SEA AGM & Award Ceremony in Mumbai Highlights Key Issues in India’s Edible Oil Sector
24-Sep-2025 08:56 PM
The Solvent Extractors’ Association (SEA) held its Annual General Meeting and Award Ceremony in Mumbai, where major issues concerning the country’s edible oil sector were discussed.
Vidhya Bhushan, Director of Bunge India, said that edible oil imports are expected to increase in the coming year. The 2025 (Kharif + Rabi) oilseed crop estimates are:
Soybean: 9.9 million tonnes
Groundnut: 8.4 million tonnes
Mustard: 10 million tonnes
Sunflower seed: 0.26 million tonnes
He noted that factors such as biofuel mandates in the US, Indonesia and Brazil; the possible extension of Argentina’s duty cut beyond 31 October 2025; weather conditions in the Black Sea region; and the recent spell of above-normal monsoon rains affecting the kharif crop will influence the market.
Removal of GST is also expected to boost demand for oils. While the groundnut crop looks good, the soybean crop is weak.
Sanjeev Asthana, President of SEA
The government’s decision to increase import duties on oils was appropriate and praised the National Oil Mission. However, currency fluctuations, tariff changes and wars pose major challenges for global business.
Agricultural growth is estimated at 3.8% this year. He stressed that importing 60% of the country’s requirement is too high and domestic production must be increased. Import from Nepal has become a major concern.
He called for lifting the export ban on rice bran oil and highlighted rapeseed meal exports to China as a big opportunity for India.
He also urged the government to devise a mechanism to ensure soybean farmers get fair prices, as current prices are below MSP. He termed NOPA’s new order positive for the industry and said standard packaging rules need to be reviewed.
Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary of the Department of Food & Public Distribution
The decision to increase import duty has boosted domestic processing plants.
He added that import dependence is not good for India and that the country must raise both production and productivity of oilseeds, while also becoming self-sufficient in pulses.
No new industry-related announcements were made during his speech.