India's vegetable oil imports rise 33% in August: SEA

15 Sep 2023 Evaluate

The Solvent Extractors' Association (SEA) in its latest report has showed that India's vegetable oil imports rose 33 per cent year-on- year to 18.66 lakh tonne in August 2023 due to lower duties and a revival of demand after a fall in domestic rates. India, the world's leading vegetable oil buyer, imported 14.01 lakh tonne of vegetable oil in August 2022. 

The country's total vegetable oil imports during the first ten months of the 2022-23 oil year (November-October) increased by 24 per cent to 141.21 lakh tonne, when compared to 113.76 lakh tonne in the year-ago period. According to the SEA, edible oils comprised 18.52 lakh tonne, while non-edible oils at 14,008, out of total vegetable oil shipments undertaken in August. In total, palm oil imports reached 11.28 lakh tonne in August. Import of edible oils in first ten months stood at 141.21 lakh tons. 

Citing reasons for the rise in imports, the industry body said despite ample domestic availability, a sharp drop in domestic edible oil prices has reignited demand, as reflected in the August data. Crude palm oil imports rebounded, regaining competitiveness against soybean and other oils, totalling 8.24 lakh tonne in August, slightly down from 8.41 lakh tonne in the previous month. India imports palm oil mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia, and a small quantity of crude soft oil, including soyabean from Argentina. Sunflower oil is imported from Ukraine and Russia.

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