India's March quarter palm oil imports could drop 29% as stocks rise

MUMBAI (Jan 25): India's palm oil imports could drop 29% in the March quarter from the previous quarter as record inventories and weak demand prompt refiners to curtail purchases and focus on liquidating stocks, five dealers told Reuters. Lower purchases by the world's biggest buyer of palm oil could weigh on Malaysian palm oil futures, which have nearly halved from their all time peak hit in 2022. Palm oil imports in the March quarter could fall to 2.2 million tonnes, down from 3.1 million tonnes in December quarter, the average estimate from five trading firms showed. "Indian refiners aggressively bought palm oil in December quarter, but now imports would slow down as they would first try to clear inventories," said Anilkumar Bagani, research head at Sunvin Group, a Mumbai-based vegetable oil brokerage. Vegetable oil stocks in India have jumped to a record 3.2 million tonnes at the start of January from 1.7 million tonnes a year ago, estimates trade body Solvent Extractors' ...