India’s Soybean Oil Imports Reached a Three-Year High in September

In September 2025, India significantly increased its soybean oil imports, reaching the highest level in over three years. This growth occurred amid a reduction in palm oil purchases, as oil extraction plant (OEP) producers prefer the cheaper soybean raw material.

This is reported by AgroReview

Trends in Oil Imports in India

Imports of palm oil to India in September decreased by 16.3%, totaling 829,000 tons, marking the lowest figure since May of this year. Meanwhile, soybean oil imports rose by 36.8%, reaching 503,000 tons — this volume is the highest since July 2022. Sunflower oil purchases also increased by 6%, totaling 272,400 tons, which is the highest figure since January of this year.

Market Impact and Forecasts

The decline in palm oil imports has affected overall figures: total food oil imports to India in September decreased by 1% compared to August, amounting to 1.6 million tons.

“The reduction in palm oil imports to India, the world’s largest buyer of vegetable oils, is expected to put pressure on Malaysian palm oil futures while simultaneously supporting soybean oil futures in the U.S.”

This trend may lead to further price fluctuations in global vegetable oil markets, as India is a key player in the procurement of these products.