Black Sea Disruptions Send India Scrambling for Sunflower Oil Alternatives

India's sunflower oil imports are facing disruptions due to attacks in the Black Sea region. The country, which is the world's top buyer of sunflower oil, is turning to alternative suppliers such as Argentina and South America to plug the import gaps.

According to traders, shipments from top producers Russia and Ukraine are facing delays of up to 60 days, causing prices to rise. India's own crops are also faltering due to weak monsoon rains, adding to the country's reliance on imports.

Mannan Khan, director of MK Agrotech Pvt. Ltd., a vegetable oil importer and distributor in the southern Indian city of Mysore, said that attacks in the Black Sea were 'definitely affecting us.' His company was forced to source half its sunflower supply from Argentina as violence in the region intensified.

The disruptions are expected to further tighten the global vegetable oil market, which is already facing supply risks from a strong El Niño and higher biofuel demand. As a result, consumer prices may rise.