India Cracks Open Sunflower Oil Imports as Duty Cut Boosts Demand
India's decision to cut import duties on crude sunflower oil is expected to boost imports by nearly 30% in the 2026/27 marketing year. The move will make sunflower oil more affordable and encourage greater household consumption, according to Angshu Mallick, President of the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA). Sunflower oil arrivals could reach 3.5 million metric tonnes, driven by lower prices and stronger consumer demand.
The duty reduction has created a clear cost advantage over competing edible oils, with soyoil imports projected to decline by around 10.7% to nearly 5 million tonnes in the upcoming season. Palm oil imports are expected to remain stable at approximately 8 million tonnes, but rising global prices and supply concerns linked to El Niño weather conditions may influence purchasing decisions.
Total vegetable oil imports in 2026/27 are expected to remain stable at 16.5-17 million tonnes, with India continuing to rely heavily on imports to satisfy nearly two-thirds of its vegetable oil requirements.