In May 2026, India’s total edible oil ending stocks at ports increased further to approximately 939 KMT, compared to 836 KMT in April, representing a 12.3% month-on-month (MoM) increase and a substantial 25.2% rise year-on-year (YoY).

The increase reflects continued inventory rebuilding, supported by higher arrivals of soybean and sunflower oil in April & May 2026, while refiners maintained comfortable stock coverage amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding global edible oil prices, freight costs, and geopolitical developments.

Palm oil inventories stood at 364 KMT in May compared to 466 KMT in April. While inventories moderated from the elevated levels recorded in the previous month, palm oil stocks remained 25.5% higher than the 290 KMT recorded in May 2025, highlighting the stronger inventory position achieved following the substantial palm oil imports during the first quarter of 2026.

The current stock level continues to provide refiners with adequate coverage and operational flexibility, particularly as palm oil remains the most widely used and competitively priced edible oil in the Indian market.

Soybean oil stocks increased to 265 KMT from 180 KMT in April, reflecting a 47.2% MoM increase and a 51.4% YoY rise. The recovery was supported by higher import arrivals of 495 KMT and improved availability from South America, allowing refiners to replenish inventories after few months of relatively subdued imports.

Sunflower oil inventories also increased significantly to 310 KMT, compared to 190 KMT in April, representing a 63.2% MoM increase and an 8.8% YoY gain. The increase was primarily driven by stronger arrivals from the Black Sea region during May, resulting in the highest sunflower oil stock level recorded so far in 2026.

Overall, the May stock position reflects a broad-based improvement in edible oil availability across all major oils. Despite the increase in soft oil inventories during the month, palm oil continues to maintain a significant share of total edible oil stocks and remains a critical component of India’s edible oil supply chain due to its versatility, affordability, and extensive usage across household, food service, and food processing applications.

The higher overall inventory levels are expected to support market stability and ensure comfortable supply coverage during the coming months.

Pipeline stocks are estimated at approximately 1.27 MMT, bringing total port and pipeline inventories to around 2.21 MMT. This indicates comfortable supply coverage for the coming months.

Source: MPOC Market Intelligence

*Disclaimer: This document has been prepared based on information from sources believed to be reliable but we do not make any representations as to its accuracy. This document is for information only and opinion expressed may be subject to change without notice and we will not accept any responsibility and shall not be held responsible for any loss or damage arising from or in respect of any use or misuse or reliance on the contents. We reserve our right to delete or edit any information on this site at any time at our absolute discretion without giving any prior notice.

Edible oil stocks at Port Qasim Authority (PQA) and Karachi Port Trust (KPT) fell to 344,750 MT at the end of May 2026, down 22.7% month-on-month and marginally lower compared to the same period last year.

May edible oil imports totalled 142,499 MT, compared to 181,713 MT in April, marking a further 21.6% month-on-month decline. This extends the trend of below-normal import arrivals observed over the past three months and reflects continued caution among importers despite the gradual drawdown in domestic inventories.

The sustained weakness in imports has largely been driven by the persistent gap between C&F import cost and domestic market prices. Although the disparity has narrowed significantly from around USD 70/MT two months ago to approximately USD 20-25/MT currently, import economics remained unattractive for much of the period, limiting fresh buying interest and suppressing import volumes.

Market sentiment also remains cautious amid expectations of a correction in international edible oil prices. Many importers anticipate prices could decline by around USD 40-50/MT over the next two months and are therefore avoiding the accumulation of large inventories while relying on existing stocks to meet immediate requirements.

Domestic demand conditions have remained subdued, with weaker sales of consumer goods resulting in slower inventory turnover across the supply chain. This has further reduced the urgency for replenishment purchases and contributed to lower import demand.

Looking ahead, edible oil imports in June are expected to remain relatively low, with arrivals projected at 170,000-200,000 MT. While the recent improvement in import parity may encourage selective buying, port stocks are likely to remain under pressure in the near term as import volumes continue to lag historical norms.

Of the total 344,750 MT of edible oil stocks held at Port Qasim Authority (PQA) and Karachi Port, RBD palm olein represented the largest portion at 51.5%, while RBD palm oil accounted for 42.0%. Overall, palm oil and its different fractions continued to dominate inventory composition, comprising 99.8% of total ending stocks.

Source: MPOC Market Intelligence

*Disclaimer: This document has been prepared based on information from sources believed to be reliable but we do not make any representations as to its accuracy. This document is for information only and opinion expressed may be subject to change without notice and we will not accept any responsibility and shall not be held responsible for any loss or damage arising from or in respect of any use or misuse or reliance on the contents. We reserve our right to delete or edit any information on this site at any time at our absolute discretion without giving any prior notice.

In May 2026, Bangladesh's total edible oil ending stocks increased to 83,574 MT, up 4.8% from 79,714 MT recorded in April 2026. Despite the monthly increase, total stocks remained 33.0% lower year-on-year compared to 124,800 MT in May 2025, indicating tighter overall inventory levels than a year ago.

Palm oil stocks remained relatively stable at 72,250 MT in May 2026, compared to 71,950 MT in April 2026. On a year-on-year basis, palm oil inventories were 37.9% higher than the 52,400 MT recorded in May 2025, increasing palm oil's share of total edible oil inventories.

Soybean oil stocks rose sharply to 11,324 MT from 7,764 MT in April 2026, representing a 45.8% month-on-month increase. However, inventories remained substantially below the 72,400 MT recorded in May 2025, reflecting a decline of 84.4% year-on-year.

Overall, the increase in total stocks during May 2026 was primarily driven by the recovery in soybean oil inventories, while palm oil continued to account for the majority of edible oil stocks held in the country.

Source: MPOC Market Intelligence

*Disclaimer: This document has been prepared based on information from sources believed to be reliable but we do not make any representations as to its accuracy. This document is for information only and opinion expressed may be subject to change without notice and we will not accept any responsibility and shall not be held responsible for any loss or damage arising from or in respect of any use or misuse or reliance on the contents. We reserve our right to delete or edit any information on this site at any time at our absolute discretion without giving any prior notice.

As of May 2026, U.S. ending stocks stood at 1,178,000 MT, down 2% from the previous month.  Soybean oil ending stocks increased by 2.9%, while rapeseed oil stocks rose by 17.5%. In contrast, palm oil and sunflower oil ending stocks declined by 14.5% and 6.8% respectively.  Argentina's soybean sector remains export oriented. The country’s domestic soybean oil demand for biodiesel has weakened due to lower biodiesel production. A larger share of soybean oil is being directed to export markets, particularly North America and Africa. Brazil is expected to maintain strong soybean crushing as higher blending mandates increase feedstock requirements. Its soybean oil consumption for biodiesel in 2026 has increased by 4.5%. Brazilian soybean oil exports are also expected to remain elevated. Key destinations of U.S. soybean export include China, Mexico, Egypt and Bangladesh. Soybean oil consumption for biofuels is expected to continue rising, contributing to a projected global soybean oil biofuel demand. Tight soybean oil supplies and strong biofuel demand have supported higher soybean oil prices despite increased crushing activity.

Source: *USDA, MPOC Estimates

*Disclaimer: This document has been prepared based on information from sources believed to be reliable but we do not make any representations as to its accuracy. This document is for information only and opinion expressed may be subject to change without notice and we will not accept any responsibility and shall not be held responsible for any loss or damage arising from or in respect of any use or misuse or reliance on the contents. We reserve our right to delete or edit any information on this site at any time at our absolute discretion without giving any prior notice.