India Imports Rapeseed Oil After Five Years
25-Aug-2025 04:01 PM
Mumbai. With the domestic market price jumping to the highest level in the last three years, rapeseed oil is being imported into the country for the first time in the last five years.
According to a leading industry analyst, a total of 6000 tonnes of rapeseed oil has been contracted for import from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and its shipment has also been done. The ship laden with this stock of rapeseed oil is likely to reach Kandla port in Gujarat by the end of the current season.
It is noteworthy that India, the world's largest importer of edible oils, mainly imports palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia, soybean oil from Argentina and Brazil and sunflower oil from Russia and Ukraine.
The spot market price of rapeseed (mustard) oil jumped to Rs 1,67,000 (1914 dollars) per tonne in July, which is the highest level since February 2022 and about 34 percent higher than the price of the same period last year.
According to industry analysts, the tremendous rise in the domestic market price has opened the door for its import from abroad.
Since the next new crop of mustard will start coming from March 2026, which is still far away, more quantity of rapeseed oil can be imported in the intervening period. Import of soybean oil in India is also increasing rapidly as many importers are giving priority to import of cheap soybean oil instead of expensive rapeseed oil.
In the domestic sector, sowing of mustard, the most important oilseed crop of Rabi season, will start in October-November and its harvesting-preparation will gain momentum in March-April.
The market price of mustard and its oil has been running very high and strong for the last few months. Rapeseed-canola oil was imported about five years ago but it stopped after that.
There is no possibility of much decline in the price of mustard oil in the near future as its demand and consumption often increases during the festive season. The price of mustard is running much higher than the government support price.