India Palm Oil Import Market -- HS 1511 Trade Data & Price Trend (Q2 2025)

India Palm Oil Import (HS 1511) Key Takeaways

India’s palm oil imports under HS Code 1511 surged in Q2 2025, with crude palm oil dominating 80% of trade by value, reflecting a bulk commodity market vulnerable to global price swings. Supplier concentration is high, with top traders handling 95% of imports, while Indonesia and Malaysia supply nearly 70% of volumes, exposing supply chains to regional risks. This analysis, covering Q2 2025, is based on cleanly processed customs data from the yTrade database.

India Palm Oil Import (HS 1511) Background

What is HS Code 1511?

HS Code 1511 covers palm oil and its fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified. This includes crude palm oil, refined palm oil, and palm olein, which are widely used in food processing, cosmetics, and biofuels. India's demand for these products remains high due to their affordability and versatility in industrial and consumer applications.

Current Context and Strategic Position

India's palm oil import policy under HS Code 1511 remains unrestricted, with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) extending the "free import" regime for refined palm oil (15119010, 15119020, 15119090) beyond 2022 to stabilize domestic supply and curb inflation [EximGuru]. As the world's top vegetable oil importer, India relies heavily on these imports to meet demand, making HS Code 1511 trade data critical for tracking supply chain risks and price trends. With no recent policy changes as of Q2 2025, market participants must monitor global price fluctuations and domestic stock levels to anticipate shifts in import dynamics.

India Palm Oil Import (HS 1511) Price Trend

Key Observations

India's palm oil imports under HS code 1511 surged in Q2 2025, reaching $2.19 billion in June alone. This represents a 137% quarter-on-quarter increase from Q1's $1.24 billion average, driven by both higher volumes and rising unit prices. The India Palm oil Import trend shows accelerated buying activity throughout the quarter, with June volumes hitting 590.25 million kg.

Price and Volume Dynamics

Import values climbed steadily from April ($925.72 million) through June ($2.19 billion), with May serving as a pivotal month where values nearly doubled month-on-month. This sequential growth coincided with rising unit prices, which increased from $3.19/kg in April to $3.71/kg by June

• suggesting tightening global supplies or currency effects alongside robust demand. The hs code 1511 value trend reflects typical inventory building patterns ahead of India's festival season, with importers capitalizing on favorable policy conditions to secure supplies.

External Context and Outlook

The sustained import growth aligns directly with India's extended free import policy for refined palm oil products [EximGuru], which remains in effect "until further orders" according to DGFT notifications. This policy continuity has effectively removed licensing barriers for HS codes 15119010, 15119020 and 15119090, encouraging consistent import flows despite global price pressures. With no announced changes to this framework, imports will likely remain elevated through 2025 as India prioritizes edible oil availability and price stability.

India Palm Oil Import (HS 1511) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data for 2025 Q2, India's import of HS Code 1511 is dominated by crude palm oil under sub-code 15111000, which accounts for over 80% of the value and nearly 78% of the weight. This crude oil has a unit price of 3.53 USD per kilogram, establishing it as the bulk commodity driver. A high-priced anomaly is present in sub-code 15119090, with a unit price of 11.88 USD per kilogram, but it represents less than 0.1% of the value and is isolated from the main analysis due to its insignificant volume.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining imports are split into refined palm oil categories: RBD palm olein (15119020) and other refined fractions (15119030 and 15119010), with unit prices ranging from 2.11 to 3.52 USD per kilogram. This structure confirms a trade in fungible bulk commodities, where products are largely undifferentiated and price-sensitive, linked to global market indices rather than brand or unique processing.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For market players, the heavy reliance on crude palm oil imports under HS Code 1511 suggests limited pricing power for buyers, as they are exposed to volatile commodity markets. The free import policy for refined oils, as noted in SP Global, supports strategic diversification into higher-value products to mitigate risks. Analyzing HS Code 1511 trade data highlights opportunities for cost management through blended sourcing strategies.

Check Detailed HS Code 1511 Breakdown

India Palm Oil Import (HS 1511) Origin Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

In Q2 2025, Indonesia is the top origin for India's Palm oil imports, holding 38.57% of the value share and 39.29% of the weight share. The nearly equal value and weight ratios show balanced trade in both crude and refined Palm oil under HS Code 1511. Malaysia follows with 29.91% value and 28.72% weight shares, reinforcing Southeast Asia's dominance. Frequency shares align closely, indicating steady, large-volume shipments without significant fragmentation.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The origins split into two main clusters based on share profiles. Indonesia and Malaysia form the volume hub cluster, with high weight and value shares due to their role as major Palm oil producers. Thailand and Papua New Guinea make up a secondary cluster; Thailand's value share (23.25%) slightly exceeds its weight share (24.25%), hinting at more refined product exports, while Papua New Guinea shows a similar trend. Other countries have minimal shares, reflecting minor or niche supply roles in India's Palm oil market.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

India's free import policy for refined Palm oil, extended beyond 2022 [EximGuru], ensures continued access from Indonesia and Malaysia. However, heavy reliance on these two origins risks supply chain disruptions from geopolitical or environmental factors. Diversifying sourcing to include Thailand could enhance stability, supported by its capacity for higher-value Palm oil products. Monitoring trade data for HS Code 1511 will help manage these dependencies effectively.

Table: India Palm Oil (HS 1511) Top Origin Countries (Source: yTrade)

Get Complete Origin Countries Profile

India Palm Oil (HS 1511) Suppliers Analysis

Supplier Concentration and Dominance

In the 2025 Q2 period, the India Palm oil import suppliers market is highly concentrated, with a small group of key players dominating trade. According to yTrade data, suppliers with high value and high frequency shipments account for 94.64% of the total import value, handling 86.97% of all transactions. This shows that the typical trade involves large, regular shipments from a core set of reliable partners, ensuring steady supply flow into India.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

Beyond the dominant group, other clusters include occasional high-value shippers and frequent low-value contributors, but they play minor roles. The profile of HS code 1511 suppliers in the dominant cluster, such as SUNFIELD GLOBAL PTE LTD and INTER CONTINENTAL OILS & FATS P LTD, indicates an intermediated market where trading companies facilitate bulk commodity movements. This structure points to a reliance on established agents for efficient distribution.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

For importers in India, this supplier setup suggests a strategic focus on maintaining relationships with high-volume traders to secure consistent palm oil supplies. The low risk from policy changes is supported by the free import policy extended until further orders, as noted in [EximGuru], reducing vulnerability and encouraging stable sourcing models without licensing hurdles.

Table: India Palm Oil (HS 1511) Top Suppliers List (Source: yTrade)

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Action Plan for Palm Oil Market Operation and Expansion

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

India's Palm oil import market is fundamentally a bulk commodity trade. Its price is driven by volatile global indices and concentrated supply from Indonesia and Malaysia. This creates significant geopolitical and environmental risks for the Palm oil supply chain. The market structure, confirmed by hs code 1511 trade data, shows heavy reliance on a few high-volume suppliers. This limits buyer pricing power and exposes the entire India Palm oil Import operation to supply shocks. The free import policy for refined oils offers a strategic lever for risk mitigation through product diversification.

Action Plan: Data-Driven Steps for Palm oil Market Execution and Expansion

• Diversify your supplier base beyond Indonesia and Malaysia using hs code 1511 trade data. Track and identify reliable, high-frequency suppliers from alternative origins like Thailand to mitigate geopolitical and supply disruption risks.
• Shift a portion of your sourcing to higher-value refined palm oil products. Leverage the free import policy to improve margins and reduce exposure to the most volatile crude palm oil price swings.
• Monitor real-time hs code 1511 trade data for price and shipment frequency anomalies. This allows for dynamic procurement, helping you buy crude palm oil at optimal points in the commodity cycle and manage inventory costs.
• Build direct relationships with the dominant high-value suppliers identified in the data. Secure preferential terms and ensure supply consistency, strengthening your position within the Palm oil supply chain.

Take Action Now —— Explore India Palm oil Import Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in India Palm oil Import 2025 Q2?

India's palm oil imports surged 137% quarter-on-quarter in Q2 2025, reaching $2.19 billion in June alone, driven by higher volumes and rising unit prices. This reflects inventory building ahead of India's festival season, supported by the free import policy for refined palm oil.

Q2. Who are the main origin countries of India Palm oil (HS Code 1511) 2025 Q2?

Indonesia (38.57% value share) and Malaysia (29.91% value share) dominate India's palm oil imports, followed by Thailand (23.25%). These three countries account for over 90% of total imports.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across origin countries of India Palm oil Import?

Price differences stem from product grades: crude palm oil (15111000) averages $3.53/kg, while refined variants like RBD palm olein (15119020) range from $2.11–$3.52/kg. Thailand’s higher value-to-weight ratio suggests more refined exports.

Q4. What should importers in India focus on when buying Palm oil?

Importers should prioritize relationships with high-volume traders like SUNFIELD GLOBAL PTE LTD to ensure steady supply, while diversifying sourcing to Thailand for refined products to mitigate overreliance on Indonesia and Malaysia.

Q5. What does this India Palm oil import pattern mean for overseas suppliers?

Suppliers in Indonesia and Malaysia benefit from stable, large-volume demand, but Thailand’s growing role offers opportunities for higher-value refined palm oil exports. Trading companies remain critical intermediaries for bulk shipments.

Q6. How is Palm oil typically used in this trade flow?

Palm oil imports are primarily fungible bulk commodities, with crude palm oil (80% of value) used for edible oil production and refined variants like RBD olein for food processing and industrial applications.

Detailed Monthly Report

India HS1511 Import Snapshot 2025 APR

India HS1511 Import Snapshot 2025 MAY

India HS1511 Import Snapshot 2025 JUN