India Sunflower Seed Oil HS1512 Import Data 2025 January Overview

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

India's January 2025 Sunflower Seed Oil imports (HS Code 1512) reveal a high reliance on Russia, which supplied 72.5% of the value at premium prices, while Ukraine offered lower-cost alternatives. The market shows tight buyer concentration, increasing supply chain risks, and geopolitical volatility could disrupt flows. Russia's dominance suggests a preference for higher-grade oil, though importers should diversify sources like Argentina to mitigate dependency. This analysis is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database for January 2025.

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

What is HS Code 1512?

HS Code 1512 covers sunflower-seed, safflower, or cotton-seed oil and their fractions, whether refined or not, but not chemically modified. These oils are critical for food processing, cooking, and industrial applications, driving stable global demand due to their versatility and nutritional value. India’s reliance on imports for edible oils underscores its significance in this trade flow.

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% to curb inflation and boost domestic refining [FAS USDA]. This policy shift highlights India’s strategic reliance on imports to meet domestic demand, making January 2025 a critical period to monitor trade adjustments and pricing trends. Vigilance is essential to navigate the evolving market dynamics for India Sunflower Seed Oil HS Code 1512 Import 2025.

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

Key Observations

India's Sunflower Seed Oil imports under HS Code 1512 opened 2025 with a value of $1.02 billion in January. No corresponding volume data was reported for the month, indicating potential reporting lags or data collection issues common in bulk agricultural trade.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The January 2025 import value shows minimal movement from the previous month's level. This flat trend aligns with typical post-holiday patterns in edible oil imports, where activity often slows after December's peak demand season. The absence of significant volume data makes precise price-per-kg calculations impossible, but the stable value suggests consistent pricing despite the seasonal lull. Year-over-year comparisons aren't possible with the available dataset.

External Context and Outlook

Looking beyond January, India's edible oil import landscape faces significant changes. [The USDA reported] that India implemented a major duty reduction in May 2025, cutting import taxes on crude sunflower oil from 20% to 10%. This policy shift will likely boost import volumes in subsequent months as refiners capitalize on lower costs. The outlook for India Sunflower Seed Oil HS Code 1512 Import 2025 will depend on both this policy change and traditional factors like monsoon progress and global price movements.

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

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data, India's January 2025 imports of sunflower seed oil under HS Code 1512 were heavily dominated by crude oil, specifically the sub-code for crude sunflower seed oil not chemically modified, which held a 98% value share and 90% weight share. This crude oil shows an implied unit price of approximately 9.44 USD per kilogram, far exceeding other grades, highlighting a strong specialization in high-value crude imports for the period. An anomaly is present where refined oils exhibit lower unit prices, which has been isolated from the main analysis due to potential data inconsistencies.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The non-anomalous imports are categorized into crude oils and refined or processed oils, with the latter, such as sub-codes for oils other than crude, demonstrating significantly lower unit prices around 1.50 USD per kilogram. This structure indicates a trade in fungible bulk commodities, where crude oil serves as the primary import driven by volume and value, while refined products occupy a niche, possibly due to domestic refining capacity or import policies.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For market players, the concentration in crude oil under India Sunflower Seed Oil HS Code 1512 Import for January 2025 suggests suppliers hold pricing power for crude grades, emphasizing the need to focus on crude supply chains. A future shift may occur with the Indian government's duty reduction on crude edible oils in May 2025 [USDA], which could increase import competitiveness but pressure margins for refined products.

Check Detailed HS 1512 Breakdown

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

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

In January 2025, India's import of Sunflower Seed Oil under HS Code 1512 was highly concentrated, with Russia dominating as the primary supplier. Russia accounted for 72.50% of the import value but only 57.94% of the weight, indicating a higher unit price of approximately 10.73 USD per kilogram compared to other sources. This disparity suggests Russia may be supplying a premium-grade commodity, while other countries like Ukraine offer lower-priced options.

Partner Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The import partners form three clear clusters: Russia and Ukraine together represent over 95% of the value, likely due to their large-scale production and established trade routes with India. Argentina is a smaller but steady supplier, possibly due to its role as a global oil producer. Nepal shows high shipment frequency but low value, which could indicate re-exports or small-scale trade across borders, rather than direct bulk supply.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

For importers, heavy reliance on Russia and Ukraine poses supply chain risks, such as geopolitical instability affecting availability. Diversifying sources to include countries like Argentina could mitigate this. Monitoring unit price differences will help in sourcing cost-effective grades, and staying informed on trade policies, like potential duty changes, is crucial for future planning.

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

Get Complete Partner Countries Profile

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

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

India's Sunflower Seed Oil import market under HS Code 1512 for January 2025 is defined by high concentration and commodity-driven dynamics. Price is primarily driven by crude oil grade quality and geopolitical risks in key supply regions, particularly Russia and Ukraine. The market's heavy reliance on bulk, high-frequency buyers and a few dominant suppliers creates significant supply chain vulnerability. This structure implies a focus on securing consistent crude oil volumes for domestic processing, with margins sensitive to global price fluctuations and trade policy shifts.

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

• Use shipment frequency data to identify and engage the dominant bulk buyers under HS Code 1512, securing long-term contracts to ensure stable revenue and reduce demand volatility risks.
• Monitor real-time unit prices from Russia and Ukraine to compare cost differentials, enabling strategic sourcing shifts to optimize purchase costs without compromising on crude oil quality.
• Track buyer clusters with low frequency but high value under India Sunflower Seed Oil Import 2025 January data, targeting them for opportunistic bulk sales to diversify your customer base and reduce dependency on a few players.
• Analyze trade policy updates, like the upcoming duty reduction on crude oils, to adjust pricing strategies promptly and capitalize on increased import competitiveness for market share growth.

Forward-Looking Plan: Adapting to Market Shifts

India's import landscape for HS Code 1512 is poised for change with the May 2025 duty cut on crude edible oils. This will likely boost crude oil imports but pressure refined product margins. Prioritize building relationships with alternative suppliers in regions like Argentina to mitigate geopolitical risks. Focus on cost-efficient crude sourcing to leverage domestic refining capacity, ensuring readiness for increased demand while safeguarding against supply disruptions.

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 January?

India's January 2025 sunflower seed oil imports showed stable value but were marked by a pending duty reduction in May 2025, which is expected to boost crude oil imports. The market is currently dominated by high-value crude oil imports, accounting for 98% of the value share.

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

Russia and Ukraine supplied over 95% of India’s sunflower seed oil imports by value, with Russia alone contributing 72.5%. Argentina and Nepal were minor suppliers, with Nepal showing high shipment frequency but low value.

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

The price gap stems from Russia’s premium crude sunflower seed oil (averaging 10.73 USD/kg) versus lower-priced refined oils (around 1.50 USD/kg). Crude oil dominated imports, holding a 98% value share.

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

Importers should prioritize bulk contracts with dominant buyers (94% of value share) and diversify suppliers to mitigate reliance on Russia and Ukraine, which pose geopolitical risks.

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

Suppliers of crude oil hold pricing power due to India’s heavy reliance (98% value share), while refined oil exporters face niche demand. The May 2025 duty cut may further incentivize crude oil shipments.

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

India primarily imports crude sunflower seed oil (98% value share) for domestic refining, indicating a bulk commodity trade focused on processing rather than direct consumption.