India Soybean Oil HS1507 Import Data 2025 August Overview

India Soybean Oil (HS 1507) 2025 August Import: Key Takeaways

India's Soybean Oil imports under HS Code 1507 in August 2025 were dominated by Argentina, which supplied 60% of the value and 65% of the weight, reflecting its role as the primary bulk supplier of unrefined product. The market shows heavy reliance on Argentina and Brazil, posing supply chain risks, while minor European suppliers cater to niche refined segments. This analysis, covering August 2025, is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

India Soybean Oil (HS 1507) 2025 August Import Background

What is HS Code 1507?

HS Code 1507 covers soybean oil and its fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified. It is a key edible oil used in food processing, cooking, and industrial applications, driving stable global demand due to its versatility and affordability. India relies heavily on imports to meet domestic consumption needs, making this HS Code strategically significant for trade analysis.

Current Context and Strategic Position

In May 2025, India reduced the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on crude soybean oil to 45% under Notification No. 31/2025-Customs [DFPD], while refined fractions remain subject to additional levies. This policy shift reflects efforts to balance domestic supply and pricing dynamics amid rising imports, which surged by 95.24% in value during January-June 2025 [GTAIC]. For India Soybean Oil HS Code 1507 Import 2025 August, vigilance is critical as regulatory adjustments and global price fluctuations could reshape trade flows. India’s dependence on imports underscores the need for real-time market monitoring to navigate evolving policy and demand trends.

India Soybean Oil (HS 1507) 2025 August Import: Trend Summary

Key Observations

In August 2025, India's imports of Soybean Oil under HS Code 1507 reached an unprecedented value of 178.64 billion USD with a volume of 121.14 million kg, sharply diverging from the steady growth seen in prior months and indicating a severe price surge amid constrained supply.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The August data shows a dramatic month-over-month spike, with value soaring over 114 times from July's 1.56 billion USD, while volume plummeted by 72% to 121.14 million kg from 428.46 million kg. This anomaly disrupts the first-half 2025 trend of gradual value increases and volatile volume, typical of soybean oil's seasonal stock cycles where post-harvest replenishment often stabilizes flows. The extreme volatility suggests a supply-side shock or speculative activity, rather than sustained demand shifts, highlighting the commodity's sensitivity to short-term market disruptions.

External Context and Outlook

The import surge in early 2025, with Jan-June value up 95.24% year-over-year to 3.06 billion USD [GTAIC], was primarily driven by India's May 2025 duty reduction on crude oils per Notification No. 31/2025-Customs [DFPD]. However, the August spike aligns with no new policy changes, pointing to external factors like global price volatility or logistical bottlenecks. For India Soybean Oil HS Code 1507 Import 2025 August, the outlook remains cautious, with markets likely correcting as seasonal availability improves and policy stability under existing 45% duties [Cybex] prevails.

India Soybean Oil (HS 1507) 2025 August Import: HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In August 2025, India's import of Soybean Oil under HS Code 1507 is overwhelmingly dominated by crude oil, specifically the sub-code for "soya-bean oil and its fractions, crude, whether or not degummed, not chemically modified". According to yTrade data, this crude oil accounts for nearly 100% of the import value and about 85% of the weight, with a unit price of approximately 1.73 USD per kilogram. The significant price difference—where refined oils have higher unit prices—highlights a strong specialization in bulk, unprocessed imports for this period.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining imports are split into refined categories, such as "other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified", which represent a smaller share of the market. This structure shows a clear division between crude and refined grades, with crude oil acting as a fungible bulk commodity likely tied to global price indices, while refined products may involve more value-added processing but remain secondary in volume.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For market players in India Soybean Oil HS Code 1507 Import 2025 August, the focus should be on securing cost-effective crude oil supplies, as bulk imports dominate and may offer less pricing power due to commodity dynamics. The recent reduction in basic customs duty on crude oils, as reported by [DFPD], supports this strategy by lowering import costs and reinforcing the advantage of prioritizing crude over refined products.

Check Detailed HS 1507 Breakdown

India Soybean Oil (HS 1507) 2025 August Import: Market Concentration

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

In August 2025, India's import of Soybean Oil under HS Code 1507 was highly concentrated, with Argentina dominating as the primary supplier, accounting for 60.14% of the import value and 64.95% of the weight. The slight disparity where value ratio is lower than weight ratio suggests a lower unit price, typical for crude commodity oils, indicating that Argentina primarily supplies unrefined or bulk-grade product. This pattern underscores Argentina's role as a key source for cost-effective imports during this period.

Partner Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The supplier countries form distinct clusters: first, Argentina and Brazil together represent over 88% of the value share, driven by their large-scale agricultural production and proximity, making them natural bulk suppliers. Second, European countries like the Netherlands and Switzerland show lower weight but moderate value contributions, likely due to their role in supplying refined or processed oils for niche markets. Third, minor suppliers such as Iraq, Russia, and Nepal have sporadic entries, possibly due to transit deals or specific contractual agreements, but their impact is limited.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

For importers, relying heavily on Argentina poses supply chain risks, such as geopolitical or weather-related disruptions, urging a strategy to diversify sources like Brazil or explore crude oil imports to benefit from recent duty reductions [APEDA Agri Exchange]. The duty cut on crude soybean oil in May 2025 (APEDA Agri Exchange) makes sourcing crude grades more cost-effective, so players should prioritize long-term contracts with major suppliers while monitoring quality standards to avoid bottlenecks.

Table: India Soybean Oil (HS 1507) Top Partner Countries (Source: yTrade)

Get Complete Partner Countries Profile

India Soybean Oil (HS 1507) 2025 August Import: Action Plan for Soybean Oil Market Expansion

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

India Soybean Oil Import 2025 August under HS Code 1507 shows a commodity-driven market. Price is set by global bulk indices and crude oil quality grades. Geopolitical risks in key supplier regions also impact costs. Supply chains rely on bulk crude imports for cost efficiency. This creates high dependence on Argentina and Brazil. Recent duty cuts on crude oils support this strategy but increase competition. Buyers focus on large, infrequent shipments for major value. This structure emphasizes supply security over value-added processing.

Action Plan: Data-Driven Steps for Soybean Oil Market Execution

• Use HS Code 1507 trade data to target high-value, infrequent buyers. Secure long-term contracts with them to capture major revenue streams and reduce client acquisition costs.
• Monitor Argentina and Brazil shipment schedules and prices weekly. Diversify sources to include European refiners if crude supply faces disruptions. This ensures continuous supply and cost stability.
• Analyze buyer frequency patterns to align inventory with stock cycles. Avoid overstocking by synchronizing deliveries with high-frequency purchase timelines. This optimizes working capital and storage costs.
• Track global soybean price indices and geopolitical updates daily. Adjust procurement strategies swiftly to leverage price dips or avoid supply risks. This protects profit margins from market volatility.
• Leverage customs duty reduction data from APEDA Agri Exchange. Prioritize crude oil imports under HS Code 1507 to benefit from lower costs. This strengthens competitiveness against refined product suppliers.

Take Action Now —— Explore India Soybean Oil Import Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in India Soybean Oil Import 2025 August?

The August 2025 import surge to 178.64 billion USD (up 114x from July) reflects extreme price volatility, likely due to supply shocks or speculative activity, disrupting the earlier steady growth trend.

Q2. Who are the main partner countries in this India Soybean Oil Import 2025 August?

Argentina dominates with 60.14% of import value, followed by Brazil, as the two countries collectively supply over 88% of India’s soybean oil imports.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across India Soybean Oil Import 2025 August partner countries?

Crude soybean oil (85% of imports) averages 1.73 USD/kg, while refined grades command higher prices, explaining disparities between bulk suppliers like Argentina and niche European refiners.

Q4. What should importers in India focus on when buying Soybean Oil?

Prioritize securing crude oil contracts with Argentina/Brazil for cost efficiency but diversify sources to mitigate supply risks, given the heavy reliance on a single dominant supplier.

Q5. What does this India Soybean Oil import pattern mean for overseas suppliers?

High-volume buyers (53.99% of value) offer major revenue opportunities, but suppliers must adapt to bulk crude oil demand and competitive pricing post-duty reductions.

Q6. How is Soybean Oil typically used in this trade flow?

Imports are primarily crude oil for bulk industrial use (e.g., food processing), with minimal refined grades likely serving niche consumer or specialty markets.