India's edible oil import bill jumps 19% to ₹87,000 cr in H1 oil year 2025-26

Imports rose 13.66% to 78.15 lt in Nov 2025-Apr 2026, with bill swelling to ₹87,000 crore from ₹73,000 crore, per SEA data. Palm cumulative intake surged to 39.67 lt vs 27.44 lt, but April CPO crashed 24.21% as refiners pivoted to sunflower and soybean. Rupee's 9.2% slide amplified cost pressure.

— FiledWed, 13 May, 2026, 14:41 IST·First seen Wed, 13 May, 2026, 14:40 IST·Source The Hindu BusinessLine

What happened

Solvent Extractors' Association of India · India's edible oil imports rose 13.66% to 78.15 lt in H1 oil year 2025-26, with bill up 19% to ₹87,000 crore. Palm

Key facts

  • 78.15 lt imports H1 FY26
  • 68.76 lt H1 FY25
  • 13.66% volume rise
  • 19% value rise
  • ₹87,000 crore import value
  • ₹73,000 crore prior
  • 13.07 lt April imports
  • CPO down 24.21% to 5.10 lt
  • RBD palmolein down 88.62% to 1,536 t
  • sunflower 4.34 lt April
  • soybean 3.60 lt April
  • palm H1 39.67 lt vs 27.44 lt
  • sunflower H1 15.50 lt
  • soybean H1 22.91 lt
  • rupee down 9.2%

Why this matters

Refiner pivot from CPO to soft oils plus rupee weakness creates acquisition openings in distressed palm-heavy players and sunflower sourcing assets in Ukraine/Russia corridors.