IVPA Welcomes Reduction In Edible Oil Import Duties Ahead Of Festive Season, Writes To Members To Reduce Retail Price.

New Delhi, October 5, 2026: The Indian Vegetable Oil Producers’ Association (IVPA) has welcomed the Government’s decision to reduce customs duties on major imported edible oils, effective September 24, 2026, stating that the move will provide timely relief to consumers ahead of the festive season.

To this end, IVPA, a five-decade-old apex trade body representing India’s edible oil and oilseed value chain, has written to its members to reduce the retail prices of cooking oil in view of the festive season demand. The association has also asked its members to duly send across the retail price of edible oils every week to the government.

It may be recalled that the government through a notification dated September 23, 2026 had reduced the custom duty on edible oil w.e.f from September 24, 2026. The duty on crude palm oil and crude soybean oils were reduced by 5.5% to 11%. Similarly, the import duty on crude sunflower oil was reduced by 11% to 5.5%.

The duty rationalisation is also expected to narrow the duty arbitrage for imports through Nepal and likely moderate the surge in imports thereby creating a level playing field for domestic importers and refiners. The duty reduction, therefore, assumes significance not only from the perspective of consumer price moderation but also in ensuring greater transparency, fair competition and stability in the domestic edible oil trade.

Welcoming the move, Sudhakar Desai, President, IVPA said, “We thank the Government for this timely intervention, particularly as the country approaches the festive season, when edible oil consumption witnesses an increase. Global edible oil prices have remained under pressure from a combination of geopolitical uncertainty, weather-related issue, supply-side constraints due to the growing diversion of vegetable oils towards biofuel production. This has been adding to domestic inflationary pressures and household budgets. The reduction in import duties will provide the much-needed relief to consumers.

”Desai further added, “We have also written to our members, urging them to pass on the benefit of the duty reduction to consumers through a corresponding reduction in retail prices and to submit their retail price lists to the Government every week. This will help ensure transparency, facilitate price monitoring and make the benefit of the government’s decision reach consumers in a timely manner.

”Global edible oil prices have witnessed considerable volatility over the past 6–12 months. In India, the consumer price inflation has been continuously rising reaching 4.8% in August 2026 with prices of some edible oil rising sharply.

The association noted that the duty reduction assumes added significance ahead of the festive period, when demand for edible oils increases across households, food processing, sweets, snacks and HOECA segments. A moderation in import costs can help ease price pressures and support consumption.

IVPA also emphasised that a predictable and calibrated import duty framework is important for all stakeholders across the value chain, including farmers, consumers, refiners and the food processing industry.

About IVPA

The Indian Vegetable Oil Producers’ Association (IVPA) represents stakeholders across India’s vegetable oils sector. The Association facilitates industry dialogue, knowledge exchange and engagement on policy, trade and market issues, while fostering collaboration across the domestic and global vegetable oils ecosystem.