ENA Sectors 2026-05-13 16:22:36 <p><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>New Delhi, May 13 (KNN)</strong> Indias vegetable oil imports increased 13 per cent to 7.94 million tonnes during the first half (November April) of the 2025 26 oil year (November October), according to the Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA). </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">The country had imported 7.04 million tonnes in the same period last year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">In value terms, imports rose 19 per cent to Rs 87,000 crore from Rs 73,000 crore in the corresponding November April period a year earlier. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Edible oils accounted for the bulk of shipments at 7.82 million tonnes, while non-edible oils totalled 121,000 tonnes, PTI reported, citing the industry body statement</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">The growth was largely driven by a sharp rise in palm oil shipments, which nearly doubled to 3.97 million tonnes from 2.74 million tonnes a year ago. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">At the same time, imports of soft oils&mdash;such as soybean and sunflower oil&mdash;declined to 3.85 million tonnes from 4.13 million tonnes.</span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:14px">Key Suppliers and Market Trends</span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Indonesia and Malaysia remained Indias primary suppliers of palm oil. Argentina and Brazil led soybean oil exports to India, while Russia and Ukraine were the main sources of sunflower oil.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Cooking oil prices have risen significantly over the past year, with palm oil prices increasing by 14 15 per cent, and soybean and sunflower oil prices rising between 17 per cent and 22 per cent compared to April 2025 levels.</span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:14px">Currency Impact and Regional Trade</span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">The SEA noted that a depreciation of the Indian rupee by over 9.2 per cent against the US dollar has added to import costs, raising concerns for importers and refiners.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Nepal exported about 2.17 lakh tonnes of refined oils to India during the period, primarily soybean oil, along with smaller volumes of sunflower oil, palmolein and rapeseed oil.</span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:14px">Stock Levels Improve</span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Vegetable oil stocks rose to 2.12 million tonnes in May 2026 from 1.35 million tonnes a year earlier. Pipeline stocks have also shown a steady increase since December 2025, indicating improved supply availability heading into the second half of the oil year.</span></p> <p><em><strong><span style="font-size:14px">(KNN Bureau)</span></strong></em></p> 46099 https://knnindia.co.in/news/newsdetails/sectors/indias-vegetable-oil-imports-rise-13-to-794-mn-tonnes-in-h1-202526-oil-year-sea 2026-05-13 16:22:36 knnindia.co.in