India's edible oil imports climb 3% in FY26 as Nepal duty-free shipments surge 113%
SEA data shows imports hit 166.51 lakh tonnes in FY26, up from 161.82 lakh tonnes, with Nepal accounting for 7.36 lakh tonnes under SAFTA's duty-free route. Domestic production still meets only 40% of demand, keeping India structurally import-reliant on a politically sensitive kitchen staple.
India's edible oil imports rose 3% to 166.51 lakh tonnes in FY26, driven by a 113% surge in duty-free Nepal shipments under SAFTA. SEA flagged continued import dependence as domestic output meets only 40% of demand.
Why this matters
SEA's FY26 data follows H1 oil year 2025-26 reports of a 19% jump in India's edible oil import bill to ₹87,000 crore, reinforcing growing import dependence and rising Nepal-routed inflows.
Retail-brand theme steady with 341 signals tracked over the past 90 days.