India Sunflower Seed Oil HS1512 Import Data 2025 August Overview

India Sunflower Seed Oil (HS 1512) 2025 August Import: Key Takeaways

India’s Sunflower Seed Oil (HS Code 1512) imports in August 2025 were dominated by Russia, supplying over 53% of the value, indicating a premium refined product, while Argentina and Ukraine played secondary roles. The market shows high supplier concentration, increasing supply chain risks amid geopolitical tensions. This analysis, covering August 2025, is based on processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

India Sunflower Seed Oil (HS 1512) 2025 August Import Background

What is HS Code 1512?

HS Code 1512 covers sunflower-seed, safflower, or cotton-seed oil and their fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified. This product is a staple in food processing, cooking, and industrial applications, driving consistent global demand due to its versatility and nutritional value. India’s reliance on imports for edible oils, including sunflower seed oil, underscores its significance in the domestic market.

Current Context and Strategic Position

In May 2025, India reduced import duties on crude edible oils, including sunflower seed oil (HS Code 1512), from 20% to 10%, lowering the effective duty to 16.5% [FAS USDA]. This policy shift aims to stabilize domestic prices and reduce reliance on volatile global supply chains. As a major importer, India’s sunflower seed oil imports in 2025 remain strategically critical, requiring close monitoring of trade policies and market trends, especially in August 2025, when seasonal demand and supply dynamics often shift.

India Sunflower Seed Oil (HS 1512) 2025 August Import: Trend Summary

Key Observations

India's Sunflower Seed Oil imports under HS Code 1512 in August 2025 surged to 52.55 billion USD in value with a volume of 99.90 million kg, representing an extreme outlier compared to the subdued monthly averages earlier in the year.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The MoM comparison reveals a staggering value increase from July's 650.27 million USD, while volume dropped from 172.72 million kg, pointing to a sharp unit price escalation. This deviation breaks from the relatively stable import patterns seen from January to July 2025, where values hovered between 500 million and 1 billion USD. In the edible oil industry, such volatility often stems from stock cycle adjustments or anticipatory buying ahead of seasonal demand shifts, rather than consistent market fundamentals.

External Context and Outlook

The import duty reduction on crude edible oils from 20% to 10% in May 2025, as reported by [FAS USDA], likely fueled this August spike by incentivizing bulk purchases amid adjusted tariff structures. Moving forward, policy-driven fluctuations may persist, requiring close watch on global supply chains and domestic inventory levels for India Sunflower Seed Oil HS Code 1512 Import 2025 August trends.

India Sunflower Seed Oil (HS 1512) 2025 August Import: HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In August 2025, India's import of Sunflower Seed Oil under HS Code 1512 is overwhelmingly dominated by crude oil, according to yTrade data. The key sub-code is 15121110 for crude sunflower seed oil, which accounts for nearly all import value and quantity, with a unit price of 537.35 USD per kilogram. This high price point confirms a strong specialization in unrefined, high-value products for this period.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The imports are split into two clear groups: crude oils and other processed oils. Crude oils make up the bulk, while non-crude oils like those under 15121910 have a much lower unit price of 4.34 USD per kilogram and minimal share. This structure points to a trade focused on fungible bulk commodities, where crude oil is likely tied to global price indices, and the minor non-crude imports represent basic processed forms with little value addition.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For market players, the heavy reliance on crude oil imports under HS Code 1512 in India suggests that pricing power lies with suppliers of high-quality crude oils. This is reinforced by India's duty reduction on crude edible oils from 20% to 10% in May 2025 [USDA], which may drive increased imports of crude Sunflower Seed Oil for domestic processing, emphasizing cost efficiency over refined product imports.

Check Detailed HS 1512 Breakdown

India Sunflower Seed Oil (HS 1512) 2025 August Import: Market Concentration

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

In August 2025, India's Sunflower Seed Oil HS Code 1512 import was highly concentrated, with Russia as the dominant supplier, accounting for 53.58% of import value and 37.18% of weight. The higher value ratio compared to weight ratio suggests Russia supplies a premium, possibly refined grade of oil, with an estimated unit price around 0.76 USD per kilogram. Argentina and Ukraine follow as significant contributors, but Russia's lead is clear for India Sunflower Seed Oil Import 2025 August.

Partner Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The import partners form three clusters: first, Russia, Argentina, and Ukraine, which are major global oil producers, likely supplying bulk crude or refined oil due to their high volume and value shares. Second, Nepal shows high shipment frequency but minimal value, indicating it might handle re-exports or lower-grade oil. Third, European nations like Spain and France have negligible shares, possibly catering to niche or specialty market segments within India.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

For importers, reliance on Russia poses supply chain risks due to geopolitical tensions, urging diversification to suppliers like Argentina or Ukraine. The Indian government's duty cut on crude edible oils in May 2025 [USDA Report] may increase cost-competitiveness for crude oils, but Russia's high-value share implies continued demand for refined products, requiring careful supplier selection and monitoring of policy changes.

Table: India Sunflower Seed Oil (HS 1512) Top Partner Countries (Source: yTrade)

Get Complete Partner Countries Profile

India Sunflower Seed Oil (HS 1512) 2025 August Import: Action Plan for Sunflower Seed Oil Market Expansion

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

India's Sunflower Seed Oil import market under HS Code 1512 is defined by bulk commodity dynamics. Core price drivers are global crude oil indices, supplier quality premiums, and India’s recent import duty reduction to 10% on crude edible oils. Supply chain implications are significant: heavy reliance on crude oil imports positions India as a processing hub, but high dependence on Russia (53.58% value share) introduces geopolitical risk. The market’s concentration among high-volume buyers reinforces a bulk-trade model with limited pricing power for importers.

Action Plan: Data-Driven Steps for Sunflower Seed Oil Market Execution

• Use shipment frequency data to time bulk purchases – Align with dominant buyers’ ordering cycles to negotiate volume discounts and avoid premium pricing during peak demand.
• Diversify suppliers using value-weight ratios – Prioritize partners like Argentina or Ukraine with favorable cost structures to reduce over-reliance on Russia and mitigate supply chain disruptions.
• Monitor crude vs. refined import patterns monthly – Leverage HS Code sub-category data (e.g., 15121110 vs. 15121910) to capitalize on duty cuts for crude oils and optimize cost savings.
• Engage high-frequency, low-volume buyers with tailored offers – Target niche segments (e.g., local distributors) to diversify your buyer base and reduce vulnerability to bulk demand shifts.

Risk Mitigation and Forward Strategy

Geopolitical volatility and policy changes (e.g., further duty adjustments) require agile planning. For India Sunflower Seed Oil Import 2025 August, success hinges on balancing cost efficiency from crude oil imports with supply security through diversified sourcing. Continuously track trade data for real-time adjustments to supplier partnerships and buyer engagement strategies.

Take Action Now —— Explore India Sunflower Seed Oil Import Data

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The August 2025 surge to 52.55 billion USD in import value, despite a volume drop, reflects extreme price volatility likely tied to India's May 2025 duty cut on crude edible oils, which incentivized bulk purchases.

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

Russia dominates with 53.58% of import value, followed by Argentina and Ukraine, while Nepal and European nations play minor roles.

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

Russia’s higher value-to-weight ratio (0.76 USD/kg) suggests premium refined oil, whereas crude sunflower oil (HS 15121110) at 537.35 USD/kg drives most imports.

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

Prioritize bulk crude oil purchases (97.18% of import value) from dominant suppliers like Russia but diversify to Argentina/Ukraine to mitigate geopolitical risks.

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

Suppliers of crude oil gain pricing power due to India’s bulk-driven market, while niche refined oil exporters face limited demand outside Russia’s premium segment.

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

Imports are primarily crude oil (HS 15121110) for domestic processing, indicating a focus on cost-efficient bulk commodities over finished products.