India’s Edible Oil Imports Hit 4-Year Low in February

India’s edible oil imports in February 2025 dropped to their lowest level in four years, primarily due to significant declines in soy oil and sunflower oil imports. 

This has led to the lowest inventory levels in three years, according to the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA).

Declining Imports and Inventory Shortfall

For the second consecutive month, India recorded below-average imports of edible oils, leading to a depletion of stocks in the country, which is the world’s largest buyer of vegetable oils. The reduced supply may prompt India to increase its purchases in the coming months, potentially supporting global prices of Malaysian palm oil and U.S. soyoil futures.

Palm Oil Imports See Growth

Despite the overall decline in edible oil imports, palm oil imports surged 35.7% in February compared to January, reaching 3,73,549 metric tons. However, this is still lower than the monthly average of 7,50,000 metric tons recorded in the previous marketing year, which ended in October 2024.

Sharp Decline in Soy Oil and Sunflower Oil Imports

Soy oil imports dropped by 36% to 2,83,737 metric tons, while sunflower oil imports fell 20.8% to 2,28,275 metric tons in February. These reductions contributed to the overall decline in edible oil imports.

Conclusion

With inventories at multi-year lows, India may ramp up its edible oil imports in the coming months to meet domestic demand, potentially influencing global edible oil prices.

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