China strengthens position in India’s soybean oil market, displacing smaller suppliers

China is expanding its presence in India’s crude soybean oil import market, emerging as a new key supplier and the third-largest exporter to the country. This shift further concentrates India’s imports within a small group of exporting nations.

According to analysis, Argentina, Brazil, and China accounted for 93.3% of India’s crude soybean oil imports between November 2025 and March 2026. Argentina remains the dominant supplier with a 63.4% share, followed by Brazil at 21.8%, while China has risen to third place with around 8.1%.

Industry data shows that China supplied more than 209,000 tonnes of crude soybean oil to India between November 2025 and May 2026. In doing so, it effectively replaced several smaller exporters, including Russia, Thailand, and the United States.

Argentina continues to strengthen its lead, increasing its share to 63.4% in the 2025–26 marketing year from 60.2% a year earlier. Brazil remains the second-largest supplier, although its share declined to 21.8%.

The evolving supply structure highlights the growing dominance of a limited number of key exporters, with China steadily establishing itself as a stable player in India’s soybean oil market.