India’s total edible oil imports increase 3% in the 2025-26 fiscal year to 166.51 lakh tonnes, up from 161.82 lakh tonnes in the previous year, according to the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA). SEA attributes a significant part of the rise to a jump in duty-free shipments from Nepal under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA), which provides zero-duty access for Nepalese goods entering India.
SEA says Nepal exports 7.36 lakh tonnes of edible oils to India in FY26, more than double the 3.45 lakh tonnes shipped in the prior fiscal year, which represents an increase of 113%. The association reports that refined soybean oil accounts for most of Nepal’s exports to India. It also notes smaller quantities of sunflower oil, RBD palmolein, and rapeseed oil among Nepal’s shipments.
SEA states that the surge in duty-free imports of refined oils from Nepal substantially contributes to the overall growth in India’s edible oil imports during the year. The reports reflect SEA’s assessment and do not provide additional government or trade authority data beyond the association’s figures.
