Ahead of the festive season, the Centre has announced major cuts in the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on edible oils, including palm, soybean, and sunflower oil. The revised duty structure comes into effect on September 24.
According to the notification, the BCD on crude sunflower oil has been completely eliminated from 10%, while the import duty on refined sunflower oil has been reduced from 32.5% to 22.5%, reported news agency PTI.
For crude palm oil and crude soybean oil, the government has halved the basic customs duty from 10% to 5%.
Meanwhile, the rate on their refined counterparts-refined palm oil and refined soybean oil-has been lowered from 32.5% to 27.5%.
The duty slash follows a price reduction earlier in 2025, when duty rates on crude variants were brought down from 20% to 10%.
Industry experts believe the duty cuts arrive at a crucial moment for domestic markets. The Indian Vegetable Oil Producers’ Association (IVPA) highlighted that retail cooking oil prices are expected to cool down just as household consumption and demand from the hotel, restaurant, catering (HORECA), and sweet-manufacturing sectors begin to surge. “Lower import duties should improve the landed costs of imported edible oils, which can provide some reduction in consumer prices,” Sudhakar Desai, president of IVPA was quoted as saying by PTI.
Desai noted that the steeper cut on sunflower oil makes it notably more affordable, particularly across South India, where it sees high consumption.
However, the IVPA cautioned that final retail relief will depend on broader market variables, including global commodity trends, ocean freight rates, currency fluctuations, and existing inventory levels.
n the first 21 days of September, Ukraine exported 1.6 million tonnes of agricultural products, representing 43% of the planned volume. Despite challenging logistics, export shipments are recovering in September, with the share of higher value-added products continuing to grow.
This was announced by Ukraine's Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, Taras Vysotskyi, during his weekly briefing with media outlets.
Between 1 and 21 September, Ukraine exported:
- 960,000 tonnes of grain — 38% of the planned volume
- 275,000 tonnes of oilseeds — 75%
- 190,000 tonnes of oil — 55%
- 173,000 tonnes of meal — 41%
"The share of grain is the lowest, while the shares of oilseeds, oil, and meal are higher. This means the priority given to exporting higher value-added products remains in place. In addition, the domestic food market remains well supplied with the main types of socially important food products and vegetables. The State Statistics Service's weekly price monitoring has not recorded any abnormal or speculative price increases," said Taras Vysotskyi.
At the same time, due to damage to certain storage facilities and difficult logistics, short-term supply disruptions for individual products and a slight price increase of around 2.5% are possible.
The Minister also commented on state support funding for the agricultural sector in 2027. The draft State Budget allocates UAH 7.4 billion for this purpose, including:
- UAH 265 million from the general fund — in line with the 2026 level
- Approximately UAH 2.5 billion from the special fund, provided by the EU
- UAH 1.6 billion in revenue from export duties on soybeans and rapeseed — based on actual figures
- An additional UAH 307 million in revenue from lease payments for state-owned land managed by the Ukrainian State Land Bank
According to him, based on actual revenues, the 2027 budget provides for approximately UAH 300 million more for the agricultural sector compared to the actual 2026 figures.
SOFIA/BRUSSELS. Coceral has once again revised its EU crop forecast upwards. In Ukraine, the harvest is progressing more slowly than last year. Nevertheless, the raw material supply is putting pressure on prices.
Crop increase of more than 1.2 million mt
In their September report on the 2026 EU crop forecast, the experts at Coceral have made a number of adjustments. In the previous report, EU production had been estimated at a total of 9.396 million mt; however, this estimate has since been raised to 9.979 million mt. This would mean the result is, on the one hand, around 14% higher than last year’s figure and, on the other, around half a million tonnes above the estimates published by the European Commission at the end of August.
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, US — Bunge Global SA, a global leader in oilseed processing and refining, will process BASF’s InVigor Gold canola seed, a canola-quality Brassica juncea hybrid, the companies announced Sept. 22.
Designed to perform in hotter, drier environments and lower-organic-matter soils, BASF said InVigor Gold meets canola-quality standards as affirmed by the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) and can be delivered directly or co-mingled with traditional black-seed canola (Brassica napus) for processing.
“We’re excited to work with BASF to support the introduction of InVigor Gold to our customers,” said Mark Riou, senior director, Canola Trading – North America at Bunge. “As canola production expands, establishing reliable processing and market access is essential for grower confidence and long-term success. By leveraging our oilseed processing capabilities, beginning with our Warden, Washington, facility, we can help create a clear pathway from farm to market while supporting the continued growth and evolution of the North American canola industry.”
BASF introduced InVigor Gold canola seed in 2025 as an innovation designed to access the genetic potential of canola-quality Brassica juncea, a member of the mustard family. In June, BASF unveiled InVigor Gold L322, the first hybrid in the portfolio, with initial commercial availability planned for growers in Montana, North Dakota and Washington beginning in 2027.
“Working with an industry leader like Bunge is an important step as we prepare to bring InVigor Gold to farmers doing the Biggest Job on Earth,” said Hugo Borsari, vice president of business management for seeds North America at BASF Agricultural Solutions. “InVigor Gold canola is designed to unlock new canola acres in more challenging growing environments, giving farmers another option to consider in their rotations.”
BASF Agricultural Solutions is the agricultural division of German chemical company BASF, supplying seeds and traits, crop-protection products, biological solutions and digital farming technologies to farmers and growers globally.
Soyabean production in the European Union (EU) in 2026 has been forecast at 2.5-2.6M tonnes due to heat and drought, around 10-15% below the previous year’s level, according to the latest market report by non-profit, international organisation Donau Soja.
However, regional differences in crop conditions could affect sourcing, logistics and supply availability in the period, the August report said.
“Prolonged heat and moisture deficits have put crops in parts of central and western Europe under pressure, while Croatia, Romania and Poland are expected to achieve yields close to their respective five-year averages,” Donau Soja said on 9 September.
“These regional differences may influence sourcing, logistics and supply availability in 2026/27, making connected and up-to-date supply chain information increasingly important.”
With Europe facing a more challenging soyabean supply outlook, reliable supply chain data was even more important as companies prepared for the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which was due to take effect in December, the report said.
The legislation will require companies placing palm oil, soyabean, cocoa, coffee, cattle, rubber or timber products and their derivatives on the EU market to prove that they are deforestation-free, legally produced and traceable to their source by submitting due diligence statements (DDSs) on an IT system.
The regulation would apply to large and medium-sized operators and traders from 30 December, while micro and small operators would be covered from 30 June 2027.
“The EUDR is not only a legal requirement. It is also a supply chain data challenge,” said Jovana Djisalov, head of external relations at Donau Soja.
“When sourcing patterns change, companies need to know which information they have, where gaps remain and who is responsible for closing them. Starting this work early gives companies time to work with their supply chain partners and strengthen the quality of their due diligence data.”
Vienna-based Donau Soja is a non-profit, international organisation with a focus on promoting sustainable soyabean cultivation and ensuring a secure protein supply for Europe.
The organisation provides guidance to companies on supplier, plot-level, geolocation, legality and deforestation-risk data. Its Crop Insights software combines supply-chain and crop-related information from different suppliers, systems and countries.
From September 1 through September 17, Ukraine exported 196,400 tonnes of rapeseed, of which 72,000 tonnes were exported on September 11-17, while sunflower oil exports during this period amounted to 68,000 tonnes, consulting company Spike Brokers said in its weekly report.
Almost half of the rapeseed exports (about 93,800 tonnes) were shipped to Germany.
At the same time, Ukraine exported 81,800 tonnes of rapeseed oil from Sept. 1 through Sept. 17, indicating simultaneous export activity involving both seeds and processed products, the report said.
Sunflower oil exports increased by about 29,000 tonnes over the past seven days. At the same time, sunflower seed exports from Sept. 1 through Sept. 17 totaled just 5,600 tonnes, while sunflower meal exports amounted to 150,900 tonnes.
In addition, the report said Ukrainian spot oilseed indices remained unchanged over the week. The SPIKE sunflower seed CPT plant price remained at $450 per tonne, while rapeseed was priced at $550 CPT port, $600 FCA Chop and $500 CPT plant.
The price of GMO soybeans was $415 CPT port and $455 FCA Chop, while non-GMO soybeans were priced at $440 and $480, respectively, and GMO soybeans for domestic processing at $400 CPT plant.
From September 1 through September 17, Ukraine also exported 8,700 tonnes of soybean oil and 25,900 tonnes of soybean meal. Poland remained the main destination for exports of both products, accounting for about 6,000 tonnes of soybean oil and 11,100 tonnes of meal.
A new study by researchers at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) found that 89% of avocado oil-labelled processed foods tested contained other oils.
As part of the study, the team tested processed foods marketed as containing avocado oil. Out of the 54 products tested, 48 were adulterated with other oils, a 15 July press release on the UC Davis website said.
Purchased in 2025 and 2026 from online retailers and California stores, the products represented only a portion of the avocado oil processed food market, the study pointed out.
“Consumers are increasingly paying a premium for products made with avocado oil or olive oil,” said lead author Selina Wang, Professor of Cooperative Extension in the UC Davis Department of Food Science and Technology.
“They deserve to get what they pay for and food manufacturers deserve confidence that the ingredients they purchase from suppliers are authentic.”
Researchers found that of the products tested, 93% of potato chips, 71% of mayonnaises and 100% of salad dressings labelled as authentic avocado oil contained other oils.
However, when the same purity tests were applied to 20 olive oil-labelled processed foods, only one failed.
The gap between avocado and olive oil results reflected the fact that olive oil authenticity had been studied, tested and scrutinised for decades, the report said.
As a relatively new and expensive product category, avocado oil had not been monitored at the same level.
In response to the latest UC Davis study avocado oil in processed foods, the Avocado Oil Manufacturers Association (AOMA) issued a statement on its website on 14 September.
“The substitution, dilution or misrepresentation of avocado oil is unacceptable,” AOMA said.
“We call for rigorous science, responsible communication and international cooperation to strengthen authenticity standards, protect consumers and support responsible producers worldwide.”
AOMA called on the entire sector – producers, food manufacturers, laboratories, universities, regulators and retailers – to organise a coordinated...
The Joint War Committee (JWC) has expanded the list of areas subject to elevated war risk to cover almost the entire Black Sea. The new conditions are expected to take effect from September 19.
This was reported by USM.
According to the updated JWLA-035 list dated September 16, practically the entire Black Sea is expected to be included in the Listed Areas, with the exception of the territorial waters of Türkiye, Georgia, Bulgaria and Romania. Shipowners are already receiving the relevant notifications from P&I clubs.
The JWC defines high-risk areas for the Lloyd’s marine insurance market and the International Underwriting Association.
Inclusion of a sea area in the Listed Areas does not mean a ban on navigation. At the same time, insurers may require separate war risk cover and an additional insurance premium for voyages in such areas.
The amount will depend on the vessel, route, insurer and the current risk assessment.
Market participants expect that the expansion of the risk zone could increase the cost of insuring voyages through the Black Sea and affect freight rates.