India's vegetable oil imports rose by 13% to 7.94 million tonnes in the first half of the 2025-26 oil year, according to the Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA). This increase was largely driven by a significant surge in palm oil shipments, which nearly doubled to 3.97 million tonnes from 2.74 million tonnes in the same period last year. In value terms, the imports surged by 19% to ₹87,000 crore (approximately $10.5 billion USD) from ₹73,000 crore a year earlier. The rise in cooking oil prices has been notable, with palm oil prices increasing by 14-15% compared to April 2025 levels, while soybean and sunflower oil prices rose between 17% and 22%. The depreciation of the Indian rupee by 9.2% against the dollar over the past year has compounded the cost concerns for importers and refiners. Additionally, vegetable oil stocks have increased to 2.12 million tonnes in May 2026, indicating improved supply availability as the year progresses.