Palm Oil Imports Estimated to Fall by 20% in December

06-Jan-2026 04:12 PM

Mumbai. Analysts in the domestic edible oil industry and trade sector have estimated that gross palm oil imports in December 2025 will fall by 20 percent compared to November, settling at 507,000 tonnes due to weak demand.

This would be the lowest level in the last eight months, since April 2025.  India is the world's largest importer of edible oils.

A decline in palm oil imports here is likely to lead to an increase in stockpiles in Indonesia and Malaysia and put pressure on benchmark futures prices.

Although palm oil imports decreased in December, imports of soybean oil and sunflower oil increased as Indian refiners showed greater interest in importing them.

According to industry and trade analysts, soybean oil imports are estimated to have increased by 37 percent in December compared to November, reaching 508,000 tonnes, while sunflower oil imports are estimated to have more than doubled to 350,000 tonnes, the highest level in the last 17 months.

For the first time in a long time, soybean oil imports are estimated to have exceeded palm oil imports in December.

As a result, total edible oil imports in December 2025 are expected to increase to 1.37 million tonnes, 19 percent higher than in November and the highest level in the last three months.

This figure does not include duty-free edible oil imports from Nepal via road. Data from the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA) is expected next week.