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Traders express concern over import of large quantities of oil from Nepal
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Monday, 05 January, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Ashwani Maindola, New Delhi
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Edible oil traders in the country have expressed concern over the import of large quantities of the commodity from Nepal.
Nepal does not produce palm oil or soybean oil, but exports a large quantity of edible oil to India duty-free under South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) agreement.
“This is severely impacting domestic refinery units and farmers, and also causing revenue losses for the government,” said Shankar Thakkar, president of the All India Edible Oil Traders Federation.
India grants complete Customs Duty exemption on goods exported by its SAARC neighbours. Taking advantage of this exemption, significant quantities of palm oil and soybean oil are being imported from Nepal and Bangladesh at zero duty.
Thakkar added that in recent years, it has been observed that whenever India imposes import duties on edible oils exceeding a certain percentage, neighbouring countries, particularly Nepal and Bangladesh, export large quantities of edible oil duty-free under the SAFTA agreement to India.
Thakkar urged Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal to take immediate action into the matter.
He stated, "The excessive import of refined soybean oil, RBD palmolein oil, and sunflower oil at zero duty under the South Asian Free Trade Area agreement is severely affecting domestic refinery units. This is also causing revenue losses for the government. Refinery units, especially in Eastern and Northern India, have been particularly hard hit."
He requested the government to take immediate appropriate action to regulate this situation, as this is also impacting the interests of oilseed farmers.
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