Cargill Invests $35 Million to Expand Edible Oil Capacity in Southern India

Cargill is investing $35 million to significantly expand its edible oil capacity and presence in Southern India through the acquisition and upgrading of a refinery in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. Cargill has operated its edible oil business in India since 2001, and has already built up a strong presence in the Western, Northern, and Eastern regions of the country.  

The facility is located at Krishnapatnam Port and will be online next year in May and supply refined palm oil, palm olein, vanaspati (hydrogenated vegetable oil), and sunflower oil in a region that accounts for two-thirds of India’s sunflower oil consumption.  Piyush Patnaik, managing director of Cargill’s edible oils business in India said this acquisition is in line with the company’s tailored and localized market approach for Asia.  

“There has been an acceleration in shift towards trusted packaged branded products in the edible oils space in pandemic times. This facility will help us produce and package our edible oil brands not only for household consumers but also better serve bakery and foodservice customers in the Southern region,” Patnaik said. Its edible oils and fats brands portfolio include NatureFresh, Gemini, Sweekar, Leonardo, Rath and Sunflower.