tonnes for refined rapeseed oil

Sunflower oil imports hit second-highest level as palm oil retreats

Lower palm oil purchases by India, the world's biggest importer of vegetable oils, could cap the rally in benchmark Malaysian palm oil futures that are trading near their highest in a year

Vegetable oil imports dwindle 13% in Feb to 975,000 tonnes, says SEA

India's vegetable oils import fell 13 per cent year-on-year in February to nearly 9.75 lakh tonne, according to industry data. In a statement on Wednesday, Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA) said the import of vegetable oils (comprising edible oils and non-edible oils) during February stood at 9,74,85 tonne as compared to 11,14,481 tonne in the year-ago period. Out of the total imports, the edible oil shipments fell to 9,67,852 tonne last month from 10,98,475 tonne in February 2023. Non-edible oils imports too fell to 7,000 tonne from 16,006 tonne in the year-ago period. During November 2023-February 2024 period, the overall import of vegetable oils declined 21 per cent to 46,47,963 tonne from 58,87,900 tonne in the corresponding period of the previous oil year. Oil marketing year runs from November to October. Edible oils import fell to 46,15,551 tonne during the first four months of 2023-24 oil year from 58,44,765 tonne in the year-ago period. Non-edible oils impor

India sees 28% fall in vegetable oil imports to 1.2 mn tonnes in Jan: SEA

The country's vegetable oil imports declined by 28 per cent to 12 lakh tonnes in January from a year-ago period, industry body SEA said on Monday. Vegetable oil imports stood at 16.61 lakh tonnes in January 2023. India is a leading vegetable oil buyer in the world. In the first quarter (November-January) of the current oil year, total imports dropped 23 per cent to 36.73 lakh tonnes as against 47.73 lakh tonnes in the same quarter of previous year. According to the Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA), about 7,82,983 tonnes of palm oil and 4,08,938 tonnes of soft oil were imported in January this year out of total vegetables oils. As on February 1, total edible oils stock stood at 26.49 lakh tonnes, down 7.64 per cent from that of the year-ago period, it said in a statement. SEA said prices of edible oils, which are currently low, may go up this year on lower production, global economic issues and supply constraints. The availability of palm oil for edible oil requireme

Palm oil rebounds on robust Indian demand and stronger crude prices

India's palm oil imports in December rose to their highest in four months as purchases of refined palmolein surged because of competitive prices

India's vegetable oil imports up 16% at 16.71 mn tonnes in 2022-23 oil year

India's vegetable oils import rose 16 per cent to 167.1 lakh tonnes in the current oil year that ended in October 2023, driven by lower duty on certain edible oils, industry body SEA said on Monday. The country had imported 144.1 lakh tonnes of vegetable oils in the previous 2021-22 oil year (November-October). Out of the total vegetable oils, much of the imports were edible oils at 164.7 lakh tonnes, while non-edible oils were only 2.4 lakh tonnes during 2022-23 oil year. India is a leading vegetable oil buyer in the world. According to Mumbai-based Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA), "Import of edible oils during the 2022-23 oil year has surged to 164.7 lakh tonnes. This increase of 24.4 lakh tonnes from previous year is driven by the current low of 5.5 per cent duty on crude palm oil, soybean oil and sunflower oil." This influx of imports has transformed India into a prime destination for excess oil supplies, it said in a statement. Notably, RBD Palmolein imports ..

Palm oil futures edges up on supply concerns amid India festive demand

The benchmark palm oil contract for November delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange strengthened 7 ringgit, or 0.18% to 3,937 ringgit ($849.22) per metric ton by the midday break

Vegetable oil July imports up 46% to 1.7 mn tn due to palm oil shipments

India's vegetable oil imports increased by 46 per cent to 17.71 lakh tonnes in July this year on rise in palm oil shipments, industry body SEA said on Monday. The country's vegetable oil imports stood at 12.14 lakh tonnes in the year-ago period, it said. Similarly, during the first nine months of the 2022-23 oil year (November-October), the overall import of vegetable oils increased by 23 per cent to 122.54 lakh tonnes from 99.74 lakh tonnes in the same period last year. Vegetable oil imports comprise both edible and non-edible oils. According to the Solvent Extractors Association (SEA), edible oil imports rose 46 per cent to 17.55 lakh tonnes during July this year, when compared to 12.05 lakh tonnes in the year-ago period. Non-edible oil imports too increased to 15,999 tonnes from 9,069 tonnes in the said period. With sharp reduction in domestic prices of edible oils, "demand has returned which is evident from the rising import in spite of better domestic availability reflecting

Vegetable oil imports up 21% to 8.1 MT in 6 months: Industry body SEA

India's vegetable oil imports rose by 21 per cent to 81.10 lakh tonnes in the first six months of the current oil year, driven by increased shipments of refined palm oil which is a cause of concern, industry body SEA said on Friday. Vegetable oil imports stood at 67.07 lakh tonne in the same period of the 2021-22 oil year. India is the world's leading vegetable oil buyer. Oil year runs from November to October. In fact, in April vegetable oil imports remained lower by 10 per cent at 10.50 lakh tonne when compared to the previous month's 11.72 lakh tonne. According to the Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA), "Increase in import of RBD palmolein in the first six months of the current oil year reported at 11.01 lakh tonne is nearly 22 per cent of the total palm oil import, depriving domestic industry for capacity utilization." The palm oil refining industry in the country is heavily suffering from very low capacity utilization due to excessive import of RBD palmolein, thus

India's palm oil imports in Dec jumps 94% YoY to record high for the month

India's palm oil imports in December jumped 94% from a year earlier to a record high for the month as palm oil's higher discount to rival vegetable oils led refiners to raise purchases