Question : Import of Palm Oil

(a) whether India is the world’s biggest importer of edible oils, i.e., palmolein or palm oil, particularly importing from Malaysia;
(b) whether the Government of Malaysia has recently curbed inbound shipments of palm oil to India;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) the details of the reasons for taking such a serious decision by the Government of Malaysia and the reaction of the Government thereto;
(e) the details of the total palm oil imports from Malaysia in each of the last three years;
(f) whether the Government is making any alternative arrangements to import palm oil from other countries to avoid scarcity and to prevent price rise; and
(g) if so, the details thereof?

Answer given by the minister

THE MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) and (e): India was the biggest importer of palm oil in the world and also the biggest importer of palm oil from Malaysia, as per the global trade data for the year 2018*.
The details of the total palm oil imports from Malaysia during last three years are as follows:

Year Import (in USD million)
2017 1,480.64

2018 1,339.82

2019 2229.97






-Source: DGCIS

*Source- ITC Trademap

(b) to (d) and (f) & (g): There has been no report of any restriction imposed by the Government of Malaysia on inbound shipments of palm oil to India.
There is no prohibition on import of palm oil from any country.

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