India’s rapeseed cultivation is expected to hit a record high, supported by strong Chinese demand and favourable weather. The crop area has expanded 7–8%, with early sowing up 13.5% from last year. Exports of rapeseed meal to China have surged to 488,168 tons in the first half of FY2025, up from 60,759 tons in all of 2024–25, after Beijing imposed tariffs on Canadian imports. Robust demand and output could help India reduce dependence on costly edible oil imports.
As the world’s third-largest producer, India contributes over 13% to global output, with production rising 66% in a decade due to better seeds and farming practices. Experts emphasize promoting high-yielding varieties and quality inputs to bridge yield gaps, boost self-sufficiency, and enhance farmer incomes.
India’s rapeseed cultivation is set to reach a record high this year, driven by strong Chinese demand for rapeseed meal and favourable growing conditions following above-average rainfall. As the country’s key winter-sown oilseed, higher rapeseed output could significantly reduce India’s dependence on costly imports of edible oils.
According to industry estimates, the total area under rapeseed and mustard cultivation is expected to expand by about 7%–8% this year. Farmers typically sow the rapeseed crop in October and November, and by early November they had already planted 4.17 million hectares—13.5% more than during the same period last year. Last year, India’s total rapeseed area stood at 8.93 million hectares, well above the five-year average of 7. 9 million hectares.
According to Mr B.V. Mehta, Executive Director of the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India, the domestic demand for rapeseed oil has been robust this year, while exports of rapeseed meal have soared, mainly due to record purchases from China. The Chinese buyers turned to India after Beijing imposed a 100% retaliatory tariff on rapeseed meal and oil imports from Canada, its leading supplier, in March.
During the first half of the current fiscal year starting April 1, China imported an unprecedented 488,168 metric tons of rapeseed meal from India—compared with just 60,759 tons during the entire 2024–25 fiscal year, according to the association data.
In 2024, the United States stood as India’s top market for rapeseed and mustard oil exports, valued at US$ 4.9 million and representing 20.7% of total exports. Other key destinations included Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, and Qatar.
Table: India’s export of rapeseed, colza, and mustard oil
(US$ Million)
Source: Trade map
According to the latest trade data by Department of Commerce, India’s exports of rapeseed, colza, and mustard oil (HS Code 1514) have shown robust growth in 2025. In August 2025, exports rose to US$ 2.49 million, marking a 36.18% increase from US$ 1.83 million in August 2024. Over the five-month period from April to August 2025, cumulative exports reached US$ 11.33 million, up 28.53% from US$ 8.81 million recorded during the same period in 2024. This sharp rise reflects strong international demand for Indian rapeseed and mustard oil, supported by favourable domestic production trends and expanding export opportunities.
The surge in exports, combined with strong domestic demand, has kept rapeseed prices comfortably above the government’s minimum support price (MSP) of ₹5,950 per 100 kg for last year’s crop. For the current season, New Delhi has raised the MSP by 4.2% to ₹6,200 per 100 kg.
Industry experts point out that rapeseed contains a higher oil content than soybeans, and if the strong planting trend continues, it could help moderate the rise in India’s edible oil imports. Currently, India meets nearly one-third of its cooking oil demand through imports of palm, soybean, and sunflower oils from Malaysia, Indonesia, Brazil, Argentina, Ukraine, and Russia.
India ranks as the world’s third-largest producer of rapeseed-mustard, contributing over 13% to global output between 2020–21 and 2024–25. However, its average yield of 1,461 kg/ha in 2024–25 remains just 60.7% of the global average of 2,070 kg/ha. As a key oilseed crop, rapeseed-mustard holds the second position in India’s oilseed economy after soybean and accounts for nearly 36% of domestic edible oil production. Grown across 24 states, the crop’s adaptability, short growth duration, and versatility make it especially valuable for small and marginal farmers in rain-fed regions.
Over the past two decades, joint initiatives by the Government of India, ICAR, and various state governments have significantly boosted production—from 6.8 million tons in 2015–16 to 12.61 million tons in 2024–25. This reflects a 66% rise in production (CAGR 2.7%) and a 41% improvement in productivity (CAGR 1.8%), driven by technological innovations, better seeds, and improved farming practices.
Despite notable progress, productivity remains constrained by yield gaps and limited farmer awareness of advanced technologies. According to experts, strengthening key areas such as promoting high-yielding seed varieties and improving access to quality inputs to address regional disparities will be essential for sustaining rapeseed-mustard’s contribution to India’s edible oil security and enhancing farmer incomes.
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FAQs
1. Why is India’s rapeseed cultivation expected to reach a record high this year?
India’s rapeseed area is expanding due to strong Chinese demand for rapeseed meal, favourable weather following above-average rainfall, and steady domestic demand for edible oil. These factors have encouraged farmers to increase sowing by about 7–8% compared to last year.
2. How has Chinese demand influenced India’s rapeseed exports?
China’s record imports of rapeseed meal from India—488,168 metric tons in the first half of FY2025—have significantly boosted India’s export performance. This surge followed China’s imposition of a 100% tariff on rapeseed imports from Canada, redirecting demand to India.
3. What impact does higher rapeseed output have on India’s edible oil imports?
Higher rapeseed production can help India reduce its dependence on imported edible oils such as palm, soybean, and sunflower oil. As rapeseed has a high oil content, increased domestic output supports self-sufficiency and price stability in the edible oil market.
4. Which countries are the main importers of Indian rapeseed and mustard oil?
The United States is India’s top market, accounting for 20.7% of rapeseed and mustard oil exports in 2024. Other major destinations include Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, and Qatar, reflecting growing international demand for Indian oilseeds.
5. How have government policies supported rapeseed farmers?
The Government of India raised the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for rapeseed-mustard to ₹6,200 per 100 kg for the current season, up 4.2% from last year. Combined with improved seed varieties and better farming practices, these measures aim to boost farmer income and productivity.
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