India’s edible oil imports declined by 33.57% in April 2025, driven by low palm oil demand, increased mustard seed crushing, and an influx of refined oils from Nepal. According to the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA), total edible oil imports stood at 8.62 lakh tonnes in April, down from 13.04 lakh tonnes a year earlier.
While crude palm oil imports fell sharply, imports of soybean oil increased. Concerns are rising over Nepal’s re-export of refined edible oils to India under duty-free arrangements, threatening domestic refiners and causing revenue losses.
To address these challenges, industry leaders are urging stricter enforcement of trade agreements and a reassessment of import duties to protect domestic refining capacity.