Pakistan‘s edible oil imports are projected to reach 3.4 to 3.5 million metric tonnes this year,driven by rising domestic demand,according to Abdul Rasheed Jan Mohammad,CEO of the Westbury Group,a leading Pakistani edible oil company. Mohammad announced the forecast Friday at an industry conference in Bali, Indonesia.
Imports from january through October of this year already totaled 3.07 million tonnes, exceeding the full-year total of 3 million tonnes imported in 2024. Pakistan has imported between 2.9 and 3 million tonnes annually from 2022-2024, with 2.2 million tonnes of those imports being oilseeds.
Concerns are also being raised about the prevalence of unbranded, loose edible oil, which accounts for roughly 30% – over 4.5 million tonnes – of annual consumption, particularly in semi-urban and rural areas. Experts warn this loose oil, often lacking proper packaging and labeling, may contain harmful chemicals, impurities, and biological contaminants, perhaps leading to cardiovascular disease, stroke, and brain disorders.
