India Now World’s No. 1 Palm Oil Buyer, Group Says

India has surpassed China as the world’s biggest buyer of palm oil as rising incomes increased demand for fried and processed foods and drought reduced domestic production of cooking oil, according to a processor group.

The country imported 7 million metric tons in 2009, data from the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India shows. Vegetable oil purchases by India will reach a record 9.4 million tons this year as an import-tax waiver reduces costs and the domestic crop declines, BV Mehta, executive director of the association, said on Wednesday. China’s imports jumped 23 percent to a record 6.4 million tons last year, the National Grain and Oils Information Center said.

India relies on imports, mostly from Indonesia and Malaysia, to meet more than half its demand for edible oil. Last week it sought bids to import 30,000 tons of palm oil. Bloomberg

Your View

See Result