India's Addiction To Costly Cooking Oil Imports Seen Lasting For Years

Los indios probablemente comprarán aceites de cocina caros en el extranjero durante al menos otros 15 años, ya que la demanda continúa superando con creces la producción nacional.

Consumption is expected to climb in India by as much as 17 percent over the next four years, according to B.V. Mehta, executive director of the Solvent Extractors' Association. A rise that steep would further widen the manufacturing gap: India will likely produce about 10 million tons of edible oils in 2021-22, compared with local consumption of  hasta 23 millones de toneladas.

India, one of the world's largest buyers of vegetable oils, has struggled to wean itself off imports. Farmers have typically focused on growing cotton and staples like rice, wheat and sugar, partly because the government sets price floors for these crops and buys some of them -- such as food grains -- in bulk for its welfare programs.

A shift in mindset is not likely overnight. High-yielding rapeseed and sunflower varieties and remunerative prices could boost the nation's output. But incentives for India's farmers to grow oilseeds are still weak, according to Siraj Chaudhry, managing director and chief executive officer of National Commodities Management Services Ltd., a warehousing and trading company.

Change has to start locally, he said, with a close watch on the crop cycle. Rice farmers should be encouraged to grow sunflower during India's rainy months, for instance, and wheat producers to cultivate rapeseed in the winter. Higher production of rice bran oil and expensive peanuts could also serve as supplements, he said.

Palm oil, in particular, has potential to close the production gap. Indians often prefer it over soft oils because it's cheaper and can be blended easily with other fats. It also lasts longer than other choices, making it cost-efficient for bulk users such as restaurants and hotels.

Mover parte de la cadena de suministro a nivel local puede ayudar. Los expertos en materias primas han presionado al gobierno indio para que importe soja y la triture a nivel nacional, en lugar de simplemente comprar aceite de soja. Potencialmente, eso aumentaría los suministros de aceite de soya en el hogar y satisfaría la creciente demanda de alimentos para la industria avícola.

"It has to be a combination of factors, including providing new technology to boost productivity," Chaudhry said.

El problema del costo
Cooking oils are an integral part of the Indian diet. They play a starring role in feasts served during the country's massive festivals. They're used to fry jalebis, the sticky, road-side sweet, and for practically every other staple dish. Their ubiquity has made India the world's biggest importer of palm, soybean and sunflower oil.

El aumento de la producción nacional de aceite de palma aumentaría el suministro general de aceite vegetal en el país, según Mehta. India tiene como objetivo producir 1 millón de toneladas para 2026 y aumentar aún más la producción a 2,8 millones de toneladas para 2030, frente a las 300,000 toneladas, dijo.

But price control is increasingly a wrinkle. India's attempts to ease inflation by cutting duties on edible oil imports and imposing limits on inventories have so far failed to lower costs. Most of the commodities are linked to global prices that have rallied in the past year due to a supply crunch and rising biofuel use.

India's consumer food prices rose in December at their fastest pace in six months amid soaring costs for vegetable oils, which jumped more than 24 percent from a year earlier, according to the statistics ministry. The increase comes despite a reduction in edible oil import taxes, which have further boosted world prices on expectations of higher purchases from India.

Los costos de los alimentos están aumentando en todo el mundo. Los cultivos que se pueden convertir en combustible se han visto particularmente afectados debido al aumento de los costos del petróleo crudo. En Kuala Lumpur, el precio del aceite de palma, el aceite vegetal más consumido, subió más del 30 % en 2021. El aceite de soja en Chicago experimentó un aumento similar durante el mismo período.

Mientras tanto, en Nueva Delhi, los aceites vegetales -- como los extraídos de colza, girasol, soja y palma -- aumentaron entre un 12 % y más del 30 % en 2021, según el Ministerio de Alimentación.

El aceite de palma extendió las ganancias a un nuevo récord el lunes. Los futuros de referencia en Kuala Lumpur subieron hasta un 1,1 por ciento a 5380 ringgit (1286) la tonelada, el nivel más alto jamás alcanzado por el contrato renovable más-activo. El aceite de soya rival en Chicago ganó por sexto día a 63,08 centavos por libra.

"It will probably be better off if the country can meet 60 percent to 70 percent of its demand from domestic output and the rest from imports, reversing the current trend," Chaudhry said.