Edible Oil Imports Likely to Decline in March

25-Mar-2026 11:28 AM

Mumbai. Analysts within the domestic vegetable oil industry and trade sector believe that, driven by a sharp surge in global market prices and an increase in milling costs, India's imports of edible oils in the current month—March 2026—are likely to contract to approximately 1.1 million tonnes.

Within this context, palm oil imports are projected to drop from 848,000 tonnes in February to 680,000 tonnes in March. Futures prices for Crude Palm Oil (CPO) in Malaysia have risen significantly.

Furthermore, the substantial depreciation of the Rupee against the US Dollar, coupled with an upward revision in the government's base import value (tariff value), is also expected to impact edible oil imports. Shipping costs, too, have risen considerably.

The anticipated decline in edible oil imports from abroad is expected to provide relief to domestic oilseed and oil producers, as refiners will likely prioritize purchasing oil from crushers and processors, who, in turn, will seek to increase their procurement of oilseeds directly from farmers.