- Castor oil prices stayed firm in Q2 2026, with only small gains as export demand balanced softer industrial signals in consuming markets.
- Feedstock pressure came from lower seed output, tighter availability, and higher export-cost risk from freight, insurance, and financing volatility.
- Downstream demand remained steady from derivatives, lubricants, coatings, plastics, pharma, and specialty chemicals, but weak construction limited stronger restocking.
In India, Castor Oil prices were ~INR 63.97/kg in April and ~INR 64.17/kg in the subsequent month, showing a ~0.3% increase. The slight rise was mainly driven by tighter castor seed availability and steady export movement. India exported 74,542 MT of castor oil in April 2026, compared with 73,585 MT in April 2025, keeping Kandla supply firm. At the feedstock level, castor seed production fell to 17.86 lakh tonnes in FY 2025-26 from 19.59 lakh tonnes a year earlier, which reduced supply comfort for crushers and exporters. In the United States, Castor Oil prices were ~USD 1,467.67/MT in April and ~USD 1,470.61/MT in the following month, showing a ~0.2% increase. U.S. prices followed Indian replacement cost pressure, as the market depends heavily on imported castor oil. However, demand-side support was limited because May manufacturing output was flat, chemical products fell 1.0% month-on-month, and construction spending was 1.5% below the previous year.