India’s Vegetable Oil Imports Fall 7% in July, but Nine-Month Imports Rise 5%

India’s vegetable oil imports declined 7% year-on-year to 15.25 lakh tonnes in July 2026, compared with 16.48 lakh tonnes in July last year, even as imports during the first nine months of the 2025-26 oil year remained 5% higher, according to the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA).

The July imports comprised 14.81 lakh tonnes of edible oils and 43,949 tonnes of non-edible oils. However, edible oil imports jumped sharply on a month-on-month basis, rising from 11.11 lakh tonnes in June to 14.81 lakh tonnes in July.

The increase was led by higher imports of palm and soybean oils. Palm oil imports rose 48% to 7.19 lakh tonnes in July, from 4.86 lakh tonnes in June. Soybean oil imports also increased 31% to 4.98 lakh tonnes, compared with 3.80 lakh tonnes in June.

Nine-month imports up 5%

For the first nine months of the current oil year, from November 2025 to July 2026, total vegetable oil imports, including edible and non-edible oils, stood at 121.50 lakh tonnes, up from 116.03 lakh tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous oil year, registering a 5% increase.

Cumulative edible oil imports also rose 5% to 119.23 lakh tonnes, from 113.46 lakh tonnes a year earlier. The data indicate that despite the decline in July, India's overall vegetable oil imports have remained higher during the current oil year.

Refined oil imports decline sharply

A significant shift has taken place in the composition of India's imports, with refined oil imports falling sharply while crude oil imports increased.

During November 2025-July 2026, imports of refined palm oil stood at just 4.34 lakh tonnes, compared with 15.72 lakh tonnes during the same period a year earlier. In contrast, crude oil imports increased to 114.89 lakh tonnes, from 97.74 lakh tonnes.

As a result, the share of refined oil in total imports fell sharply to 4% from 14%, while the share of crude oil increased to 96% from 86%.

Palm oil gains share over soft oils

Palm oil imports increased to 57.46 lakh tonnes during November 2025-July 2026, compared with 51.53 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period last year. Its share in total edible oil imports increased to 48% from 45%, largely due to higher crude palm oil imports.

Soft oil imports, meanwhile, remained broadly unchanged at 61.78 lakh tonnes, compared with 61.93 lakh tonnes a year earlier. Their share declined to 52% from 55%.

Crude palm oil was the largest imported oil category at 56.62 lakh tonnes, followed by crude and refined soybean oil at 38.21 lakh tonnes and crude and refined sunflower oil at 23.48 lakh tonnes.

Argentina, Malaysia and Indonesia among major suppliers

Argentina emerged as the largest supplier of edible oils during the nine-month period, accounting for 27.35 lakh tonnes, primarily crude soybean oil at 21.34 lakh tonnes and sunflower oil at 6.01 lakh tonnes.

Russia supplied 11.35 lakh tonnes, mainly crude sunflower oil. Malaysia supplied 22.61 lakh tonnes of palm oil, including 22.39 lakh tonnes of crude palm oil, while Indonesia supplied 22.36 lakh tonnes, predominantly crude palm oil.

Smaller quantities were sourced from Thailand, Brazil, Ukraine, China, Nepal, the UAE and other countries, indicating a diversified import basket.

Nepal's refined oil exports remain significant

Refined oil shipments from Nepal to India continued at significant levels. Between November 2025 and May 2026, Nepal exported around 3.93 lakh tonnes of refined oils to India, including 3.46 lakh tonnes of refined soybean oil, 22,361 tonnes of refined sunflower oil, 21,213 tonnes of RBD Palmolein and 3,536 tonnes of rapeseed oil.

Nepal's refined oil exports to India were estimated at around 56,000 tonnes in June and 61,000 tonnes in July 2026, mainly comprising refined soybean oil, along with smaller quantities of sunflower oil and RBD Palmolein. According to SEA, Nepal enjoys nil import duty under the SAFTA Agreement for exports to India.

Edible oil stocks rise marginally

India's edible oil stocks at various ports were provisionally estimated at 11.31 lakh tonnes as of August 1, 2026. This included 3.57 lakh tonnes of CPO and CPKO, 13,000 tonnes of RBD Palmolein, 4.03 lakh tonnes of degummed soybean oil and 3.58 lakh tonnes of crude sunflower oil.

Pipeline stocks, taking into account domestic production and consumption, were estimated at 8.88 lakh tonnes. Total stocks therefore stood at 20.19 lakh tonnes on August 1, marginally higher than 20.11 lakh tonnes on July 1.

The latest data suggest that while monthly imports fluctuated, India's dependence on imported vegetable oils remained substantial, with crude oils accounting for the overwhelming share of imports during the current oil year.