India Cuts Sunflower Oil Purchases: Ukrainian Exports Have Stopped

According to forecasts by Oil World experts, sunflower oil supplies during this period will amount to only 0.5–0.6 million tonnes, which is 0.25 million tonnes less than in the same period last year, APK-Inform reports.

It is noted that the main reason for the decline in sunflower oil supplies remains the recent russian attacks on merchant vessels and damage to port infrastructure in the Black Sea. Supplies from Ukraine to India virtually came to a halt in June–September. Against this backdrop, Indian importers have been forced to replace the shortfall in sunflower oil volumes with soybean oil.

India’s sunflower oil imports in September–October this year are estimated at only 200–300 thousand tonnes. In particular, sunflower oil supplies from Argentina fell to 70–80 thousand tonnes last month. At the same time, significant volumes of supplies from Bulgaria are expected in the coming months — around 140–170 thousand tonnes in August–November 2026.

Meanwhile, India’s palm oil imports in the current quarter could reach 2.4 million tonnes, which would be the highest level for October–December in the past four years and around 0.6 million tonnes above the level recorded in October–December last year. Palm oil purchases increased after import duties were reduced on 24 September. Additional demand is being supported by substantial stocks in Malaysia and improved price competitiveness of palm oil compared with soybean and sunflower oil for the nearest supply regions.

Soybean oil imports are also likely to remain above last year’s level in October–December, at around 1.53 million tonnes. At the same time, their potential will be limited by a seasonal decline in soybean production in South America.