Pakistan’s edible oil imports are expected to jump to 3.4–3.5 million metric tonnes in 2025. This is driven by growing domestic demand. Abdul Rasheed Jan Mohammad, CEO of Westbury Group, a leading player in Pakistan’s edible oil sector, shared these figures on Friday at an industry conference in Bali, Indonesia.
From January to October 2025, Pakistan imported 3.07 million tonnes of edible oil, already surpassing the 3 million tonnes imported in 2024. Historically, the country imported between 2.9 and 3 million tonnes annually from 2022 to 2024. During the same period this year, 2.2 million tonnes of oilseeds were also imported.
Jan Mohammad told an industry conference on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali:
This is a huge increase going on… and this is primarily because of the surge in the population growth and also certain economic development.
A recent consultative meeting on edible oil regularisation revealed that approximately 30% of edible oil consumed annually in Pakistan, exceeding 4.5 million tonnes, comes from unbranded, loose oil. This type of oil is mostly consumed in semi-urban and rural areas.
Experts warned that loose oil, often sold without proper packaging or labelling, may contain harmful chemicals, impurities, and biological contaminants. These can lead to serious health risks, including cardiovascular diseases, strokes, and brain disorders.
The surge in edible oil imports reflects rising population and economic growth. However, the widespread consumption of unsafe loose oil presents a public health challenge. Industry stakeholders are discussing measures to improve edible oil safety while meeting the growing demand.