India’s edible oil imports held steady in volume terms during the oil year 2024–25, but the country’s import bill witnessed a sharp increase due to a surge in international prices, according to trade data.
Industry officials said that while import volumes of palm, soybean, and sunflower oils showed little movement compared to last year, elevated global prices significantly inflated the total import cost. The rise was largely driven by supply disruptions in key producing nations such as Indonesia and Brazil, as well as increased freight and logistics expenses.
Analysts noted that the higher import bill could exert inflationary pressure on domestic edible oil prices, impacting household budgets. The government is reportedly exploring policy measures to enhance domestic oilseed output and reduce dependency on imports, which currently meet nearly 60% of India’s edible oil demand.