Nepal duty-free refined oil inflows surge 113%, lifting India's FY26 edible oil imports 3%

India's edible oil imports rose to 166.51 lakh tonnes in FY26 from 161.82 lt, with 7.36 lt arriving duty-free from Nepal under SAFTA — a 113% jump. Domestic output covers just 40% of demand, deepening import dependence and pressuring local refiners.

— Source publishedTue, 19 May, 2026, 13:43 IST·First seen Tue, 19 May, 2026, 13:50 IST·Source The Hindu BusinessLine

What happened

Solvent Extractors' Association of India · India's edible oil imports rose 3% to 166.51 lt in FY26, driven by a 113% surge in duty-free refined oil inflows from

Key facts

  • 166.51 lt FY26 imports
  • 161.82 lt FY25
  • 3% growth
  • 7.36 lt from Nepal
  • 113% rise
  • 40% domestic share

Why this matters

The Nepal duty-free arbitrage opens M&A and JV optionality with Nepali refiners, while distressed Indian mid-tier players may surface as acquisition targets within 12 months.

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