New Delhi, February 13 India's vegetable oil imports decreased by 2% to 3.96 million tonnes in the first quarter of the 2025-26 oil year (November-October), compared to the previous year, as lower purchases of soybean and sunflower oil offset an increase in palm oil imports, industry data showed on Friday.
The world's largest vegetable oil importer bought 4.05 million tonnes, including edible and non-edible oils, during the same period a year ago, according to the Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA).
Palm oil imports rose by 18% to 1.91 million tonnes in the November 2025-January 2026 quarter, compared to 1.62 million tonnes a year earlier, the industry body said in a statement.
Palm oil stocks at Indian ports stood at 486,000 tonnes on February 1, up from 33,000 tonnes in the previous month.
Imports of crude soybean oil decreased by 9% to 1.20 million tonnes from 1.27 million tonnes, while port stocks declined to 190,000 tonnes from 300,000 tonnes a month earlier.
Imports of crude sunflower oil dropped by 15% to 759,000 tonnes from 894,000 tonnes, with port stocks at 185,000 tonnes compared with 200,000 tonnes in the previous month.
Nepal exported about 54,000 tonnes of refined oils to India in November 2025, consisting mainly of 47,639 tonnes of refined soya oil, 3,022 tonnes of refined sunflower oil, and 2,484 tonnes of RBD palmolein. In December 2025, Nepal shipped about 48,000 tonnes of refined oils, primarily refined soybean oil.
Total edible oil stocks at Indian ports stood at 864,000 tonnes on February 1, while pipeline stock considering domestic production and consumption was at 885,000 tonnes. Total stock was 1.75 million tonnes, unchanged from January 1, due to higher imports in January.
Indonesia and Malaysia are the major suppliers of palm oil to India.