Reuters reported that five dealers estimated India’s October edible oil imports rose 13% as lower prices and festive-season stockbuilding supported purchases; official data is still pending.
Reuters’ five-dealer average assigned 866,000 metric tons to palm oil and a record 653,000 metric tons to soybean oil, with both estimates 6% above September. Sunflower oil was estimated at 223,000 metric tons, around twice September’s volume. The palm oil estimate was the highest since August 2025.
The Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA), which publishes official monthly figures, reported September imports of 1,544,447 metric tons, down from 1,572,136 metric tons in August. SEA’s latest release also gave a provisional stock estimate of 2.072 million metric tons on Oct. 1, 29,000 metric tons above its Sept. 1 estimate.
The Reuters estimate is higher than a forecast iGrain published Nov. 3. iGrain projected total October imports of 1.66 million metric tons, including 825,000 metric tons of palm oil, about 550,000 metric tons of soybean oil and 225,000 metric tons of sunflower oil. It did not define the scope of its soybean oil estimate, limiting direct comparison.
Seasonal demand is one factor in the timing. Reuters said the September-to-November import period often coincides with increased production of sweets, snacks and fried foods by households and commercial kitchens. Effective Sept. 24, India’s government cut basic customs duties on crude palm and soybean oils to 5% from 10%, and on crude sunflower oil to zero from 10%. The government said the duty changes were intended to reduce import costs and ease consumer prices while preserving a tax advantage for domestic refiners. Rajesh Patel, managing partner at GGN Research, told Reuters that concerns about domestic supplies after El Nino-related oilseed damage had added to demand. Reuters reported that SEA was expected to publish its October import data by mid-November.
