News Capsule: India Looks for Alternative Sunflower Oil Sources Amid Black Sea Disruptions
30-Jul-2026 10:11 AM
News Capsule: India Looks for Alternative Sunflower Oil Sources Amid Black Sea Disruptions
★ India is exploring alternative sources of sunflower oil imports as geopolitical tensions and shipping disruptions in the Black Sea region continue to affect supplies from Russia and Ukraine. Importers are increasingly looking to diversify sourcing to reduce dependence on the region.
★ Due to higher sunflower oil prices and uncertainty over supplies, buyers are gradually shifting to other edible oils. India's palm oil imports are expected to rise by about 40% month-on-month to around 700,000 tonnes in July, while soybean oil imports are expected to remain at an above-normal level of around 500,000 tonnes per month.
★ Limited availability of sunflower oil is boosting demand for palm and soybean oil. As a result, India is also exploring stronger trade ties with alternative suppliers such as Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay to diversify its edible oil import basket.
★ If disruptions in the Black Sea region persist, India's edible oil import pattern is likely to shift further, with palm oil and soybean oil imports expected to remain elevated in the coming months.