InfoSAWIT, NEW DELHI — India’s palm oil imports rose modestly in November 2025, driven by lower prices that encouraged refiners to boost purchases of the tropical vegetable oil. Meanwhile, imports of soyoil and sunflower oil declined due to higher prices, according to five traders monitoring the market.
The increase in palm oil purchases by the world’s largest vegetable oil buyer is expected to help major producers such as Indonesia and Malaysia reduce stockpiles and support prices on the Malaysian exchange. However, the trend may pressure soyoil prices in the U.S. market.
Traders estimated that India’s palm oil imports in November rose 4.6% from the previous month to 630,000 tons. In contrast, soyoil imports fell 12% to 400,000 tons, while sunflower oil imports plunged 44% to a two-year low of 145,000 tons.
Overall, India’s total vegetable oil imports dropped 11.5% to 1.18 million tons — the lowest level in seven months — largely due to weaker soyoil and sunflower oil imports.
Traders also noted that the figure includes about 30,000 tons of duty-free soyoil shipments arriving overland from Nepal.
Aashish Acharya, Vice President of Patanjali Foods Ltd, one of India’s biggest vegetable oil importers, said buyers were increasing near-term palm oil purchases because its price is far more competitive.
“In December, palm oil imports could rise further to 750,000 tons,” he said, as quoted by InfoSAWIT from Reuters, Thursday (4/12/2025). Palm oil was reported to be nearly USD 100 per ton cheaper than soyoil.
India primarily imports palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia, while soyoil and sunflower oil come from Argentina, Brazil, Russia, and Ukraine. India’s canola oil imports also dropped by half in November, reaching just 5,000 tons.
Rajesh Patel, Managing Partner at GGN Research, added that sunflower oil prices remain more than USD 200 per ton above palm oil and USD 100 per ton above soyoil, pushing buyers toward more affordable alternatives.
With widening price gaps between vegetable oils, industry players expect India’s import composition to continue shifting in the coming months. (T2)
