← Critical Product/Equipment/Process: Agri, Food & Bio-based (all topics)
RBD Palmolein
What it is
Refined, Bleached and Deodorised palmolein - the liquid fraction of palm oil, imported in finished form ready for retail or food-service use rather than as crude palm oil requiring domestic refining
The duty differential between crude and refined palm oil determines whether India imports RBD palmolein directly or imports CPO and refines it locally
Impact on industries
- Direct RBD imports bypass domestic refineries, so a narrow duty differential idles Indian capacity and exports the value addition to origin countries
- A wide differential - crude at a much lower duty than refined - is the single most effective protection for domestic refining margin, and is the industry's standing policy ask
- Palmolein is the price-setting oil in the Indian basket, 10-15% cheaper than alternatives, so its landed cost anchors retail prices across all edible oils
- Origin countries run their own export-duty structures favouring refined shipments, so India's differential is set against a moving target