In May 2025, the government reduced the effective import duty on edible oils — palm, soybean, and sunflower — to 16.5% from 27.5%, while keeping the basic customs duty on refined oils unchanged at 32.5%, resulting in an effective duty of 35.75%.
India’s dependence on imported cooking oils is expected to remain elevated in the near to medium term, with edible oil imports likely to decline only marginally in the 2024–25 oil year (November–October), according to consulting firm India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra).
“Lower kharif acreage may also impact the country’s oilseed production in the 2025–26 oil year, keeping the import dependency high,” the agency stated in its latest report. India imports about 57% of its annual cooking oil requirement, which totals around 26–27 million tonne (MT) of palm, soybean, and sunflower oils combined.
Ind-Ra has projected that total edible oil imports during 2024–25 will decline only marginally to around 15.5 MT, compared with 16 MT in 2023–24 and 16.5 MT in 2022–23. “Domestic refining margins would continue to benefit from the increased duty differential between refined and crude oil, which has discouraged imports of crude edible oil since July 2025,” the report said.
In May 2025, the government reduced the effective import duty on edible oils — palm, soybean, and sunflower — to 16.5% from 27.5%, while keeping the basic customs duty on refined oils unchanged at 32.5%, resulting in an effective duty of 35.75%.
The consulting firm also noted that soybean oil imports are likely to rise sharply in the 2024–25 oil year, as elevated crude palm oil (CPO) prices drive a shift in demand. “While crude palm oil (CPO) prices are likely to soften in 2026 with an increase in output, the increase in biofuel blending in Indonesia might affect the demand-supply balance in the later part of the 2025–26 oil year, presenting an upside risk,” the agency stated.
From AFOA General Counsel, Olsson Frank Weeda:
HERE is our latest client memorandum providing a high-level overview of the recent U.S. Supreme Court oral arguments concerning IEEPA and the potential implications for tariff refunds. We recommend that importers begin preparing now for possible refund opportunities. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or to discuss how these developments may affect your business.
We will continue to monitor closely and will report all significant developments to you. In the interim, please do not hesitate to reach out to us with questions or requests for additional information.
Non-GMO lecithin is a natural emulsifier sourced from genetically unmodified soy, sunflower, or canola. Used in food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, it improves texture, stabilizes mixtures, and supports clean-label product trends. Its functional benefits include enhanced shelf life, better nutrient absorption, and allergen-friendly formulation options.
Non-GMO lecithin is a natural emulsifier derived from plant-based sources such as soy, sunflower, rapeseed, and corn that are cultivated without genetic modification. It is widely used in food and beverages, dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals, animal feed, and cosmetics. As global consumer demand shifts toward clean-label, natural, and minimally processed ingredients, non-GMO lecithin has become increasingly preferred over conventional lecithin products.
The Non-GMO Lecithin Market Size was valued at 900 USD Million in 2024. The Non-GMO Lecithin Market is expected to grow from 900 USD Million in 2025 to 1,500 USD Million by 2035. The Non-GMO Lecithin Market CAGR (growth rate) is expected to be around 4.9% during the forecast period (2025 - 2035).
Its emulsifying, stabilizing, wetting, and dispersing properties make it essential for improving texture and shelf life in processed and functional food products. Additionally, the availability of allergen-friendly alternatives such as sunflower lecithin has increased market penetration among health-conscious consumers.
In October 2025, Ukraine significantly increased its export of vegetable oils, reaching a volume of $619.5 million, which is 65.4% higher than the previous month. At the same time, the physical volumes of exports rose by 63%.
This is reported by AgroReview
Significant Growth in Sunflower Oil Exports and Change of Leaders
The key factor behind this growth was the export of sunflower oil, which increased more than 2.2 times both in monetary terms and in physical volume. A significant increase was also noted in the export of soybean oil — supplies of this product grew by approximately 28%.
At the same time, the export of rapeseed oil decreased by 14–15%. A slight but positive growth was demonstrated by cottonseed and mustard oils.
Main Markets and New Trends
The main buyers of Ukrainian vegetable oils remain countries in the European Union and Asia. In October, the share of exports to the EU accounted for almost 60%, while exports to Asian countries were 35.2%.
- Among EU countries, the highest demand for Ukrainian oil was recorded in the Netherlands, Spain, and Poland.
- Soybean oil was primarily supplied to Poland but was also present in other European markets.
- Sunflower oil was actively imported by EU and Asian countries, including Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, and India.
“In October 2025, the export of vegetable oils from Ukraine significantly intensified. The total volume of supplies reached $619.5 million, which is 65.4% more than in September. The physical volume of exports also increased — by 63%.”
African countries continue to remain a secondary market for Ukrainian producers, mainly purchasing small volumes of sunflower and other vegetable oils.
Infinity Capital Investments (formerly SIF Oltenia), the majority shareholder of vegetable oil producer Argus Constanţa (BVB: UARG), announced the completion of the sale transaction of a 91.42% stake in the company's share capital to the Bulgarian company Buildcom EOOD, according to a notification sent to the Bucharest Stock Exchange on November 5.
The transfer agreement was signed on August 25, 2025, and the market was informed a day later, on August 26. In the meantime, the suspensive conditions stipulated in the document - including regulatory approvals from the Romanian authorities - have been met, which allowed the two parties to proceed to the completion of the transaction.
The final purchase price will be established in accordance with the previously announced mechanism, the companies said.
Argus has a capitalisation of RON 61 million (EUR 12 million).
Through this transaction, Buildcom EOOD indirectly becomes the majority shareholder in Comcereal Tulcea, a company owned 95.36% by Argus.
At the same time, in the context of the change in shareholding, Argus (as borrower) and Buildcom (as lender) will conclude a loan agreement of up to RON 100 million (EUR 20 million), intended to refinance existing loans and support working capital. The financing was previously approved by the Extraordinary General Meeting of Argus Shareholders on October 9, 2025.
Argus, headquartered in Constanţa, is one of the oldest Romanian producers of vegetable oils and fats, with a history that began in 1943. The company produces and sells crude and refined sunflower oils, feed meal and fatty acids, being one of the best-known Romanian brands in the food sector. After nationalisation in 1948, the company was reorganised in 1990 as a joint-stock company, becoming fully private in 1994.
Buildcom EOOD, established in 1994, is one of the largest Bulgarian companies active in international trade in agricultural products, such as wheat, corn, barley, rapeseed, and sunflower. The company is affiliated with the Oliva AD group, the largest producer of crude and refined sunflower oil in Bulgaria.
The State of Food and Agriculture 2025 report focuses on land degradation caused by human activities
Rome – Approximately 1.7 billion people live in areas where crop yields are falling because of human-induced land degradation - a pervasive and silent crisis that is undermining agricultural productivity and threatening ecosystem health worldwide.
The alarming figure comes from the latest The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), released today during an event at its headquarters in Rome.
The report delivers a clear message: land degradation is not just an environmental issue – it impacts agricultural productivity, rural livelihoods and food security.
SOFA 2025 provides the most comprehensive analysis to date of how human-driven land degradation impacts crop yields, identifies global vulnerability hotspots, and examines where these losses intersect with poverty, hunger and other forms of malnutrition.
Drawing on the most recent global data on farm distribution, sizes, and crop production, the report outlines actionable opportunities for integrated sustainable land-use and management practices, alongside tailored policies. These measures aim to avoid, reduce, and reverse land degradation while improving food production and farmers livelihood.
“To seize these opportunities, we must act decisively. Sustainable land management requires enabling environments that support long-term investment, innovation and stewardship,” FAO Director-General QU Dongyu wrote in the report’s Foreword.
Key Takeaways:
- Ginkgo Bioworks and Bayer extend multi-year collaboration focused on developing microbial nitrogen fixation technologies.
- Partnership builds on a successful collaboration launched in 2017, with Bayer retaining commercialization rights.
- Ginkgo’s agricultural biologicals platform continues to expand, with research efforts centered in West Sacramento.
- Collaboration supports innovation in nitrogen fixation, biological crop protection, and carbon sequestration.
Partnership Extension Strengthens Focus on Sustainable Agriculture
Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) announced an extension of its multi-year strategic partnership with Bayer to continue advancing research and development of biological products for agriculture. The collaboration, which began in 2017, focuses on developing microbial nitrogen fixation solutions designed to complement traditional synthetic fertilizers.
Under the renewed agreement, Bayer retains exclusive rights to commercialize biological products resulting from the partnership, building on the successful progress of the initial collaboration phase.
Advancing Agricultural Biological Innovation
Bayer remains a key partner in Ginkgo Bioworks’ growing agricultural biologicals platform, which includes the company’s dedicated Agriculture Biologicals R&D facility in West Sacramento, California. This site serves as a hub for discovery and lead optimization in areas such as nitrogen fixation, carbon sequestration, and biological crop protection.
“The future will bring increasingly severe challenges for farmers, and we will best meet these challenges together with leading innovators from around the world through the open innovation ecosystem,” said Dr. Mike Graham, Head of R&D at Bayer’s Crop Science Division. “When complemented by leading seeds & traits, digital tools, and chemical crop protection, biologicals can help growers achieve the best results in their fields by providing increased options that complement, and provide alternatives to, traditional chemistry-based solutions.”
📢 Bio-based industries are Europe’s hidden assets – says new EIB report.
A new European Investment Bank (EIB) study confirms what many in the policy and investment community have long recognised, scaling up Europe’s bio-based industries is an economic and strategic imperative.
The report “Scaling up Europe’s Bio-Based Industries” shows that bio-based materials, innovative food and feed ingredients, and bio-based soil nutrients could become Europe’s next growth engines, if the right financial and regulatory frameworks are in place.
The bioeconomy already sustains over 17 million jobs — around 8% of Europe’s workforce — and generates up to €2.3 trillion in value, yet its full potential remains untapped due to fragmented markets, slow regulatory approvals and limited access to scale-up capital
Key findings include:
- 🔹 Early-stage and demonstration financing remain the weakest links; the transition from pilot to industrial scale needs targeted venture debt, guarantees and blended finance.
- 🔹 Europe has the assets to lead: strong R&D base, skilled workforce, feedstock and growing demand for sustainable products
- 🔹 Strategic autonomy and competitiveness can be reinforced by mobilising capital for bio-based substitutes of fossil materials, while creating new income streams in rural and coastal regions.
The EIB study proposes eight concrete actions, from a European Bioeconomy Booster Programme and venture debt under InvestEU, to expanding the Circular Bioeconomy Fund and creating an eligibility checker for green investments.