Vegetable Oil Imports Fall 7% in July as Crude Oil Share Climbs to 96%: SEA

New Delhi: India’s vegetable oil imports declined 7% year on year to 15.25 lakh tonnes in July 2026, compared with 16.48 lakh tonnes recorded in the same month last year, according to industry body the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA).

Edible oil imports also witnessed a decline during the month, falling 8% to 14.81 lakh tonnes from 16.16 lakh tonnes in July 2025.

However, imports during the first nine months of the 2025-26 oil year, spanning November 2025 to July 2026, remained higher than the corresponding period of the previous marketing year.

Total vegetable oil imports, including edible and non-edible oils, stood at 121.50 lakh tonnes during the nine-month period, compared with 116.03 lakh tonnes a year earlier.

Edible oil imports during the same period increased 5% to 119.23 lakh tonnes from 113.46 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous oil year.

Crude Oil Dominates Import Basket

A significant shift was recorded in the composition of India’s vegetable oil imports. According to SEA, the share of refined oils dropped sharply to 4% in July from 14% a year earlier.

In contrast, the proportion of crude oils increased to 96% from 86%. The change was primarily driven by higher imports of crude palm oil.

The increased preference for crude oil imports reflects changes in the domestic refining and import mix, with refiners processing a larger proportion of crude oils within the country.

India relies heavily on overseas supplies to meet its vegetable oil requirements. Palm oil is mainly sourced from Malaysia and Indonesia, while soyabean oil imports largely come from Argentina and Brazil.

The SEA data indicates that while monthly imports declined in July, the overall pace of imports during the first nine months of the current oil year remained above the level recorded in the corresponding period last year.