India emerges as key market for Argentine vegetable oil exports

India has consolidated its position as the world’s leading importer of Argentine vegetable oils, according to information shared by the Argentine Oilseed Industry Chamber (CIARA) and the Center of Grain Exporters (CEC) on their social media channels.

India meets a large share of its domestic demand for vegetable oils through imports, which are used mainly for human consumption and basic industrial applications. This reliance on foreign supply reflects the pace of growth in domestic consumption, which continues to outstrip the country’s local production capacity.

Official statistics show that India imported more than 14 million tonnes of crude vegetable oils and related products in 2021, with a total value of around US$17.4 billion, placing the country among the most important global markets for the segment. Within this volume, crude soybean oil and crude sunflower oil accounted for a significant share, with major shipments originating from Argentina, Brazil, Russia and Ukraine.

For Argentina, the Indian market represents a strategic opportunity. CIARA-CEC notes that India’s sustained demand supports growth prospects for Argentine soybean and sunflower oil exports, two of the main byproducts of the country’s oilseed complex, in which Argentina holds a prominent position globally.

According to import data published by CIARA-CEC on the social media platform X, Argentina was India’s largest supplier of edible oils in 2025, shipping a total of 3.53 million tonnes between January and December. Crude soybean oil accounted for the bulk of the volume, at 2.88 million tonnes, followed by 0.65 million tonnes of crude sunflower oil.

While Argentina’s vegetable oil exports are largely shipped in bulk, a portion of these volumes is transported in containers, particularly products that undergo additional refining. The chart below shows Argentina’s monthly soybean oil shipments in containers, measured in TEUs. The data is sourced from Datamar.

Argentina Soybean Oil Exports | Jan 2022 – Nov 2025 | TEUs

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This performance placed Argentina ahead of other major suppliers such as Indonesia and Malaysia, which mainly export palm oil, and reinforced the country’s position as the leading source of soybean and sunflower oils imported by India in 2025.

Indian demand for vegetable oils is expected to continue growing, supported by demographic trends, consumption patterns and structural changes in the domestic market. Available data indicate that India is likely to remain a priority destination for Argentine vegetable oil exports in the coming years.

Source: DataPortuaria Argentina 

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