India Sunflower-seed Oil HS1512 Import Data 2025 February Overview

India Sunflower-seed Oil (HS 1512) 2025 February Import: Key Takeaways

India's Sunflower-seed oil (HS Code 1512) Import for 2025 February shows heavy reliance on Russia, which supplies nearly half the total value at lower unit prices, alongside Switzerland for bulk crude shipments. A secondary cluster—Ukraine, Argentina, and Singapore—handles premium refined grades with fewer shipments. Buyers should secure long-term contracts with dominant suppliers like Russia to mitigate supply risks while exploring alternatives for specialty oils. This analysis, covering February 2025, is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

India Sunflower-seed Oil (HS 1512) 2025 February 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 critical edible oil used in food processing, cooking, and industrial applications, driving steady global demand due to its versatility and nutritional value. India’s reliance on imports for sunflower-seed oil underscores its importance in meeting domestic consumption needs.

Current Context and Strategic Position

In February 2025, India’s sunflower-seed oil imports under HS Code 1512 remain strategically significant, particularly from Russia, where trade reached $947.8 million, reflecting a food-security linkage [GTAIC]. Customs duties for crude sunflower-seed oil (HS 15121110) historically hover around 12.5%, with a 5% IGST rate, though no recent policy changes have been reported [Eximguru]. Given India’s dependence on imports to bridge domestic supply gaps, monitoring India Sunflower-seed oil HS Code 1512 Import 2025 February trends is essential for price stability and trade planning.

India Sunflower-seed Oil (HS 1512) 2025 February Import: Trend Summary

Key Observations

In February 2025, India's imports of sunflower-seed oil under HS Code 1512 totaled 934.97 million USD in value with a volume of 104.35 million kg, showing a noticeable decrease from the previous month.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The month-over-month value decline of approximately 8.3% from January's 1.02 billion USD reflects typical seasonal adjustments in agricultural commodity imports, where post-harvest inventory cycles often lead to reduced purchasing activity. Volume data for January is unavailable, limiting direct comparison, but the February figures align with industry patterns of moderated import flows during this period, influenced by domestic stock replenishment rhythms and global price stability.

External Context and Outlook

This trend is contextualized by India's strong trade relationship with key suppliers like Russia, where [GTAIC] reports sunflower oil imports reached $947.8 million recently, underscoring ongoing food security linkages. With customs duties remaining unchanged per other sources, the outlook for India Sunflower-seed oil HS Code 1512 Import 2025 February remains steady, driven by consistent demand and stable policy frameworks.

India Sunflower-seed Oil (HS 1512) 2025 February Import: HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data, India's import of Sunflower-seed oil under HS Code 1512 in February 2025 is heavily concentrated in crude oil, specifically HS Code 15121110 for crude sunflower seed oil, which holds over 98% of the import value. This crude oil commands a unit price of 9.11 USD per kilogram, nearly double the 4.69 USD per kilogram for other forms, highlighting a clear specialization in higher-value crude grades.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining sub-codes fall into two groups: crude oil (15121110) and refined or processed oil (15121910). This split indicates a market structure centered on bulk commodity trading, with crude oil as the dominant fungible product tied to global indices, while refined oil represents a smaller, potentially value-added segment with lower pricing.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

India's import reliance on crude sunflower seed oil suggests limited pricing power for buyers, with suppliers likely influencing terms. The trade context, including significant imports from key partners like Russia [GTAIC], emphasizes strategic dependencies on external sources for supply stability, urging focus on diversified sourcing or domestic capacity to mitigate risks.

Check Detailed HS 1512 Breakdown

India Sunflower-seed Oil (HS 1512) 2025 February Import: Market Concentration

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

India's Sunflower-seed oil HS Code 1512 Import for 2025 February is heavily concentrated, with Russia supplying nearly half the total value. Russia's 50.54% value share against its 19.25% weight share points to a lower unit price, confirming its role as the primary source for large volumes of crude oil.

Partner Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

Two clear supplier groups emerge. The first includes Russia and Switzerland, which together handle over two-thirds of the import value through high-volume shipments; Switzerland's 48.12% weight share for just 16.46% value suggests it specializes in even lower-priced bulk cargoes. A second cluster—Ukraine, Argentina, and Singapore—shows high value from low shipment frequency, indicating premium deals for refined or specialty oil grades. A third group like Nepal represents small, frequent cross-border trade of minor volumes.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Buyers should lock in long-term contracts with Russian and Swiss suppliers for cost-effective crude oil, given their market dominance and price advantage. For higher-grade needs, Ukraine and Argentina offer alternatives but require careful logistics planning due to fewer shipments. India's reliance on Russia for this commodity is a noted food-security link [GTAIC], so diversifying sources could mitigate supply risks from any single region.

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

Get Complete Partner Countries Profile

India Sunflower-seed Oil (HS 1512) 2025 February Import: Action Plan for Sunflower-seed Oil Market Expansion

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

India's Sunflower-seed oil Import under HS Code 1512 in February 2025 is defined by a high concentration in crude oil grades. Price is driven by quality specialization and geopolitical risks from heavy reliance on key suppliers like Russia. Supply chain implications include vulnerability to disruptions and a pressing need for diversified sourcing to ensure food security. This market structure emphasizes India's role as a bulk processor dependent on external crude oil flows.

Action Plan: Data-Driven Steps for Sunflower-seed oil Market Execution

• Use trade data to identify and secure contracts with high-volume, frequent buyers. This ensures stable revenue by targeting the dominant client segment that drives 89.59% of import value.
• Analyze supplier geographic data to diversify sources beyond Russia, such as engaging Ukraine or Argentina for refined oil. This reduces geopolitical risks and stabilizes supply chains.
• Monitor HS Code 1512 sub-categories to prioritize crude oil trades where unit prices are higher. This maximizes profit margins by focusing on the high-value product specialization.
• Implement inventory planning based on shipment frequency data to align stock levels with buyer cycles. This prevents overstock and optimizes storage costs.
• Leverage buyer cluster data to engage smaller, regular buyers for incremental growth. This diversifies the client base and mitigates dependency on a few major players.

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 February?

India's sunflower-seed oil imports fell 8.3% in value to $934.97 million, reflecting typical seasonal adjustments in agricultural commodity trade. The decline aligns with post-harvest inventory cycles and moderated demand.

Q2. Who are the main partner countries in this India Sunflower-seed oil Import 2025 February?

Russia dominates with 50.54% of import value, followed by Switzerland (16.46%) and Ukraine. These three account for over two-thirds of total shipments.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across India Sunflower-seed oil Import 2025 February partner countries?

Crude sunflower-seed oil (HS 15121110) commands $9.11/kg, nearly double refined grades, driving Russia’s lower unit price due to bulk crude shipments. Switzerland’s even lower prices reflect high-volume, low-value cargoes.

Q4. What should importers in India focus on when buying Sunflower-seed oil?

Prioritize long-term contracts with Russian and Swiss suppliers for cost-effective crude oil, while diversifying to Ukraine/Argentina for refined grades. Major buyers control 89.59% of trade, so securing these relationships is critical.

Q5. What does this India Sunflower-seed oil import pattern mean for overseas suppliers?

Suppliers must focus on high-volume buyers (84.56% of quantity) to maintain market share. Russia’s dominance offers stability, but niche refiners provide secondary opportunities with smaller, frequent orders.

Q6. How is Sunflower-seed oil typically used in this trade flow?

India primarily imports crude sunflower-seed oil (98% share) for bulk commodity trading, tied to global indices. Refined oil is a smaller segment, likely for value-added food processing.