Drop of over 100,000 tonnes in edible oil imports in August

15-Sep-2026 04:39 PM

Mumbai: Data compiled by the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA)—a leading organization representing the domestic vegetable oil industry and trade—reveals that the country imported 1.572 million tonnes (15.72 lakh tonnes) of edible oil in August 2026. While this figure is 22,000 tonnes higher than the July imports of 1.55 million tonnes (15.50 lakh tonnes), it represents a decline of 107,000 tonnes (1.07 lakh tonnes) compared to the 1.679 million tonnes (16.79 lakh tonnes) imported in August 2025.

According to available data, total edible oil imports during the first 10 months of the current marketing season (November 2025 to August 2026) rose to 13.62 million tonnes (136.20 lakh tonnes); this is approximately 0.6 million tonnes (6 lakh tonnes) higher than the imports recorded during the corresponding period of the 2024-25 season (13.025 million tonnes or 130.25 lakh tonnes).

An interesting fact is that the highest volume of edible oil imports for the current marketing season occurred in August. Significant imports had also taken place in July. Refiners are increasing imports from abroad in anticipation of the rise in demand and consumption during the festive season.

According to the SEA report, the total edible oil stock available on September 1, 2026, stood at 2.043 million tonnes (20.43 lakh tonnes)—comprising 1.103 million tonnes (11.03 lakh tonnes) at ports and 0.94 million tonnes (9.40 lakh tonnes) in the pipeline. This figure exceeds both the stock available on August 1 (2.012 million tonnes or 20.12 lakh tonnes) and the stock held on September 1, 2025 (1.865 million tonnes or 18.65 lakh tonnes). At the beginning of September 2026, stocks at Indian ports included 0.402 million tonnes (4.02 lakh tonnes) of crude palm oil and crude palm kernel oil, 18,000 tonnes of RBD palmolein, 0.39 million tonnes (3.90 lakh tonnes) of crude degummed soybean oil, and 0.293 million tonnes (2.93 lakh tonnes) of crude sunflower oil. Imports of edible oils are continuing steadily.

Comparing the 2025-26 season with 2024-25, imports of refined edible oil into India dropped from 1.636 million tonnes to 0.659 million tonnes during the first ten months, whereas imports of crude edible oils surged from 11.388 million tonnes to 12.961 million tonnes.