Sunflower oil imports to India to fall to four-year low due to price differential with competing edible oils

India’s sunflower oil imports are forecast to fall by about a tenth in 2025/26, reaching a four-year low, according to trade officials, as a rising price premium over competitors pushes buyers toward cheaper alternatives, The Edge Malaysia reports, citing trade sources in Delhi.

As a result, the world’s largest vegetable oil importer is likely to increase its palm oil imports, which could help destock leading producers in Indonesia and Malaysia and support benchmark Malaysian palm oil futures.

“Due to rising sunflower oil prices, India is likely to import only enough to meet its core demand of about 200,000-225,000 tonnes per month,” said Aashish Acharya, vice president of Patanjali Foods Ltd, a leading vegetable oil importer.

Acharya and four dealers from global trading companies estimate that India’s sunflower oil imports will decline to 2.65 million tonnes in the current marketing year ending in October, down from 2.94 million tonnes a year earlier, marking the lowest level since 2021/22.

Argentina, meanwhile, is offering sunflower oil at approximately $10-$20 per tonne lower than Black Sea imports due to increased production, providing some relief to Indian buyers.

This trend was reflected in India’s palm oil imports in January, which increased by 51% compared to December, while sunflower oil imports declined by 23%, according to dealer estimates.

Tags: imports, sunflower oil, India