Rising edible oil prices strain households in Kenya and India

Kenya’s retail price for a litre of cooking oil climbed to Sh358.09 in July, the highest level since October 2022, reviving concerns over the country’s reliance on imported edible oils. The increase follows a rebound in global vegetable‑oil prices, driven by higher palm, soybean, sunflower and rapeseed costs, which the Central Bank of Kenya warned could fuel inflation. Governor Dr Kamau Thugge linked the rise to tighter export supplies from Indonesia and higher crude‑oil prices linked to Middle‑East tensions.

In India, a Crisil Intelligence report showed that higher onion, vegetable‑oil and LPG prices lifted the cost of a home‑cooked vegetarian thali by 4 % year‑on‑year in July, while a non‑vegetarian thali rose 9 % due to a 14 % jump in broiler prices. Vegetable‑oil and LPG prices were up 11 % and 10 % respectively, reflecting supply disruptions and elevated energy costs from the ongoing West Asia conflict.