Vegetable oil import down 16 per cent in March to 9.98 lakh tonne: SEA

New Delhi: India’s vegetable oil imports fell 16 per cent to 9.98 lakh tonne in March primarily as a result of sharp decline in shipments of crude sunflower oil, in line with trade knowledge. In an announcement on Friday, Solvent Extractors’ Affiliation of India (SEA) stated import of vegetable oils (edible & non-edible) declined to 9,98,344 tonne in March final 12 months from 11,82,152 tonne in the identical month final 12 months.

Edible oil imports in March 2025 fell to 9,70,602 tonne from 11,49,681 tonne within the year-ago interval. Crude sunflower oil imports plunged to 1,90,645 tonne final month from 4,45,723 tonne in March 2024.

Inbound shipments of non-edible oils declined to 27,742 tonnes from 32,471 tonne. Through the first 5 months of 2024-25 oil advertising and marketing 12 months beginning November, whole vegetable oil imports fell marginally to 58,06,142 tonne from 58,30,115 tonne within the corresponding interval of the previous 12 months.

Oil 12 months runs from November to October.

Out of whole edible oil imports throughout November 2024-March 2025, SEA stated that 6,62,890 tonne refined oil (RBD Palmolein) had been imported as towards 886,607 tonne within the year-ago interval. Crude oils import rose to 49,76,787 tonne from 48,78,625 tonne in the course of the interval beneath overview. “Throughout November 2024-March 2025, palm oil import sharply decreased to 24,15,556 tonne from 35,29,839 tonne in November 2023- March 2024, whereas tender oil import jumped to 32,24,121 tonne from 22,35,394 tonne for a similar interval of final 12 months,” the assertion stated.

Indonesia and Malaysia are the most important suppliers of RBD Palmolein and crude palm oil to India.