India&rsquo;s vegetable oil imports, including edible and non-edible oils, reached 14.33 million metric tons (MT) during November 2024 to September 2025, marking a 3% decline compared to the same period last year, according to the Solvent Extractors&rsquo; Association of India (SEA). Edible oils accounted for 13.98 million MT, while non-edible oils totalled 0.35 million MT.
In September 2025, imports of edible oils totalled 1.60 million MT, up 51% from September 2024. Non-edible oils were 35,100 MT. Notably, there was no import of Refined, Bleached, and Deodorised (RBD) Palmolein in September 2025 due to a sharp rise in the import duty difference between Crude Palm Oil (CPO) and RBD Palmolein from 8.25% to 19.25%. This policy encouraged the import of crude oils, revitalising domestic refining and aligning with the Make in India initiative by promoting local value addition, increasing capacity utilisation, and creating jobs.
Palm oil imports declined to 6.96 million MT from 8.17 million MT last year, while soft oils, including soybean, sunflower, and rapeseed oils, rose to 7.02 million MT from 6.36 million MT. Crude oils accounted for 93% of total edible oil imports, compared to 88% last year, reflecting a shift from refined to crude oil imports.
Key suppliers of palm oil were Indonesia (2.65 million MT CPO, 0.83 million MT RBD Palmolein) and Malaysia (2.31 million MT CPO, 0.13 million MT RBD Palmolein, 0.04 million MT Crude Palm Kernel Oil). For soft oils, Argentina, Brazil, and Russia were major exporters of crude soybean and sunflower oils.
Domestic edible oil stocks on 1st October 2025 stood at 2.00 million MT, up 139,000 MT from September, due to higher imports in the past four months. Meanwhile, kharif oilseed acreage reduced slightly to 190.13 lakh hectares, with soybean estimated at 105 lakh tons and groundnut at 46.07 lakh tons.
This import pattern indicates a strategic shift toward crude oils, supporting local refining capacity, stabilising domestic prices, and ensuring a steady supply for India&rsquo;s growing edible oil consumption.

Vegetable oil imports rise 51% in Sept’25; RBD Palmolein imports hit nil, crude oils domin

India Vegetable Oil Imports Report Nov’24-Sept’25

Vegetable oil imports rise 51% in Sept’25; RBD Palmolein imports hit nil, crude oils domin

October 15, 2025 | 23:12 IST