India’s palm oil imports in March dropped nearly 19% on-month and hit a three-month low
after a rally in tropical oil prices, in line with energy
markets, prompted refiners to hold back purchases, a trade body
said on Monday.
Lower imports could deplete stocks and support local oilseed
prices, but may force the world’s biggest edible oil importer to
step up overseas buying in the coming months to replenish
stocks.
India’s palm oil imports in March fell to 689,462 metric
tons, the lowest since December 2025, down from 847,689 tons in
February, the Mumbai-based Solvent Extractors’ Association of
India (SEA) said in a statement.
Imports of soyoil dropped 4% to 287,220 tons, while those of
sunflower oil were up about 35% at 196,486 tons, the SEA said.
India’s overall edible oil imports fell more than 9% from
February to 1.17 million tons in March, the lowest since April
2025, as palm oil and soyoil purchases declined, the data
showed.
India sources most of its palm oil from Indonesia and
Malaysia, while soyoil and sunflower oil are imported mainly
from Argentina, Brazil, Russia and Ukraine.
Supplies of rapeseed oil from the new-season crop are
rising, helping to limit imports in the short term, said a
Mumbai-based dealer with a global trade house.
“Buyers are waiting for a price correction. If prices don’t
ease in the next few weeks, Indian refiners will step up
purchases,” the dealer said.