Key facts
- India imported US$17,333 million of edible oils in FY2024-25 (outlookbusiness.com).
- Sourced from 5 origin countries: ID, MY, AR, BR, RU.
- Certifications available from the supply base: FSSAI licence, HACCP, ISO 22000, Halal certificate.
- Typical minimum order: Bulk parcels of ~500–5,000 t; flexitanks from one container (typical).
Product overview
India is the world's largest edible-oil importer. DGFT's 'Vegetable oil' group rose to US$19.49 bn in FY2025-26 (+12.4%, tier 1). In oil-year 2024-25, imports were about 16 Mt: palm 7.58 Mt, soybean a record 5.47 Mt and sunflower 2.9 Mt (SEA via press, research file).
Crude oils arrive mostly in bulk tankers at Kandla, Mundra, Kakinada, Haldia and Chennai and go to integrated refiners, vanaspati makers and large FMCG groups. Smaller lots in flexitanks serve mid-size refiners.
The research file rates this 2/5 for a trading house: it is dominated by integrated refiners, and a non-refining trader is a price-taker exposed to fortnightly tariff-value changes and frequent duty moves. Workable roles are indent/brokerage, high-seas sales and flexitank supply to regional refiners.
HS note: Crude soybean oil is 1507.10; crude sunflower oil 1512.11; refined palmolein 1511.90. Crude and refined oils carry different duties.
Specifications
| Free fatty acid (CPO) | ≤ 5% (typical contract basis) |
|---|---|
| Moisture & impurities | ≤ 0.5% (typical) |
| DOBI (CPO) | ≥ ~2.3 (typical) |
| Contract terms | PORAM / MPOB terms for palm; FOSFA contracts for soy and sunflower (typical) |
| Food standards | Must meet FSS standards for the oil category after refining |
Typical commercial values. Final specifications are fixed per contract and verified by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Grades & variants
Crude palm oil (CPO)
For physical refining in India.
Crude degummed soybean oil (CDSO)
For refining; premium to palm.
Crude sunflower oil
For refining; Black Sea origin.
Packaging, MOQ & container loading
| Packing | Sizes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk tanker | Parcel tankers, typically several thousand tonnes per parcel (typical) | Shore tanks at Indian ports |
| Flexitank | ~20–24 kL per 20' container (typical) | For mid-size refiners |
Container load (estimate): 20' GP ~20–22 t in a flexitank (typical) · 40' HC Not used for flexitanks. Most volume moves in bulk tankers
Customisation: Parcel sizes, port split, high-seas sale arrangements
Where Indian buyers are
Main Indian demand centres we distribute to.
Gujarat
Gandhidham/Kandla, Mundra, Rajkot
Largest edible-oil port and refining cluster
Andhra Pradesh
Kakinada
East-coast refining hub
West Bengal
Haldia, Kolkata
East-India refiners and vanaspati
Maharashtra
Mumbai, Nagpur
Refiners and FMCG
Tamil Nadu
Chennai, Tuticorin
South-India refiners
Sourcing origins
ID
Dumai, Belawan (Medan), Kumai
Largest crude palm oil supplier; export levies and policies in Indonesia affect price.
MY
Port Klang, Pasir Gudang (Johor), Lahad Datu
Second palm source; also refined palmolein.
AR
Rosario, San Lorenzo
Leading crude soybean oil supplier.
BR
Paranaguá, Rio Grande
Crude soybean oil.
RU
Novorossiysk, Taman
Crude sunflower oil; Ukraine (Odesa region) also supplies when shipping is open.
Origin market notes
Southeast Asia
Indonesia and Malaysia supply palm; Indonesia's export levies and biodiesel mandates move prices. Transit to Indian ports is about 1–2 weeks (ASSUMPTION).
Other markets
Argentina and Brazil supply soybean oil (~4–6 weeks transit, ASSUMPTION); Russia (and Ukraine when routes allow) supplies sunflower oil via the Black Sea — sanctions screening and war-risk insurance apply.
General guidance, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with your customs broker or the regulator.
Trade policy note
As of 2026-11: Notification 31/2026-Customs (23 Sep 2026, effective 24 Sep) cut BCD on crude palm and crude soybean oil from 10% to 5% and on crude sunflower oil to nil; refined palm/soy to 27.5% and refined sunflower to 22.5% (trade-press reports of the notification; one report puts effective duty at ~11% for crude palm/soy). Duty is charged on tariff values revised fortnightly (e.g. Notification 86/2026-Customs (N.T.), 15 Oct 2026). FSSAI FICS clearance applies. Sources: https://worldtradescanner.com/Ntfn%2031-Cus-23.09.2026.htm; https://www.gktoday.in/india-cuts-import-duty-on-palm-and-soybean-oils/; https://globaltradealert.org/state-act/101199-india-changes-to-import-tariff-values-on-certain-products-15-october-2026.
Quality control
- • Independent surveyor at load and discharge (quality and quantity)
- • FFA, M&I and DOBI analysis
- • FSSAI sampling at import
- • Tank cleanliness certificates
Certifications available
- • FSSAI licence
- • HACCP
- • ISO 22000
- • Halal certificate
Held by the producing supplier for the specific lot; copies shared with the quote.
Shipping documents
- • Commercial invoice
- • Bill of lading
- • Certificate of origin
- • Quality and quantity survey reports
- • FSSAI import NOC (via FICS)
- • Health/phytosanitary certificate as required
Trade data
| Period | Flow | Value (USD mn) | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024-25 | India importsLine: Edible oils (palm, soy, sunflower) | 17,333 | verified | outlookbusiness.com |
DGFT 'Vegetable oil' FY25 17,333 -> FY26 19,488 (+12.4%); SEA oil-year 2024-25: ~16 Mt, Rs 1.61 lakh cr (~USD 18.3 bn), palm 7.58 Mt, soy 5.47 Mt
Import routes
Frequently asked questions
What is the import duty on crude palm oil in India?
From 24 September 2026, basic customs duty on crude palm and crude soybean oil is 5% and on crude sunflower oil nil, under Notification 31/2026-Customs as reported; refined oils carry 22.5–27.5%. Duty is calculated on government tariff values revised fortnightly.
What is a tariff value for edible oils?
CBIC fixes a notional value per tonne, usually revised every fortnight, on which customs duty is calculated instead of the invoice value.
Which countries supply edible oil to India?
Indonesia and Malaysia for palm oil, Argentina and Brazil for soybean oil, and Russia and Ukraine for sunflower oil.
Can a small importer bring edible oil in containers?
Yes, using flexitanks of about 20–24 kL in 20' containers, typically for mid-size refiners; most volume moves in bulk tankers.
What approvals are needed to import edible oil?
An IEC, an FSSAI Central licence and FSSAI clearance on FICS for each consignment. The oil must meet FSS standards after refining.
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