India’s edible oil imports reached a 10-month peak in July, with refiners replenishing inventories ahead of upcoming festivals, signalling a renewed active buying cycle that could influence global supply trends.
India’s edible oil imports climbed to a 10-month high in July as refiners rebuilt inventories before the festival period, according to the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India. Palm oil imports rose about 50% from June to 730,965 metric tons, while soyoil arrivals increased 31% to 498,881 tons and sunflower oil imports edged up 4% to 251,639 tons. Total edible oil imports reached 1.48 million tons, the highest since September 2025, excluding duty-free shipments that enter by land from Nepal.
The July rebound followed a weak June, when India’s palm oil imports fell to a 14-month low as the price advantage over rival oils narrowed. Market reports from ChemAnalyst and other trade publications said refiners had shifted some purchases towards soyoil and sunflower oil because palm oil was no longer offering the same discount. That drop in buying had added to global inventories and weighed on benchmark crude palm oil prices.
The pickup in July reflects a typical seasonal pattern in India, where demand for edible oils tends to strengthen from August through November as a string of festivals lifts consumption. Sandeep Bajoria, chief executive of Sunvin Group, told Business Standard that refiners were buying ahead of that demand and said imports were likely to stay firm in August, with palm oil shipments potentially topping 700,000 tons.
India remains the world’s largest importer of vegetable oils, so shifts in its buying often ripple through global markets. Higher purchases can help trim stocks in Indonesia, Malaysia and Argentina, the main suppliers of palm, soyoil and sunflower oil, and support futures prices for those oils. For now, the July data suggest a more active buying cycle is under way after the mid-year lull.
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