Oils & Oilseeds are two of the most sensitive and essential commodities.  India is one of the largest producers of oilseeds in the world and this sector occupies an important position in the agricultural economy. Covering an area of 24.38 million hectares and accounting for the production of 25 million tonnes of oilseeds annually against a world production of about 391.32 million tones; India contributes about 7.4% of the world oilseeds production, about 6.1% of the global production of protein meal and is the 4th largest edible oil economy in the world.

The share of India in the world oilmeal export market is about 6%. India Imports about 5.7 million tonnes of Veg.Oils, in this the share of palm oil is estimated at  4.1 million tons, whereas soft oil is estimated at 1.6 million tons.

India is fortunate to have a wide range of oilseeds crops grown in its different agro climate zones. Groundnut, mustard/rapeseed, sesame, safflower, linseed, nigerseed/castor,cottanseeds are the major traditionally cultivated oilseeds. Soyabean and sunflower have also assumed importance in recent years.
The total Oilseeds production in the world for the year 2007-2008 is projected at 391.32 million tonnes, Out of these, Soya bean (221.59), Cotton Seed (45.23), Peanuts (32.39), Sunflower Seed (27.49), Palm Kernel (10.95) and Copra (5.37).
The estimated world vegetable oil production for the year 2007-08 is 127.33 million M.T. Out of this, Palm Oil  (40.20), Soybean oil (37.97), Rapeseed oil (18.28), Sunflower oil (10.05), Cotton seed oil ( 4.86), Peanut oil (4.85), Palm kernel oil (4.79), Coconut oil is (3.32)and Olive oil (3.02).