Cooking oil demand from big buyers to fall 30-35%

NEW DELHI: Retail cooking oil sales have started increasing but demand from big buyers such as hotels, bakeries and caterers remains weak, said industry executives.

Demand from big buyers is likely to fall 30-35% this year, said Sudhakar Desai, president of the Indian Vegetable Oil Producers’ Association (IVPA), an apex organisation of vegetable oil producers in the country.

Sale to households is likely to rise, though, said Desai. “With restaurant and hotels closed, consumers are cooking at home and procuring more oil,” he said.