There has been an increase of 8 percent in the import of edible oil in the month of December.Image Credit source: ChatGPT

In the winter months, people have reduced the purchase of palm oil keeping their health in mind. On the other hand, there is an increase in demand for soybean and sunflower oil. Solvent Extractors Association of India has released a data. It is clear from this data that there has been a huge decline in the import of palm oil in the month of December. Whereas there has been an increase in the import of soybean oil and sunflower oil. This is an indication that common people have become more cautious about their health. Let us also tell you what kind of data has been released by SEA.

Increase in vegetable oil imports

Industry organization SEA said on Tuesday that due to the huge increase in the shipment of soybean oil and sunflower oil, India's vegetable oil import increased by eight percent to 13.83 lakh tonnes in December 2025, the second month of the 2025-26 oil year, compared to the same period last year. The country, the world's largest vegetable oil importer, had purchased 12.75 lakh tonnes of vegetable oil, including edible and non-edible oils, in December 2024. However, in the first two months (November-October) of the current 2025-26 oil year, the total vegetable oil import declined by 12 percent to 25.67 lakh tonnes as compared to the same period last year.

Decline in palm oil imports

Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA) said in a statement that overall, palm oil imports declined by 20 per cent to 5.07 lakh tonnes in December 2025 from 6.32 lakh tonnes in the same period last year. SEA said in a statement that the import of RBD palmolein remained zero in December, while the import of crude palm oil increased from 3.26 lakh tonnes to 5.03 lakh tonnes in the same period.

Increase in import of sunflower and soybean oil

Sunflower oil import increased by 32.19 percent to 3.49 lakh tonnes in December, whereas it was 2.64 lakh tonnes in the same period last year. Import of soybean oil also increased by 20.23 percent during the said period from 4.20 lakh tonnes to 5.05 lakh tonnes. Import of non-edible oils declined to 21,000 tonnes in December 2025, whereas it was 45,764 tonnes in the same period last year.

Indonesia and Malaysia are major suppliers of palm oil. Sowing of Rabi or winter oilseed crops increased by 3.04 percent to 99.30 lakh hectares till January 2, compared to 93.27 lakh hectares last year. The total food stock till January 1 stood at 17.50 lakh tonnes, which is more than 16.21 lakh tonnes in the previous month.