India’s vegetable oil imports rose 13% to 7.94 million tonnes in the first half of the 2025-26 oil year. Palm oil shipments nearly doubled, lifting overall imports even as cooking oil prices climbed and the rupee weakened. At the same time, vegetable oil stocks increased sharply, pointing to better supply availability despite cost pressures.
India is shifting toward mustard oil as global prices of palm and soybean oils climb. Conflict-driven supply disruptions in West Asia and rising biofuel demand are raising costs, and a weakening rupee makes imported oils even more expensive. At the same time, record domestic mustard production supports the switch, easing availability for consumers.
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India’s palm oil imports fell 27% in April to the lowest in a year as sluggish institutional demand and a narrower price advantage versus competing oils weighed on purchases. The drop may spill into global palm oil futures. At the same time, imports of soyoil and sunflower oil surged, lifting overall edible oil imports to a 2026 high.
Indonesia’s shift to use palm oil for biofuels is set to challenge India’s food security, since India relies heavily on edible palm oil imports from Indonesia. With domestic production constrained by climate, India may have to scramble for alternative sourcing to avoid shortages and price spikes.
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