India Sunflower Seed Oil HS1512 Import Data 2025 March Overview

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

India’s Sunflower Seed Oil (HS Code 1512) imports in March 2025 reveal heavy reliance on Russia, which dominated 67.09% of import value, supplying premium-grade oil at $4.17/kg, while Ukraine offered cheaper crude alternatives at $2.94/kg. The market shows strategic clustering, with Russia and Ukraine as primary suppliers, Argentina and the Netherlands as secondary, and niche players like Nepal filling regional gaps. Geopolitical risks loom due to over-dependence on Russia, though India’s recent duty cuts on crude oils may encourage diversification for cost efficiency and resilience. This analysis, covering March 2025, is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

India Sunflower Seed Oil (HS 1512) 2025 March 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 oil (HS Code 1512), from 20% to 10%, lowering the effective duty to 16.5% [FAS USDA]. This policy aims to stabilize prices and boost domestic refining capacity, positioning India as a key importer of sunflower seed oil in 2025. With rising demand and strategic tariff adjustments, India’s sunflower seed oil imports under HS Code 1512 require close monitoring for market opportunities and supply chain shifts.

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

Key Observations

In March 2025, India's imports of Sunflower Seed Oil under HS Code 1512 reached a value of 541.14 million USD with a volume of 160.37 million kg, reflecting a notable shift in trade dynamics.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The import value for India Sunflower Seed Oil HS Code 1512 Import 2025 March fell sharply by 42% month-over-month from February's 934.97 million USD, while volume surged 54% to 160.37 million kg. This divergence points to lower average prices, likely driven by seasonal stock replenishment and increased global supply ahead of peak consumption periods, such as the upcoming summer season when edible oil demand traditionally rises in India.

External Context and Outlook

The Indian government's May 2025 duty reduction on crude edible oils, including sunflower oil, from 20% to 10% [FAS USDA Report], aims to curb inflation and boost refining capacity. This policy is expected to support higher import volumes and price stability in the latter half of 2025, aligning with efforts to meet domestic demand efficiently.

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

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data, India's Sunflower Seed Oil imports under HS Code 1512 in March 2025 were overwhelmingly dominated by crude oil, specifically HS Code 15121110 for "Vegetable oils; sunflower seed or safflower oil and their fractions, crude, not chemically modified". This sub-code held a 96% value share and 96% weight share, with a unit price of 3.38 USD per kilogram, indicating its role as the primary bulk commodity. High-priced anomalies like cotton-seed oils with unit prices over 140 USD per kilogram were isolated due to negligible import volumes.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The non-anomalous imports split into two clear categories based on processing stage: crude sunflower oil (15121110) and refined sunflower oil (15121910), which had a slightly lower unit price of 3.12 USD per kilogram and a smaller market share. This structure, with similar low unit prices and high volumes for both crude and refined grades, confirms that India's Sunflower Seed Oil HS Code 1512 imports in March 2025 function as fungible bulk commodities, traded based on weight and standard grades rather than differentiated products.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For India Sunflower Seed Oil HS Code 1512 Import 2025 March, the heavy reliance on crude oil suggests limited pricing power for buyers, as it is a commoditized market driven by global supply and demand. The duty cut on crude edible oils to 10% in May 2025, as reported by [USDA], aligns with this trend and indicates a strategic focus on securing cost-effective bulk crude supplies to manage domestic inflation.

Check Detailed HS 1512 Breakdown

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

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

In March 2025, India's Sunflower Seed Oil HS Code 1512 import was heavily concentrated, with Russia dominating at 67.09% of value and 54.21% of weight, indicating a higher unit price around 4.17 USD/kg and suggesting imports of refined or premium-grade oil. This disparity between value and weight ratios points to Russia supplying higher-value products, while other countries like Ukraine show lower unit prices, around 2.94 USD/kg, hinting at crude or standard grades.

Partner Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The partner countries form three clusters: Russia and Ukraine as the primary suppliers due to geographic proximity and established trade routes for bulk oil; Argentina and the Netherlands as secondary sources, likely for diversified supply or trade hub roles; and smaller players like Nepal with high frequency but low volume, possibly for regional or niche market needs, reflecting varied sourcing strategies based on cost and logistics.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

For importers, heavy reliance on Russia poses geopolitical risks, and the duty reduction to 10% on crude oils announced in May 2025 [USDA] could make crude imports cheaper, encouraging diversification to countries like Ukraine or Argentina for cost efficiency and supply chain resilience in India's Sunflower Seed Oil HS Code 1512 import strategy for 2025.

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

Get Complete Partner Countries Profile

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

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

India Sunflower Seed Oil Import 2025 March under HS Code 1512 operates as a bulk commodity market. Price is driven by global supply and quality grade, with crude oil dominating at 96% share. Heavy reliance on Russia (67% value share) introduces geopolitical risk. The duty cut to 10% on crude oils in May 2025 will lower costs but reinforce commoditization. Supply chain implications focus on securing bulk crude supplies for price stability and domestic inflation control, with limited buyer pricing power.

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

• Track Russian and Ukrainian shipment volumes weekly using trade data. This monitors supply disruptions and price shifts from geopolitical events.
• Analyze buyer purchase frequency to forecast inventory cycles. This prevents overstock and aligns deliveries with demand peaks.
• Diversify suppliers to include Argentina and the Netherlands based on their trade hub roles. This reduces dependency on single-origin risks.
• Target high-value, high-frequency buyers with bulk crude oil offers post-duty cut. This captures immediate cost savings and locks in large orders.
• Engage low-frequency buyers with smaller, refined oil batches. This taps into niche markets and builds secondary revenue streams.

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 March?

The import value dropped 42% month-over-month while volume surged 54%, reflecting lower average prices due to seasonal stock replenishment and increased global supply ahead of peak demand periods.

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

Russia dominated with 67% of import value, followed by Ukraine, Argentina, and the Netherlands as secondary suppliers.

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

Russia’s higher unit price (4.17 USD/kg) suggests refined or premium-grade oil, while Ukraine’s lower price (2.94 USD/kg) indicates crude or standard-grade imports.

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

Importers should prioritize relationships with high-value, high-frequency buyers (94.66% of market value) while diversifying suppliers to mitigate geopolitical risks from over-reliance on Russia.

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

Suppliers from Ukraine or Argentina have growth opportunities as India seeks cost-efficient crude oil imports, especially after the May 2025 duty cut to 10%.

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

India primarily imports crude sunflower oil (96% share) as a bulk commodity for domestic refining and consumption, with minimal differentiation in product grades.