India’s edible oil imports decline in March; palm oil hits 3-month low
02-Apr-2026 05:59 PM
India’s edible oil imports decline in March; palm oil hits 3-month low
★ India’s edible oil imports weakened in March 2026. Rising palm oil prices led to a nearly 19% drop in imports, which fell to 689,000 tonnes — the lowest level in three months (February: 847,689 tonnes).
★ Higher palm oil prices prompted refiners to cut purchases.
★ Soybean oil imports saw a slight decline of 3% (around 290,000 tonnes), while sunflower oil imports surged by 36% (around 198,000 tonnes).
★ Overall, India’s total edible oil imports fell about 9% in March to 1.18 million tonnes, the lowest since April 2025.
★ Around 60,000 tonnes of edible oils, mainly soybean oil, were imported from Nepal.
★ Lower imports may support domestic oilseed prices, but declining stocks could lead to higher imports in the coming months.