In March 2026, India's edible oil imports reached 11.73 lakh tonne, marking a 12% increase from the previous year, primarily due to a significant rise in crude palm oil shipments, which totaled 6.73 lakh tonne. The Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA) noted that while imports surged, future shipments may face challenges due to elevated global prices and high freight costs, exacerbated by ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly in West Asia and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The association highlighted that India meets more than half of its domestic edible oil demand through imports, with palm oil sourced mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia, and soybean oil from Argentina and Brazil. The first five months of the 2025-26 marketing year saw total vegetable oil imports increase by 8%, reaching 65.72 lakh tonne. However, the SEA cautioned that unless global prices soften, imports could remain subdued in the short term. The recent month-on-month decline in imports indicates a demand correction influenced by high international prices and domestic availability from local mustard crops.