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Centre cuts import duty on edible oils to cool cooking oil prices before festivals

24 Sept 2026 · 5 outlets · 1 min read

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In 30 seconds
  1. Crude sunflower oil duty cut to nil; crude soybean and palm oil duty cut to 5%.
  2. Refined soybean and palm oil duty cut to 27.5% from 32.5%.
  3. Industry says retail relief depends on global prices, freight, the rupee and stocks.

The government cut the basic customs duty on crude sunflower oil from 10% to nil, and on crude soybean and palm oil from 10% to 5%, in a notification issued on 23 September 2026 that took effect the next day. Duties on refined oils were also cut, keeping a 19.25% gap that protects domestic refiners. The government said the move aims to ease prices after a sharp rise in international edible oil prices, and asked companies to pass on the benefit. India imports about 60% of its edible oil.

What it means for India

Cooking oil, a large item in household food bills, could get cheaper during the festive season if companies pass on the lower import cost. The government asked them to do so.

Checked

Claim by claim

✓Verified

The duty on crude soybean and palm oil was cut from 10% to 5%, and on crude sunflower oil to nil.

Said by Government of India

Stated in the government's press release and the finance ministry notification reported by Mint.

PIB · Mint
?Unverified

Lower import duties should bring some reduction in consumer prices.

Said by Sudhakar Desai, Indian Vegetable Oil Producers' Association

This is a forecast. Desai himself said the effect depends on global prices, freight, exchange rates and inventories.

Mint · ETRetail
Honest gaps

Not yet known

  • ?Whether shop prices of cooking oil actually fall, and by how much.
Who reported this

Sources

Left-leaning · 2Centre · 2Official record · 1

5 outlets across the spectrum. Leanings are a rough guide to who reported it, not a verdict on accuracy.

  1. PIBBCD on Crude Sunflower Oil Cut to Nil; Soybean and Palm Oil Duty Reduced to 5%
  2. MintCentre cuts import duty on edible oils to curb price rise
  3. ETRetailCooking Oil Prices Expected to Drop After Import Duty Cuts, Says IVPA
  4. Deccan HeraldCentre asks edible oil firms to pass on duty-cut benefits to consumers
  5. The HinduImport duty cut on edible oils ahead of festivals | Explained

Spasht writes original summaries. Follow the links to read each outlet's own report. Revision 1.