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Govt sets standard pack sizes for cooking oils for clearer price comparison

Govt sets standard pack sizes for cooking oils for clearer price comparison

Cooking oils: India sets standard packing

Bengaluru: India has ordered cooking oil ​makers and importers ​to sell their products only in ​a fixed set of pack sizes, a move the government said on Saturday would help shoppers compare prices ‌across brands ⁠more ⁠easily.The order targets a common pricing tactic in the ​world's most populous nation, where oils sold in odd, ​non-standard sizes leave buyers unable to tell which brand offers the best value for a ​kitchen staple.Read more: Consumer sector beats expectations but faces commodity crunch from Q2, warns BofA SecuritiesHere are the details:⁠Packaging will ‌be limited to nine standard ​sizes ​ranging from 200 millilitres to 20 ⁠litres, replacing the varied volumes currently available.​The rules apply to both domestically ​produced and imported edible oils, and cover major varieties including palm, soybean, sunflower, mustard and groundnut.Companies have been given three months to switch to the new sizes.131552264Packages ‌that declare their contents by volume must also state the equivalent weight, ​a step ​the government ⁠said would further aid price comparison.Containers smaller than 200 millilitres and minor edible oils have been ​exempted to keep affordable small packs on shelves.Read more: RBI says 4% inflation target not in abeyance; future rate action tied to price persistenceThe decision followed consultations with industry associations representing nearly 90% of India's edible oil sector, the Department of Consumer Affairs said.

Pocket-friendly packets: Why Indians are swapping big snack packs for smaller ones

Consumers are increasingly opting for smaller pack sizes of everyday goods, from edible oils to soaps, as rising costs strain monthly budgets. This shift, driven by economic stress and geopolitical factors, is leading FMCG companies to reduce grammage in popular low-priced packs to maintain affordability and protect profit margins.

Russia foils drone attack as economic forum begins

India-Oman trade deal goes live June 1

The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Oman is set to come into force on June 1, marking a significant milestone in bilateral economic relations. Both nations will formally announce the decision on Monday.This marks the fifth free trade agreement (FTA) implemented under the Modi government since 2014. It follows trade pacts rolled out with Mauritius (April 2021), the UAE (May 2022), Australia (December 2022), and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA—comprising Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway in October 2025). India has also signed deals with the UK (July 2025) and New Zealand (April 2026), alongside concluding trade talks with the 27-nation European Union (EU) on January 27 this year.CEPA vs FTAModern trade pacts typically span around 20 chapters. These encompass comprehensive regulations across trade in goods, trade in services, investment, intellectual property rights, customs procedures, and dispute settlement mechanisms.Similar bilateral frameworks are also designated as Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreements (CECA), Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreements (CETA), or Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreements (ECTA).Also read: India-Oman CEPA to strengthen energy security, trade resilience and export growthIndia-Oman tradeBilateral trade between the two nations reached USD 11.18 billion during 2025-26, up from USD 10.61 billion in 2024-25. India’s exports stood at USD 4.02 billion, while imports from Oman were valued at USD 7.16 billion.In the services domain, India's exports to Oman expanded from USD 397 million in 2020 to USD 665 million in 2024, driven primarily by telecommunications, computer and information, transport, and travel sectors. Conversely, services imports from Oman grew from USD 101 million to USD 197.7 million over the same period, led by transport, travel, telecom, and other business services.What does India gain? The deal unlocks 100% duty-free market access for Indian exports to Oman, covering 98.08% of Oman’s tariff lines, which represents 99.38% of the trade value (based on the 2022-23 average).Immediate Concessions: All zero-duty access comes into effect from "Day One" of the agreement. Currently, only 15.33% of India’s export value (11.34% of tariff lines) enters Oman duty-free under the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) regime.Price Competitiveness: The pact eliminates the current 5% import duty on Indian goods worth USD 3.64 billion.Growth Drivers: Key sectors poised for immediate advantages include textiles, agricultural products, transport equipment, precision instruments, processed food, and gems & jewellery.New Horizons: The agreement unlocks fresh export windows for Indian minerals, chemicals, base metals, machinery, plastic, rubber, automobiles, clocks, instruments, glass, ceramics, marble, and paper.India-Oman CEPA: Key sectoral gainsOman will grant immediate zero-duty access to crucial Indian industrial segments, including:Iron and steelElectrical and industrial machineryMarine products and copper goodsFurthermore, the removal of the 5% tariff is set to directly bolster the competitiveness of Indian vehicles in the Omani market, while securing binding zero-duty access for key finished medicines and vaccines.India protects sensitive sectorsTo insulate local industries and farming communities, India has placed 2,789 tariff lines on its exclusion list.Excluded Categories: Key domestic sectors shielded from tariff concessions include transport equipment, major chemicals, cereals, fruits, vegetables, spices, coffee, tea, and products of animal origin.Manufacturing Safeguards: High-value manufacturing chains including rubber, leather, textiles, footwear, petroleum oils, and mineral-based products remain protected.Agricultural Shielding: Strategic segments such as dairy products, meat, oilseeds, vegetable oils, sugar, and food-processing residues are entirely kept out of the liberalisation purview.Service sector stands to gainWith Oman’s total global services imports standing at USD 12.52 billion in 2024, India’s current share of 5.31% presents significant room for expansion.Oman has made robust commitments regarding the temporary entry and stay of Indian service professionals. Notably, the Intra-Corporate Transferees (ICT) ceiling has been raised from 20% to 50%, allowing Indian firms to deploy a higher volume of managerial and specialist personnel.Additionally, for the first time in any FTA, Oman has locked in specific commitments for professional service providers, benefitting Indian talent in IT, accounting, engineering, medical, education, construction, and consulting fields.Gains for India's agri sectorIndian agricultural exports such as natural honey, potatoes, cashews, boneless meat, and bakery items will secure immediate duty-free entry into Oman.Oman has agreed to dismantle tariffs—which currently range from 5% to 100%—on an array of items. These include cheese, curd, milk, cream, frozen fish, butter, meat, yoghurt, pastries, cakes, chocolate, sugar confectionery, mineral water, alongside animal and vegetable fats and oils.In return, Indian consumers will benefit from cheaper imports of Omani dates, with India granting zero-duty access for up to 2,000 tonnes of the commodity annually. New Delhi is also extending tariff concessions to Oman’s traditional products: Gum Arabica (utilised in food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics) and Frankincense (utilised in the incense and perfume sectors).Oman to benefit from tariff concessionsIndia is extending tariff concessions across 77.79% of its total tariff lines (equivalent to 12,556 lines), which encapsulates 94.81% of India’s total imports from Oman by value.For items that hold significant export value for Oman but remain sensitive for domestic industries in India—such as dates, marbles, and specific petrochemical products—liberalisation will be managed via a controlled Tariff-Rate Quota (TRQ) mechanism.India strengthening presence in Middle EastThe Oman CEPA serves as another pillar in India's deepening trade ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), following its May 2022 pact with the UAE. New Delhi is set to commence trade talks with Qatar soon, and has already inked terms of reference (TOR) to initiate broader trade pact negotiations with the entire GCC bloc (comprising Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain).Despite its size, Oman commands vast geopolitical importance as it borders the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint heavily relied upon by Asian enterprises for oil trade. The nation serves as a strategic gateway for Indian goods and services into the broader Middle Eastern and African markets.Currently, nearly 7 lakh Indian nationals reside in Oman, sending home approximately USD 2 billion in annual remittances. Over 6,000 Indian establishments operate within Oman, and India has clocked USD 615.54 million in foreign direct investment (FDI) from Oman between April 2000 and September 2025. Notably, this CEPA is the first bilateral trade pact Oman has signed with any nation since its agreement with the United States in 2006, cementing its position as India’s third-largest export market within the GCC.

Patanjali Foods Q4 Results: Profit jumps 46% to Rs 524 crore despite margin pressure

Patanjali Foods reported a 46% year-on-year rise in net profit for the March quarter, aided by strong growth across its edible oils and FMCG businesses. However, higher raw material and packaging costs weighed on profitability. The company's profit after tax rose to Rs 524 crore in the quarter ended March 2026 from about Rs 359 crore a year earlier.Revenue from operations increased 17% year-on-year (YoY) and 6% sequentially to Rs 11,217 crore during the quarter. Despite the strong top-line performance, margins remained under pressure due to rising input costs.Gross profit stood at Rs 1,398 crore, translating into a margin of 12.47%. The company said profitability was impacted by a sharp rise in packaging material costs during the latter half of March, particularly for PET bottles and polyester films, driven by crude oil volatility and higher freight expenses.Cost of goods sold increased by 294 basis points as a percentage of revenue on a YoY basis. EBITDA, excluding exceptional items, came in at Rs 502 crore with an EBITDA margin of 4.48%.The edible oils business remained the largest contributor to revenue. The segment reported revenue of Rs 8,324 crore during the quarter, up 23% YoY and 13.5% sequentially. Segment EBITDA stood at Rs 215 crore, with margins of 2.58%.Branded edible oils accounted for nearly 75% of total edible oil sales and continued to drive growth.The company said palm oil prices strengthened sharply during the quarter, with refined palm oil prices rising nearly 20% between January and March 2026. The increase was driven by higher import costs from Malaysia and Indonesia, elevated freight charges, rising insurance costs and expectations of tighter global supplies.Soya oil prices also moved higher, rising 23% during the quarter.The FMCG segment continued its strong performance and generated revenue of Rs 2,890 crore, up 14% YoY. Segment EBITDA rose 14% to Rs 292 crore, while margins stood at 10.1%.The FMCG business contributed nearly 26% of quarterly revenue and almost 58% of segment EBITDA during the quarter, underscoring its growing importance in the company's earnings mix.Within FMCG, biscuits remained a key growth driver. Quarterly biscuit revenue rose nearly 14% to Rs 478 crore. For FY26, biscuit revenue crossed Rs 1,907 crore, growing 16%.The company said its Doodh biscuit brand has now become a Rs 1,300-crore-plus annual sales brand, while Nariyal biscuits continued gaining market share.The Staples portfolio generated quarterly revenue of Rs 849 crore, while the home and personal care business posted strong growth of 35% to Rs 840 crore. The skincare category emerged as one of the fastest-growing segments, with revenue rising 58% YoY.The ghee business reported quarterly revenue of Rs 339 crore, while textured soya products contributed Rs 106 crore.Beverages and juices also witnessed improved demand toward the end of the quarter as summer consumption recovered after an initially delayed season.The company's nutraceutical business generated revenue of Rs 18 crore following internal restructuring initiatives. Exports contributed Rs 32 crore during the quarter, while annual export revenue stood at Rs 187.8 crore. Patanjali Foods exported products to 37 countries during FY26.For the full year, Patanjali Foods reported its highest-ever annual revenue from operations at Rs 40,170 crore, representing growth of 19% over FY25.The edible oils business generated annual revenue of Rs 29,313 crore, while the FMCG segment reported annual revenue of Rs 11,188 crore, up nearly 20%. The company also continued expanding its oil palm plantation business under the government's edible oil self-sufficiency push.As of March 2026, the total oil palm cultivated area under the company's network stood at 1.11 lakh hectares across 12 states, reflecting growth of 24% YoY.Patanjali Foods spent around 2% of quarterly revenue on advertising and brand-building activities during the quarter.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times.)

Patanjali Foods Q4 Results: Profit jumps 46% to Rs 524 crore despite margin pressure

Patanjali Foods reported a 46% year-on-year rise in net profit for the March quarter, aided by strong growth across its edible oils and FMCG businesses. However, higher raw material and packaging costs weighed on profitability. The company's profit after tax rose to Rs 524 crore in the quarter ended March 2026 from about Rs 359 crore a year earlier.Revenue from operations increased 17% year-on-year (YoY) and 6% sequentially to Rs 11,217 crore during the quarter. Despite the strong top-line performance, margins remained under pressure due to rising input costs.Gross profit stood at Rs 1,398 crore, translating into a margin of 12.47%. The company said profitability was impacted by a sharp rise in packaging material costs during the latter half of March, particularly for PET bottles and polyester films, driven by crude oil volatility and higher freight expenses.Cost of goods sold increased by 294 basis points as a percentage of revenue on a YoY basis. EBITDA, excluding exceptional items, came in at Rs 502 crore with an EBITDA margin of 4.48%.The edible oils business remained the largest contributor to revenue. The segment reported revenue of Rs 8,324 crore during the quarter, up 23% YoY and 13.5% sequentially. Segment EBITDA stood at Rs 215 crore, with margins of 2.58%.Branded edible oils accounted for nearly 75% of total edible oil sales and continued to drive growth.The company said palm oil prices strengthened sharply during the quarter, with refined palm oil prices rising nearly 20% between January and March 2026. The increase was driven by higher import costs from Malaysia and Indonesia, elevated freight charges, rising insurance costs and expectations of tighter global supplies.Soya oil prices also moved higher, rising 23% during the quarter.The FMCG segment continued its strong performance and generated revenue of Rs 2,890 crore, up 14% YoY. Segment EBITDA rose 14% to Rs 292 crore, while margins stood at 10.1%.The FMCG business contributed nearly 26% of quarterly revenue and almost 58% of segment EBITDA during the quarter, underscoring its growing importance in the company's earnings mix.Within FMCG, biscuits remained a key growth driver. Quarterly biscuit revenue rose nearly 14% to Rs 478 crore. For FY26, biscuit revenue crossed Rs 1,907 crore, growing 16%.The company said its Doodh biscuit brand has now become a Rs 1,300-crore-plus annual sales brand, while Nariyal biscuits continued gaining market share.The Staples portfolio generated quarterly revenue of Rs 849 crore, while the home and personal care business posted strong growth of 35% to Rs 840 crore. The skincare category emerged as one of the fastest-growing segments, with revenue rising 58% YoY.The ghee business reported quarterly revenue of Rs 339 crore, while textured soya products contributed Rs 106 crore.Beverages and juices also witnessed improved demand toward the end of the quarter as summer consumption recovered after an initially delayed season.The company's nutraceutical business generated revenue of Rs 18 crore following internal restructuring initiatives. Exports contributed Rs 32 crore during the quarter, while annual export revenue stood at Rs 187.8 crore. Patanjali Foods exported products to 37 countries during FY26.For the full year, Patanjali Foods reported its highest-ever annual revenue from operations at Rs 40,170 crore, representing growth of 19% over FY25.The edible oils business generated annual revenue of Rs 29,313 crore, while the FMCG segment reported annual revenue of Rs 11,188 crore, up nearly 20%. The company also continued expanding its oil palm plantation business under the government's edible oil self-sufficiency push.As of March 2026, the total oil palm cultivated area under the company's network stood at 1.11 lakh hectares across 12 states, reflecting growth of 24% YoY.Patanjali Foods spent around 2% of quarterly revenue on advertising and brand-building activities during the quarter.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times.)

Navy foils piracy attempt, secures merchant vessel in western Indian Ocean

During the mission, INS Kolkata also ensured safe passage for the merchant vessel MV Mashaallah 1 through the sensitive maritime zone

Women-led drone patrol foils theft; arrests repeat offender at Yakutpura railway station

Since the launch of the ‘Pink Patrol’ last month, RPF has registered 388 cases related to unauthorised entry into ladies’ coaches, along with 69 cases against trespassers and suspicious individuals on railway premises.