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Import duty cut on edible oils may bring down cooking oil prices: SEA
Sep-25-2026

Edible oil industry body -- Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA) has hailed the decision to reduce import duties and said this could soften retail prices of cooking oils. According to SEA, India's edible oil import bill is estimated to rise 9 per cent to Rs 1.75 lakh crore during the current marketing year ending October on higher volumes and rupee depreciation. It described the government's decision to reduce import duty on edible oils as balanced, protecting the interest of consumers and industry. 

SEA President Sanjeev Asthana said 'The present duty adjustment needs to be viewed in the context of the approximately 25 per cent increase in international edible oil prices and a 12-15 per cent increase in domestic prices over the past year, along with the approaching festive season'. He added that the Consumer Price Index jumped to 4.8 per cent, while food inflation has risen to 5.95 per cent from 5.52 per cent a month earlier, which is also a concern for the Government.

Asthana said “The immediate objective is to moderate the burden on consumers, while retaining the duty differential between crude and refined oils, which ensures that the domestic refining industry continues to have an important role in the value chain. It is, therefore, a balanced approach addressing both consumer and industry considerations.”

The SEA said the reduction in import duty should help soften the impact of elevated global prices on Indian consumers. In fact, the association also expects the measure to have a bearing on the emerging issue of refined edible oil imports into India from Nepal under the existing bilateral trade framework. Already, during the November-August period of the 2025-26 oil year, the total vegetable oil imports rose 4 per cent to 138.8 lakh tonnes from 133.37 lakh tonnes in the year-ago period. Vegetable oil comprises edible and non-edible oils. India imports palm oil from Malaysia and Indonesia, while soyabean oil comes from Argentina and Brazil.
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