The Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) has backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to cut edible oil consumption, warning that rising imports are draining foreign exchange and leaving India exposed to global shocks. SEA says India imports nearly 60% of its edible oil needs and spent about Rs 1.61 lakh crore on imports in 2024-25, with West Asia tensions, El Nino and tighter global supplies likely to push costs higher.
Since January 2023, India stopped using standard edible oil pack quantities, leaving consumers to navigate an uneven range of sizes. The result, according to SOPA, is confusion at the shelf and potential deception, as shoppers struggle to compare prices across brands with inconsistent labeling.
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