Palm Oil Import In India 2026: How Much Does India Import Palm Oil?
Key Takeaways on Palm Oil Imports in India
- Palm oil import in India reached US$5.48 billion in the first half of 2026, led by Indonesia at US$1.98 billion (36.06%) and Malaysia at US$1.90 billion (34.65%), powered by yTrade HS 1511 import records. These two origins alone supplied close to 71% of India's tracked palm oil import value.
- Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Papua New Guinea are the five largest tracked origins. Because Indonesia and Malaysia grow and refine most of the palm oil, while Singapore and Thailand act as trading and transit points, India's supply concentrates in Southeast Asia.
- Monthly value swung sharply through H1 2026, rising to a February peak of US$975.37 million at 131.4% year on year, then easing to US$668.23 million by June. On the supply side, yTrade's verified records name Singapore and UAE trading houses such as Olam, Wilmar, and SD Guthrie as the most active counterparties.
Palm oil import in India figures in this article come from yTrade HS 1511 import records for January to June 2026, covering origin-country value rankings, monthly trends, and verified supplier records.
How Much Does India Import Palm Oil in 2026?
India palm oil import value reached US$5.48 billion across the first half of 2026, from yTrade HS 1511 import records. Value climbed to a February peak of US$975.37 million, up 131.4% year on year, then eased through spring, and by June it slipped to US$668.23 million at 26.34% below the prior year:
- January: US$805.95 million (up 101.1% year on year) — a strong start as buyers rebuilt stock after a lean 2025.
- February: US$975.37 million (up 131.4%) — the half-year peak, driven by heavy early restocking.
- March: US$848.53 million (up 61.87%) — still well above the prior year as shipments stayed high.
- April: US$632.97 million (up 76.2%) — value cooled from the peak while staying above 2025 levels.
- June: US$668.23 million (down 26.34%) — the first year-on-year decline of the half, as high prices slowed buying.
| Month | Value (US$) | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| January | 805,950,000 | 101.10% |
| February | 975,370,000 | 131.40% |
| March | 848,530,000 | 61.87% |
| April | 632,970,000 | 76.20% |
| May | 687,090,000 | 4.84% |
| June | 668,230,000 | -26.34% |
Source: yTrade, HS 1511 import records, India, January–June 2026.
India is the world's largest palm oil buyer, and 2026 demand moved with prices and policy, which is central to why does India import palm oil in such volume every year. Palm oil imports in India climbed 7% month on month in August to a six-month high, and September shipments were expected to pass 800,000 tonnes, the highest in seven months, as festive demand built ahead of Diwali on 8 November. Because ocean freight from Southeast Asia takes two to four weeks, the main festive buying window runs from late August into late September.
Buying strengthened mainly because of a duty reduction, since India lowered the basic customs duty on crude palm oil from 10% to 5% effective 24 September 2026, aiming to ease edible oil prices during the festival season, reported by Fastmarkets.
Prices still climbed through the year, since crude palm oil averaged US$1,285 per tonne in September, up 10.4% year on year, and the rupee weakened about 8.1% against the US dollar, which lifted the landed cost of every tonne.
- Palm oil imports hit a six-month high in August 2026: rising 7% month on month as festive restocking began ahead of Diwali.
- Crude palm oil averaged US$1,285 per tonne in September 2026: up 10.4% year on year, which raised the cost of each shipment.
- The rupee weakened about 8.1% against the US dollar: from ₹88.32 to ₹95.51, lifting the landed cost of imported palm oil.
Read more: Palm Oil Exports By Country 2026: Top Origins By Value
India Import Palm Oil From Which Countries?
From yTrade's HS 1511 data in H1 2026, India mainly import palm oil from Indonesia, value at US$1.98 billion (36.06%), followed by Malaysia at US$1.90 billion (34.65%) and Thailand at US$648.36 million (11.82%) in H1 2026. Singapore and Papua New Guinea round out the top five tracked origins.
- Indonesia: US$1.98 billion (36.06%) — the world's largest palm oil producer and India's single biggest tracked supplier.
- Malaysia: US$1.90 billion (34.65%) — the second-largest global producer, nearly level with Indonesia in India's tracked imports.
- Thailand: US$648.36 million (11.82%) — a growing Southeast Asian producer and a regional routing point for palm oil cargoes.
- Singapore: US$391.48 million (7.14%) — a trading and transit hub where global houses book and re-route palm oil into India.
- Papua New Guinea: US$316.55 million (5.77%) — a dedicated crude palm oil producer supplying premium certified cargoes.
| # | Country of Origin | Value (US$) | Value % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indonesia | 1,977,490,000 | 36.06% |
| 2 | Malaysia | 1,900,340,000 | 34.65% |
| 3 | Thailand | 648,360,000 | 11.82% |
| 4 | Singapore | 391,480,000 | 7.14% |
| 5 | Papua New Guinea | 316,550,000 | 5.77% |
| 6 | Colombia | 94,030,000 | 1.71% |
| 7 | Ecuador | 37,880,000 | 0.69% |
| 8 | Nepal | 36,320,000 | 0.66% |
| 9 | Vietnam | 33,290,000 | 0.61% |
| 10 | Philippines | 24,270,000 | 0.44% |
Source: yTrade, HS 1511 import records by country of origin, India, January–June 2026.
A common question is why does India import palm oil at this scale, and the answer is structural, since India's own oilseed output covers only part of its edible oil demand, so it buys from the nearest large producers.
Indonesia and Malaysia dominate because they grow and refine most of the world's palm oil, and based on Kedia Advisory data via Investing.com, each shipped close to 29–30 lakh tonnes over the reporting year, while crude edible oil imports grew and refined imports eased to a 5% share as buyers brought in crude to refine at home.
Beyond the two leaders, India is widening its origin base, and the smaller tracked partners each play a different role. India has started expanding palm oil purchases from Thailand and Papua New Guinea, both producing origins, while imports from Indonesia slipped to 320,000 tonnes in July 2026 from 520,000 tonnes a year earlier. Singapore ranks fourth in the tracked data because global trading houses book and route cargoes through their Singapore desks, so it appears as an origin without growing the crop itself.
Indonesia's export policy is also reshaping how supply reaches India, Permendag No. 16/2026, centralising palm oil export permits and moving private exporters toward state channels by late 2026, with a crude palm oil export duty near US$178 per tonne. Because permit delays could slow shipment timing, Indian buyers are front-loading purchases and adding duty-adjustment clauses to contracts.
- India is expanding palm oil purchases from Thailand and Papua New Guinea: two producing origins that widen its sourcing base as it leans less on any single supplier.
- Singapore ranks fourth as a trading hub: because global houses route palm oil cargoes through their Singapore desks before the oil reaches India, even though it grows no palm itself.
- Indonesia centralised palm oil export permits under Permendag No. 16/2026: a policy that could slow shipment timing and raise supply risk for Indian buyers.
Read more: India Export Medicines To Which Countries? Verified Partners & Suppliers In Q1/2026
What Is The Import Duty On Palm Oil In India?
The palm oil import duty in India dropped sharply in late 2026, which directly affects the cost of the palm oil import in India. Reported by Fastmarkets, India lowered the basic customs duty on crude palm oil from 10% to 5% effective 24 September 2026, and on crude sunflower oil from 10% to 0%, because the government wanted to ease edible oil prices during the festival season:
- Basic customs duty on crude palm oil fell to 5%: halved from 10% on 24 September 2026 to lower festive-season prices.
- The duty cut favours crude over refined palm oil: because a lower palm oil import duty in India on crude widens the margin for refining inside the country.
- Nepal ships refined oil into India at zero duty: entering under the SAFTA trade framework, which routes some refined palmolein through the region.
Read more: India Export Beef To Which Countries?
Who Are The Major Suppliers Of Palm Oil In India?
The companies below are verified suppliers on yTrade behind the palm oil import in India, concentrated among Singapore and UAE trading houses, from yTrade's HS 1511 verified supplier records for January to June 2026. This is a verified supplier list, not a ranking of every exporter.
Those researching a list of palm oil importers in India can match these verified suppliers to their own buyers through yTrade.
- Olam Global Agri Pte Ltd (Singapore): a major global agri-trading house and one of the most active tracked palm oil suppliers.
- Wilmar Trading Pte Ltd (Singapore): the trading arm of one of the world's largest palm oil groups.
- Riya International Pte Ltd (Singapore): a Singapore trading firm with one of the cleanest verified records on the platform.
- Apical Middle East FZCO (UAE): a Dubai free-zone arm of a major palm oil refiner and trader.
- SD Guthrie International Trading Labuan Ltd (Malaysia): a Malaysian trading entity with a fully matched verified record.
| # | Verified Supplier | Country | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olam Global Agri Pte Ltd | Singapore | 🔒 Unlock yTrade Data |
| 2 | Wilmar Trading Pte Ltd | Singapore | 🔒 Unlock yTrade Data |
| 3 | Riya International Pte Ltd | Singapore | 🔒 Unlock yTrade Data |
| 4 | Apical Middle East FZCO | UAE | 🔒 Unlock yTrade Data |
| 5 | SD Guthrie International Trading Labuan Ltd | Malaysia | 🔒 Unlock yTrade Data |
Source: yTrade, HS 1511 verified supplier records, India, January–June 2026. Shipment counts available on request.
Vet any palm oil supplier before you commit, using yTrade's 5B+ shipment records and 480M+ importer profiles to confirm a counterparty's real trade history. Contact yTrade for a demo!
Conclusion
yTrade's HS 1511 import records value palm oil import in India at US$5.48 billion in the first half of 2026, with Indonesia (36.06%) and Malaysia (34.65%) supplying close to 71% of tracked value. The monthly value peaked in February then cooled by June.
With the September duty reduction to 5% on crude palm oil and Indonesia tightening its export permits, the second half points to firmer festive demand against a tighter, more policy-driven supply. For buyers, watching the crude-to-refined split and origin permits now matters as much as headline price.
FAQ
Does India produce its own palm oil?
India produces only a small amount of palm oil domestically through its National Mission on Edible Oils, so home output covers a fraction of demand. The country relies on imports for most of its supply, which keeps it the world's largest palm oil buyer by a wide margin every year.
Why does India import palm oil?
India imports palm oil because domestic oilseed output covers only part of its edible oil demand, and palm oil is the cheapest and most available vegetable oil for cooking, food processing, and industry. Home production cannot match consumption, so imports fill the shortfall every year.
What is the price of 100 kg of palm oil in India?
Import prices set the base for retail. Crude palm oil averaged about US$1,285 per tonne in September 2026, which works out to roughly US$128 for 100 kg at the landed import level, before refining, taxes, and distribution add to the final retail price paid by consumers.
How much palm oil does India import from Malaysia?
Malaysia supplied US$1.90 billion (34.65%) of India's tracked palm oil import value in H1 2026, from yTrade's HS 1511 records. That made Malaysia the second-largest origin after Indonesia, and together the two countries covered close to 71% of India's total tracked import value across the first half of 2026.
How to import palm oil from Indonesia to India?
Importing palm oil from Indonesia into India runs under HS code 1511, with a basic customs duty of 5% on crude palm oil after India's September 2026 duty cut.
yTrade contributor
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