Vegetable oil imports slump 7% on year in september 2026

The Solvent Extractors Association or SEA reported that India’s import volume for edible oils totaled 15.44 lakh tonnes and 35,196 tonnes for non-edible oils during September 2026. Month-over-month, edible oil imports exhibited a slight contraction to 15.44 lakh tonnes in September, decreasing from 15.72 lakh tonnes in August. This moderation was largely attributable to a reduction in RBD Palmolein imports, which fell to 2,905 tons from 22,700 tons, and crude sunflower oil imports, which declined to 104,984 tons from 155,639 tons. Total vegetable oil imports for September 2026 were down 7% when compared to September 2025.

Cumulative imports during the first eleven months of the 2025-26 oil year (November 2025 to Sept 2026) exhibited a slight increase compared to the corresponding period of the prior year. Total vegetable oil (Edible + non-edible) imports reached 154.64 lakh tonnes, in contrast to the 150.31 lakh tonnes imported during Nov.,2024 to Sept., 2025, demonstrating a 3 percent rise. Cumulative edible oil imports during the period similarly demonstrated growth, advancing to 151.64 lakh tonnes from 146.83 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous oil year, representing an increase of 3 percent. The latest data suggests that vegetable oil imports have maintained a higher level overall during the current oil year.