• Record August imports: India imported an 11-month high of 17.27 lakh tonnes of edible oil in August—comprising 8.40 lakh tonnes of palm oil, 7.25 lakh tonnes of soybean oil, and 1.62 lakh tonnes of sunflower oil—to ensure ample domestic supply ahead of the festive season.
• Festival supply outlook: Total edible oil imports across August, September (~15 lakh tonnes), and October (13–14 lakh tonnes) are projected to reach 55 lakh tonnes, leaving port storage tanks completely full.
• Soybean price correction: Soybean seed prices fell from a peak of nearly ₹7,700 per quintal to ₹6,000–₹6,300 per quintal after sowing recovered to 98–99% and heavy global soybean oil inflows pushed domestic soybean oil prices ₹2 per kg below palm oil.
• Market balance expectations: Heavy supplies are keeping edible oil prices under control and pressured for consumers, while soybean seed prices are expected to stabilize between ₹6,000 and ₹6,700 per quintal as import arrivals taper before the domestic harvest hits the market in late October.