Key takeaways: India edible oil import data Q1 2026
- Indonesia topped the list of countries supplying edible oil to India in Q1 2026, with imports valued at US$1.05 billion (22.24%). Malaysia ranked second at US$1.02 billion (21.65%), followed by Argentina at US$877.31 million (18.59%), based on TradeInt's HS 150 and 151 dataset.
- Crude palm oil leads India's edible oil basket at US$2.33 billion (49.38%) in Q1 2026, followed by crude soybean oil (US$1.17 billion, 24.89%) and crude sunflower oil (US$898.86 million, 19.05%) under HS 151110, 150710, and 151211 respectively.
- AWL Agri Business Limited (the Adani Wilmar joint venture) is the top India edible oil importer at 17.68% share, followed by Patanjali Foods (10.62%) and Gokul Agro Resources (8.99%), capturing 37.29% of buyer-side volumes combined.
India imports edible oil from which country? Top buyers in Q1/2026
India imports edible oil mainly from Indonesia, which led at US$1.05 billion, followed by Malaysia at US$1.02 billion and Argentina at US$877.31 million. Beyond Southeast Asia and South America, Black Sea producers (Russia, Ukraine) and regional partners (Thailand, Nepal, China) are also dominant India edible oil imports by country.
Top countries that India imports oil from:
- Indonesia, US$1.05 billion (22.24%). Crude palm oil dominates this lane, with refined palm olein and palm kernel fractions filling supplementary roles.
- Malaysia, US$1.02 billion (21.65%). Sits a hair behind Indonesia on palm oil supply, with crude palm kernel oil also material on this lane.
- Argentina, US$877.31 million (18.59%). The largest crude soybean oil source for India, with sunflower oil as a meaningful secondary line.
- Russia, US$667.62 million (14.15%). Now India's leading crude sunflower oil supplier, having overtaken Ukraine on the Black Sea sunflower lane.
- Thailand, US$227.55 million (4.82%). Secondary Southeast Asian palm oil source, supplying crude palm oil and crude palm kernel oil.
✔ India Import & Export Trade Data ✔ Edible Oil Imports
📊 India Palm Oil Import Partners in 2025, From TradeInt's Analysis
TradeInt's insights into India's 2024 palm oil imports show Indonesia (37% share, US$5.16 billion) and Malaysia (39% share, US$4.44 billion) holding over 84% of palm oil import value, with Thailand and Papua New Guinea filling smaller positions.
Read more: India palm oil import partners 2024-2025 analysis
Top 1 India edible oil import source - Indonesia: US$1.05 billion
Crude palm oil drove almost all of Indonesia's US$1.05 billion edible oil shipments to India in Q1 2026. Crude palm oil and its fractions (HS 151110) made up US$1.02 billion, followed by refined palm oil fractions at US$31.05 million (2.96%) and refined palm kernel oil for food grades at US$891,450, as stated by TradeInt's records.
What type of edible oil does India import from Indonesia?
- HS 151110 - Crude palm oil and fractions: US$1.02 billion (96.88%). The dominant flow, used as feedstock for India's domestic refining and cooking oil packaging industry.
- HS 151190 - Refined palm oil fractions: US$31.05 million (2.96%). Includes refined, bleached, deodorised palm oil and finished palmolein for direct food use.
- HS 151329 - Refined palm kernel/babassu oil (food grades): Specialty refined palm kernel oil for confectionery and bakery applications.
- HS 151620 - Vegetable fats (hydrogenated/refined): Partly or wholly hydrogenated vegetable fats and oils.
- HS 151800 - Animal/vegetable fats (chemically modified): Trace volume of chemically modified, boiled, oxidised, or polymerised fats.
Indonesia's role as India's leading palm oil source deepened in 2025-2026. India and Indonesia signed a three-year agreement to support food security through sustainable palm oil trade, with Indonesia committing supply volumes to India's processing sector.
Furthermore, according to Reuters citing analyst Dorab Mistry, India's edible oil imports jumped to record highs in mid-2025, driven by stronger palm oil buying as Indian refiners restocked ahead of the festive season.
Why Indonesia leads India's edible oil basket:
- Mostly crude palm oil: Indonesia ships almost entirely crude palm oil (96.88%), meaning Indian refiners handle the processing domestically rather than importing a finished product.
- Short shipping distance: The route from Indonesian ports to India's west coast takes around 7-10 days — faster than any other top-5 origin. That gives refiners more flexibility in managing stock levels.
- Quick substitute when domestic supply falls short: When India's own soybean or rapeseed production is low, Indonesian palm oil can be sourced and delivered faster than alternatives from South America or the Black Sea.
✔ India Import & Export Trade Data ✔ Edible Oil Imports
🌴 Indonesia 2025 Export Trade Statistics on TradeInt
From TradeInt's Analysis, Indonesia's 2025 exports were led by mineral fuels at US$45.11 billion (16.04%), with animal and vegetable oils (mainly palm oil) second at US$34.36 billion (12.22%). The article breaks down the full export basket.
Read more: Indonesia Export Data 2025: Top Partners, Products Analysis
Top 2 - Malaysia: US$1.02 billion
Malaysia shipped US$1.02 billion of edible oils to India during Q1 2026, with crude palm oil again dominating at US$983.18 million (96.23%). Crude palm kernel/babassu oil added US$19.52 million (1.91%), and refined palm oil fractions contributed US$12.07 million (1.18%), captured in TradeInt's dataset.
What type of edible oil does India import from Malaysia?
- HS 151110 - Crude palm oil and fractions: US$983.18 million (96.23%). The dominant Malaysia-India flow, mirroring Indonesia's product concentration.
- HS 151321 - Crude palm kernel/babassu oil: US$19.52 million (1.91%). A meaningful secondary line, supplying specialty oils for confectionery and surfactant applications.
- HS 151190 - Refined palm oil fractions: US$12.07 million (1.18%). Refined, bleached, deodorised palm oil and finished palmolein.
- HS 151329 - Refined palm kernel oil (food grades): US$5.13 million (0.50%). Specialty palm kernel for premium bakery and food applications.
- HS 151620 - Vegetable fats (hydrogenated/refined): US$1.72 million (0.17%). Partly or wholly hydrogenated vegetable fats.
As reported by UkrAgroConsult citing The Economic Times, India became the top market for Malaysian palm oil in 2024, importing 3.03 million tonnes that accounted for 17.9% of Malaysia's total palm oil exports.
Furthermore, India is now the largest buyer of Malaysian oil palm germinated seeds, supporting domestic cultivation that aims to expand from around 370,000 hectares in mid-2025 to 1 million hectares by 2025-26, with a target of 2.8 million tonnes of domestic crude palm oil by 2029-30 under India's National Edible Oils Mission.
Key drivers behind Malaysia's palm oil exports to India:
- Vertical bilateral integration: India now sources finished palm oil plus the planting stock that feeds future domestic production, a tie-up not replicated with any other origin.
- Yield gap advantage: Malaysian Palm Oil Board's new varieties produce over 30 tonnes of fresh fruit bunches per hectare per year, compared with Malaysia's national average of 15.47-16.73 tonnes during 2020-2023.
- Mixed-product basket: Unlike Indonesia's single-product concentration, Malaysia ships meaningful crude palm kernel oil volumes alongside crude palm, covering specialty oils India does not produce domestically.
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🇲🇾 Top Malaysia Export Partners & Products by TradeInt
Powered by TradeInt's Malaysia export data, the analysis reveals electrical equipment at US$135.77 billion (40.12%) as the top sector in 2025, with animal and vegetable oils fourth at US$19.52 billion (5.77%), reflecting palm oil's structural role.
Read more: Malaysia export data 2025 partners and products analysis
Top 3 - Argentina: US$877.31 million
Argentina delivered US$877.31 million of edible oils to India in Q1 2026, with crude soybean oil leading at US$798.52 million (91.02%). TradeInt's records also show crude sunflower oil at US$78.79 million (8.98%), with smaller volumes of other fixed vegetable oils completing the lane.
What type of edible oil does India import from Argentina?
- HS 150710 - Crude soybean oil: US$798.52 million (91.02%). The dominant flow, supplying Indian refiners with crude soybean oil for refining into consumer-grade cooking oil.
- HS 151211 - Crude sunflower/safflower oil: US$78.79 million (8.98%). A meaningful secondary line, reflecting Argentina's role as a multi-oilseed producer.
- HS 151590 - Other fixed vegetable fats and oils: Other specialty vegetable fats, oils, and fractions not elsewhere specified, completing Argentina's edible oil basket to India.
Argentine Ambassador to India Mariano Caucino confirmed in May 2026 at a Hyderabad diplomatic conclave that Argentina has become India's top edible oil supplier on a 2025-26 basis, with India now Argentina's sixth-largest trading partner under a strategic partnership in place since 2019.
In fact, Indian refiners shifted toward soybean oil in May 2026 as palm oil lost its traditional price advantage, lifting Argentina's share in India's edible oil intake during the period.
Key drivers behind Argentina edible oil exports to India:
- Diplomatic anchor: The 2019 strategic partnership underpins commercial supply commitments, providing a longer-term framework than ad-hoc commodity flows from other origins.
- Crude-first basket: Crude soybean oil makes up 91.02% of Argentina's land to India, leaving refining margin onshore similar to the Indonesian crude palm pattern.
- Single-origin oil diversity: Argentina supplies both crude soybean and crude sunflower oil from one country, reducing India's need to coordinate procurement across multiple South American origins.
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🛢️ Search TradeInt's India Edible Oil Past Trade Records
Find India's edible oil trade records by product, HS code, exporter, importer, or transaction date on TradeInt. Covers palm oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, and other vegetable oil shipments across the Bill of Lading database.
Access now: India edible oil historical import trade records
Top 4 - Russia: US$667.62 million
Statistics from TradeInt's Russia-India trade show that Russia is now India's leading crude sunflower oil supplier, with shipments of US$636.75 million (95.38%) under crude sunflower/safflower oil during Q1 2026. Crude soybean oil added US$30.87 million (4.62%), making sunflower oil the defining product on the Russia-India lane.
What type of edible oil does Russia export to India?
- HS 151211 - Crude sunflower/safflower oil: US$636.75 million (95.38%). The dominant flow supplies Indian refiners with crude sunflower oil for retail and food service brands.
- HS 150710 - Crude soybean oil: US$30.87 million (4.62%). A small secondary line, reflecting Russia's grain and oilseeds production beyond sunflower.
According to The Times of India, Russia has become India's top sunflower oil supplier in 2025-2026, displacing Ukraine, with Indian refiners citing supply chain reliability as the key driver behind the shift.
India's sunflower oil imports more than doubled to roughly 435,000 tonnes in April 2026, month-on-month, as refiners switched away from palm oil amid narrowing price advantages, with Russia capturing the bulk of the incremental flow.
Russia's sunflower advantage in the Indian market:
- Most product-concentrated origin: Over 95% of Russia's edible oil exports to India sit in a single product line (crude sunflower oil), more concentrated than any palm or soybean origin in the basket.
- Predictable vessel scheduling: Russian sunflower oil cargoes out of Novorossiysk and Taman have shown more consistent loading windows than Ukrainian-origin volumes during 2025-2026.
- Top growth oil in April 2026: Sunflower oil posted the largest month-on-month volume gain across all edible oil categories that month, with Russia the primary beneficiary.
Top 5 - Thailand: US$227.55 million
Thailand contributed US$227.55 million of edible oils to India in Q1 2026. Crude palm oil dominated at US$220.93 million (97.09%), with crude palm kernel/babassu oil at US$6.62 million (2.91%) and smaller specialty oils completing the lane, captured in TradeInt's quarterly records.
What type of edible oil does Thailand export to India?
- HS 151110 - Crude palm oil and fractions: US$220.93 million (97.09%). The dominant flow, supplementing Indonesia and Malaysia's palm oil into India's refining base.
- HS 151321 - Crude palm kernel/babassu oil: US$6.62 million (2.91%). A smaller specialty line, similar to Malaysia's secondary palm kernel position.
- HS 151620 - Vegetable fats (hydrogenated/refined): Partly or wholly hydrogenated, esterified, or refined vegetable fats and oils.
- HS 151550 - Sesame oil: Sesame oil and its fractions, refined or not, but not chemically modified.
Thailand fills a backup palm oil role behind Indonesia and Malaysia. India's overall palm oil imports fell sharply to around 505,000 tonnes in April 2026, the lowest level since April 2025, on weaker foodservice demand and narrowing palm price advantage, conditions that flow through to smaller Southeast Asian suppliers like Thailand alongside the larger origins.
Where Thailand stands in India's palm oil landscape:
- Cycle-filler role: Thai cargoes typically rise when Indonesian or Malaysian shipments face delays or price spikes, providing scheduling flexibility for refiners.
- Palm kernel parallel: Small crude palm kernel oil volumes support India's specialty oil buyers in confectionery and oleochemicals.
- Southeast Asian cluster anchor: Together with Indonesia (22.24%), Malaysia (21.65%), and Papua New Guinea (1.98%), Thailand completes the regional palm cluster supplying over 50% of India's edible oil basket.
India edible oil import market analysis from 2025 to 2026
India's edible oil imports peaked at US$9.56 billion in Q3 2025 (+30.09% QoQ), driven by festive season restocking before pulling back to US$7.17 billion in Q4 2025 (-24.98%). The Q1 2026 partial snapshot stands at US$4.72 billion, covering January and February.
- Q1 2025: US$6.57 billion (-18.20% QoQ). A moderate decrease in monthly shipment values softened across the basket.
- Q2 2025: US$7.35 billion (+11.83% QoQ). Recovery supported by stronger June arrivals.
- Q3 2025: US$9.56 billion (+30.09% QoQ). The strongest quarter of the year, with consistent peak performance across all months.
- Q4 2025: US$7.17 billion (-24.98% QoQ). Decline after the Q3 peak as festive inventories cleared.
- Q1 2026*: US$4.72 billion (-34.17% QoQ). Sharp drop reflects incomplete March 2026 data in the current snapshot.
On a volume basis, total edible oil imports reached approximately 1.3 million tonnes in April 2026 (+10% month-on-month), according to UkrAgroConsult.
Within that figure, the product mix shifted clearly: palm oil fell to around 505,000 tonnes (down 27% from March and the lowest since April 2025), while soybean oil rose 24% to 355,000 tonnes and sunflower oil more than doubled to roughly 435,000 tonnes.
For the full FY26, Daily Pioneer reports overall edible oil imports rose around 3%, with refiners continuing to shift toward soybean oil into May 2026 as palm oil lost its traditional price advantage.
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📈 Use TradeInt To Stay Ahead of The Market Shifts
TradeInt's market trade insights help to track shifts in edible oil demand before they affect the company's sourcing decisions — from palm oil to soybean and sunflower oil flows across key import corridors.
Explore more: TradeInt's market trade shift monitoring feature
Which edible oil is imported in India?
Crude palm oil leads India's edible oil types at US$2.33 billion in Q1 2026, followed by crude soybean oil at US$1.17 billion and crude sunflower/safflower oil at US$898.86 million, from TradeInt's HS-level dataset.
Top India edible oil imports in 2026:
- HS 151110 - Crude palm oil: US$2.33 billion (49.38%). The largest single segment is sourced primarily from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
- HS 150710 - Crude soybean oil: US$1.17 billion (24.89%). The second-largest segment is sourced mainly from Argentina and Brazil.
- HS 151211 - Crude sunflower/safflower oil: US$898.86 million (19.05%). Sourced predominantly from Russia and Ukraine across the Black Sea sunflower corridor.
- HS 150790 - Refined soybean oil: US$141.55 million (3.00%). Refined form, sourced for direct food-grade retail consumption.
- HS 151190 - Refined palm oil fractions: US$55.65 million (1.18%). Refined, bleached, deodorised palm oil and finished palmolein.
Who are the top cooking oil buyers in India?
AWL Agri Business Limited (the Adani Wilmar joint venture) is India's top edible oil buyer, with 17.68% share in Q1 2026, followed by Patanjali Foods Limited (10.62%) and Gokul Agro Resources Limited (8.99%), from the list of verified buyers from TradeInt's trade system.
- AWL Agri Business Limited: 17.68% share. The Adani Wilmar joint venture leads India's edible oils refining, packaging, and retail distribution.
- Patanjali Foods Limited: 10.62% share. Consumer goods majorly operate large-scale refining and cooking oil retail brands across India.
- Gokul Agro Resources Limited: 8.99% share. A prominent edible and industrial oil manufacturer, exporter, and refiner.
- Emami Agrotech Limited: 4.96% share. The agri-business division processes premium cooking oils and commercial bio-diesel formulations.
- Cargill India Private Limited: 3.64% share. The Indian subsidiary of the global agricultural giant is supplying refined edible oils through regional retail brands.
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📋 India's Annual Trade Summary on TradeInt
Get India's import-export annual summary on TradeInt, including top HS2 sectors covering vegetable oils, importer rankings, and three-year YoY growth, framing edible oil flows within India's broader US$717.91 billion import categories in 2024.
Access now: India trade summary on TradeInt
Conclusion
India imports edible oil from which countries?
India imported US$4.72 billion in edible oils in Q1 2026, with Indonesia leading at US$1.05 billion (22.24%), followed by Malaysia (US$1.02 billion, 21.65%) and Argentina (US$877.31 million, 18.59%). Palm oil accounts for the largest share at 49.38%, though refiners have been shifting toward soybean and sunflower oil as prices across origins shift.
Explore in detail TradeInt's global import export country data coverage.
Frequently asked questions
Is India the largest consumer of edible oil?
India is the world's largest vegetable oil buyer. Edible oil imports are projected to reach a record 17.1 million metric tons in 2025/26, according to analyst Dorab Mistry, as cited by Reuters. TradeInt's records show India's edible oil import value peaked at US$9.56 billion in Q3 2025 alone.
What is the import duty on edible oil in India?
For current import duty schedules on edible oils by product category, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) publish the official tariff information.
Does India import edible oils?
Yes. India imported US$4.72 billion of edible oils in Q1 2026 (January-February data) under HS 150 and 151, per TradeInt's records. Indonesia, Malaysia, and Argentina are the top three sources, covering palm oil, soybean oil, and sunflower oil, respectively.
Is India self-sufficient in edible oil?
No. India produces edible oils domestically through soybean, rapeseed, groundnut, and palm cultivation, but output falls well short of consumption. India's National Edible Oils Mission targets 2.8 million tonnes of domestic crude palm oil by 2029-30, while current imports already run at around 17 million metric tons annually. The gap makes India a consistent large-scale importer year-round, with no single domestic crop able to cover national demand on its own.
