India's FY26 edible oil imports climb 3% to 166.51 LT as Nepal duty-free shipments more than double

Solvent Extractors' Association data shows Nepal imports surged 113% to 7.36 lakh tonnes under SAFTA, deepening import dependence even as domestic output covers just 40% of demand. SEA backed PM Modi's call to moderate edible oil consumption amid the import-led pressure.

— Source publishedTue, 19 May, 2026, 12:53 IST·First seen Tue, 19 May, 2026, 13:53 IST·Source NDTV Profit

What happened

Solvent Extractors' Association of India · India's edible oil imports rose 3% to 166.51 lakh tonnes in FY26, driven by a 113% surge in duty-free Nepal shipments

Key facts

  • 166.51 lakh tonnes FY26 imports
  • 3% YoY rise
  • 7.36 lakh tonnes from Nepal
  • 113% jump in Nepal imports
  • 40% domestic production share

Why this matters

The Nepal SAFTA arbitrage window (+113% YoY) creates near-term M&A and JV opportunities in cross-border refining and logistics before policy tightening closes the loophole.