The Indian market for Refined Sunflower Oil experienced elevated pricing throughout the fourth quarter, driven by supply constraints from major exporting regions, including Ukraine and Russia. Reduced harvest forecasts from these key suppliers created tightness in global availability, which translated into higher import costs for Indian buyers. Domestic processors faced challenging procurement conditions as international prices remained elevated compared to alternative vegetable oils. Import activity declined during the quarter, with sunflower oil shipments falling to multi-year lows. Crude sunflower oil imports dropped as buyers resisted high-priced purchases and sought more economical alternatives. The price differential between sunflower oil and competing oils widened, with sunflower oil trading at premiums over both palm oil and soybean oil. This pricing disparity prompted substitution behaviour among refiners and industrial consumers. Palm oil emerged as the preferred alternative, with Indian buyers increasing palm oil purchases while reducing sunflower oil commitments. The price advantage of palm oil, which traded cheaper than sunflower oil, drove this shift in procurement patterns. Overall, vegetable oil imports declined as buyers adopted cautious purchasing strategies. Domestic edible oil stocks decreased during the quarter, though government policies encouraging domestic refining provided some support to the indigenous processing industry. Winter oilseed sowing increased, offering prospects for improved domestic supply in subsequent periods.