Russia is trying to impose its sunflower oil on India

Russia is making another attempt to expand its oil and fat exports to India, seeking to repeat the success of oil and compensate for losses in other sectors. A delegation of Indian importers led by the Vegetable Oil Producers Association of India (SEA) has arrived in Russia for talks on increasing supplies of vegetable oils and fats. According to estimates by the Russian Export Center, the potential for deals is about $100 million, although the prospects remain in question due to fierce competition.

The talks, which began on September 1 in Moscow, were aimed at deepening trade ties between Russia and India in the agricultural sector. The meeting was attended by representatives of SEA, heads of 14 oil and fat companies, as well as the president of the Oil and Fat Union of the Russian Federation Mikhail Maltsev and the head of Agroexport Ilya Ilyushin. Vice President of the REC Tatyana An noted that trade turnover between the countries has increased sevenfold over the past five years, but Russian products are facing difficulties due to high competition and instability of supplies.

The Indian side is considering the possibility of purchasing Russian sunflower oil, legumes and specialized fats for the food industry. In 2024, Russian agricultural exports to India reached 3.4 million tons, and sunflower oil supplies increased 2.4 times. This week, an Indian delegation will visit production sites in Moscow, Voronezh, St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad to assess whether Russian products meet the declared quality and whether Russia is able to ensure stable supplies.

Competition in the Indian market is intensifying: Ukraine overtook Russia in terms of sunflower oil supplies in July 2024, reaching 78 thousand tons, which is 57% more than in June. Despite ambitious plans, Russia faces challenges due to logistical problems and the growing presence of other suppliers, which may complicate its advancement in the Indian market.

Tags: sunflower oil, India, Russia