India Sunflower Seed Oil Import Market -- HS 1512 Trade Data & Price Trend (Q1 2025)

India Sunflower Seed Oil Import (HS 1512) Key Takeaways

India’s sunflower seed oil imports under HS code 1512 in Q1 2025 were dominated by crude oil (97.8% value share), with Russia supplying 63% of high-value refined shipments amid a 47% quarterly import decline. The market is highly concentrated, with top suppliers handling 94% of volumes, creating supply chain risks. This analysis, based on cleanly processed customs data from the yTrade database, highlights strategic shifts ahead of India’s May 2025 duty cut to 10%.

India Sunflower Seed Oil Import (HS 1512) 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. This product is a key edible oil used in food processing, cooking, and industrial applications, driven by its high smoke point and nutritional profile. Global demand remains stable due to its widespread use in households and food manufacturing.

Current Context and Strategic Position

In May 2025, India reduced import duties on crude sunflower seed oil (HS 1512) from 20% to 10% to curb inflation, a significant policy shift impacting trade flows [ytrade.com]. India’s reliance on imports for edible oils, including HS Code 1512 trade data, underscores its strategic importance as a major consumer market. With rising domestic demand and fluctuating global prices, monitoring India’s sunflower seed oil import trends remains critical for traders and policymakers. Vigilance is essential to navigate tariff adjustments and supply chain dynamics.

India Sunflower Seed Oil Import (HS 1512) Price Trend

Key Observations

India's Sunflower Seed Oil imports under HS code 1512 opened Q1 2025 at $1.02 billion in January but fell sharply to $541.14 million by March, marking a 47% quarterly decline. The hs code 1512 value trend shows a clear contraction in import spending during the first three months of the year.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The India Sunflower Seed Oil Import trend lost momentum throughout the quarter, with values dropping sequentially from February ($934.97 million) to March. This downward movement suggests either a strategic pullback in purchasing or a shift in demand toward other edible oils, as buyers may have been anticipating more favorable import conditions ahead of the summer high-demand season.

External Context and Outlook

The steep quarterly decline likely reflects market anticipation of India’s May 2025 policy shift, which saw import duties on crude sunflower oil cut from 20% to 10% [ytrade.com]. This duty reduction was aimed at curbing domestic inflation (ytrade.com), and importers appear to have delayed some volumes ahead of the lower tariff environment. Looking ahead, the policy is expected to support import volumes in subsequent quarters, though global price movements will also influence actual import values.

India Sunflower Seed Oil Import (HS 1512) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data for 2025 Q1, India's import of HS Code 1512 is overwhelmingly dominated by crude sunflower seed oil under sub-code 15121110, which holds a 97.82 percent value share and a 90.66 percent weight share. The unit price for this crude oil is 9.59 US dollars per kilogram, pointing to a focus on unrefined, bulk commodities. An extreme price anomaly exists in sub-code 15121920, with a unit price of 4054.65 US dollars per kilogram, which is excluded from further analysis due to its outlier nature.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining non-anomalous sub-codes fall into two clear groups based on processing stage: crude oils and refined or other processed oils. Crude sunflower seed oil (15121110) stands out with its higher unit price, while refined oils like 15121910 and 15121990 show lower or varied unit prices, such as 5.63 and 13.97 US dollars per kilogram. This pattern indicates a trade in fungible bulk commodities, where the value is tied to the refinement level, with crude oil serving as the primary input for further industrial processing.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For importers, the heavy reliance on crude oil in India's HS Code 1512 import data suggests that pricing power is concentrated among suppliers of unrefined products. The recent duty reduction from 20 to 10 percent in May 2025, as reported by [ytrade.com], could lower costs and boost import volumes, making it strategic to prioritize crude oil sourcing for domestic refining. This shift aligns with efforts to manage inflation and optimize supply chains under the new tariff regime.

Check Detailed HS Code 1512 Breakdown

India Sunflower Seed Oil Import (HS 1512) Origin Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

Russia is the dominant origin for India's Sunflower Seed Oil imports in Q1 2025, holding 63.12% of the value share and 40.43% of the weight share. The value share is significantly higher than the weight share, indicating that India imports higher-grade or refined versions of Sunflower Seed Oil from Russia, rather than bulk crude oil. Russia also has a high frequency share of 31.75%, but the value disparity points to premium product demand.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The top origins can be grouped into three clusters based on share profiles. First, the High-Yield Cluster includes Russia, Ukraine, and Argentina, where value shares exceed weight shares, suggesting these countries supply refined or premium Sunflower Seed Oil. Second, the Volume/Hub Cluster consists of Switzerland, Netherlands, and Singapore, with weight shares dominating value shares, indicating these may act as logistics hubs or sources for bulk, lower-value oil. Third, the Transactional Cluster is led by Nepal, which has an extremely high frequency share of 49.92% but low value and weight, pointing to small, frequent shipments likely for retail or local distribution.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

India's heavy reliance on Russia for Sunflower Seed Oil imports creates supply chain risks due to geopolitical factors. To mitigate this, diversifying sourcing to other regions could enhance stability. Recent policy changes, such as India's reduction of import duties on crude edible oils to 10% in May 2025 [ytrade.com], may shift future imports toward cheaper crude oil and reduce dependency on refined oils from dominant partners. Monitoring HS Code 1512 trade data will be key for adapting sourcing strategies.

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

Get Complete Origin Countries Profile

India Sunflower Seed Oil (HS 1512) Suppliers Analysis

Supplier Concentration and Dominance

In Q1 2025, the India Sunflower Seed Oil import supplier market was heavily dominated by a small group of key players. According to yTrade data, the top cluster handled 94.07% of the total import value, with high frequency and large volumes, defining the typical trade as regular, bulk shipments that form the backbone of supply.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The remaining clusters include suppliers with infrequent large orders and those with frequent small shipments, but the dominant group's company names, like NARAYANI OIL REFINERY UDYOG PVT LTD, point to a direct-to-factory model rather than trading intermediaries. This suggests that HS code 1512 suppliers are primarily producers, ensuring steady output for imports.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

For importers in India, relying on high-value, high-frequency suppliers offers cost efficiency but poses concentration risks. The duty reduction to 10% on crude edible oils in May 2025 [ytrade.com] may lower expenses and encourage diversified sourcing, though vigilance on supply chain stability is advised.

Table: India Sunflower Seed Oil (HS 1512) Top Suppliers List (Source: yTrade)

Check Full Sunflower Seed Oil Supplier lists

Action Plan for Sunflower Seed Oil Market Operation and Expansion

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

India's Sunflower Seed Oil import market is a bulk commodity trade. Its price is driven by product grade and geopolitical stability. The hs code 1512 trade data shows a 97.82% reliance on crude oil. This makes quality and refinement level key cost factors. Russia's 63.12% value share creates high supply chain risk. Recent duty cuts to 10% will likely shift imports toward cheaper crude. This supports domestic refining but increases exposure to global price swings. The Sunflower Seed Oil supply chain is built for bulk, factory-direct shipments. This offers cost efficiency but lacks diversification.

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

• Use hs code 1512 trade data to prioritize sourcing under sub-code 15121110. This targets crude oil to leverage lower duties and reduce import costs.
• Analyze supplier clusters to identify high-frequency partners for bulk contracts. This ensures stable supply and minimizes logistical disruptions.
• Monitor origin country data monthly, especially Russia’s share. This allows rapid pivots to alternatives like Ukraine or Argentina if geopolitical risks escalate.
• Track policy updates like duty changes using real-time trade intelligence. This helps lock in cost savings and adjust procurement timing.
• Review shipment frequency from minor partners like Nepal for niche opportunities. This diversifies supply sources and taps into small-scale premium demand.

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 Q1?

India's Sunflower Seed Oil imports fell 47% in Q1 2025, likely due to importers delaying purchases ahead of a May 2025 duty reduction from 20% to 10% on crude edible oils. The decline reflects anticipation of lower costs under the new tariff regime.

Q2. Who are the main origin countries of India Sunflower Seed Oil (HS Code 1512) 2025 Q1?

Russia dominated with a 63.12% value share, followed by Ukraine and Argentina. These three countries supply higher-grade or refined oil, while Switzerland, Netherlands, and Singapore act as bulk logistics hubs.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across origin countries of India Sunflower Seed Oil Import?

Price differences stem from product grade: crude sunflower seed oil (HS 15121110) averages $9.59/kg, while refined oils (e.g., HS 15121910) range from $5.63 to $13.97/kg. Russia’s higher-value share confirms its premium product focus.

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

Importers should prioritize crude oil (HS 15121110) for cost efficiency under the new 10% duty and diversify suppliers to mitigate reliance on Russia, which holds 63% of the market.

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

Suppliers of crude oil, especially from Russia, Ukraine, and Argentina, have stable demand but face pressure to align with India’s duty-driven shift toward bulk unrefined imports.

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

India primarily imports crude sunflower seed oil (97.82% value share) for domestic refining into edible oils, indicating a focus on industrial-scale processing rather than direct retail distribution.

Detailed Monthly Report

India HS1512 Import Snapshot 2025 JAN

India HS1512 Import Snapshot 2025 FEB

India HS1512 Import Snapshot 2025 MAR