SynopsisIndia's edible oil imports saw a significant rise in May, reaching nearly 13.39 lakh tonnes. This increase was primarily fueled by higher shipments of crude soyabean oil. Vegetable oil imports, including non-edible varieties, also climbed. The government's policy adjustments on palm oil tariffs appear to be encouraging crude oil imports and supporting domestic refining operations.AgenciesIndia's edible oil importsNew Delhi: India's edible oil imports rose 6.7 per cent in May to nearly 13.39 lakh tonnes mainly due to increase in shipments of crude soyabean oil, according to industry body SEA.Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA) on Friday released the May import data for vegetable oils, which comprises edible and non-edible oils.Also read: India is set to rewrite its oil destiny, moving from risk to leverageAs per the data, edible oils imports increased to 1,338,936 tonnes in May this year from 1,254,883 tonnes in the same month last year. This was driven by imports of crude soyabean oil, which rose to 4,93,854 tonnes from 3,98,585 tonnes during the period under review.Inward shipments of non-edible oils jumped over twofold to 26,202 tonnes last month from 12,040 tonnes in May 2025.As a result, India's imports of vegetable oils (edible and non-edible) during May 2026 increased 8 per cent to 13.65 lakh tonnes as compared with 12.67 lakh tonnes in May 2025, the association said.During the first seven months of the 2025-26 oil year, SEA said the total vegetable oil imports rose 12 per cent to 93.65 lakh tonnes from 83.39 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous year.Edible oil imports during November 2025-May 2026 period grew 13 per cent to 92.17 lakh tonnes, as compared with 81.31 lakh tonnes in the year-ago period. Non-edible oil shipments dropped to 1,47,710 tonnes from 2,07,505 tonnes during this time.SEA noted that the country's edible oil imports in May increased, primarily because of higher imports of crude soybean oil as the price premium of soybean oil over palm oil narrowed, improving its competitiveness.Also read: India restricts sale of high speed diesel and motor spirit from retail outletsEffective June 1, the government raised the tariff value of crude palm oil (CPO) to USD 1,218 per tonne and RBD (refined) palm oil to USD 1,222 per tonne, while slightly reducing the tariff value for crude soyabean oil."No imports of RBD Palmolein were recorded during May 2026. Cumulative imports of RBD Palmolein during November 2025-May 2026 declined sharply to 47,270 tonnes from 8,26,800 tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous year," SEA said."The decline reflects the government's policy of maintaining a higher duty differential between crude and refined oils, which has encouraged imports of crude palm oil and supported domestic refining, value addition, and employment generation," it added.During the first seven months of the current oil year, the SEA said the ratio of refined oil sharply decreased to 3 per cent from 16 per cent, while the crude oil ratio increased to 97 per cent from 84 per cent a year ago.The association pointed out that refined oils imports from Nepal continued at significant levels. Nepal enjoys nil import duty under SAFTA Agreement for export to India.Read More News on...moreless