Niger or Nigeria? India probes soybean imports over suspected tax evasion, sources say
Indian customs officials are currently examining a notable uptick in soybean imports, which are purportedly sourced from Niger. Authorities suspect that these shipments are actually originating from Nigeria to avoid applicable tariffs. As a result, importers must now validate the authenticity of their cargoes or incur significant duties. This scrutiny has effectively paused purchases labeled as…
Mumbai: Indian customs authorities are probing an unexpected spike in soybean imports declared as coming from Niger, suspecting they may actually be from Nigeria and improperly labeled to avoid import taxes, according to sources and a customs notice obtained by Reuters. Despite Niger producing only a fraction of a metric ton of soybeans annually, it led the list of declared suppliers to India in the first half of 2026, with exports totaling 380,868 tons, a sharp contrast to its actual production.
Nigeria, the world's leading soybean producer and exporter, supplied negligible quantities to India. Customs officials are demanding importers substantiate their claims of Nigerian origins, threatening a 45% tariff if the cargoes are deemed mislabeled. The surge in imports, up from zero last year, reflects India's dependence on foreign soybeans following a production drop due to adverse weather conditions. Nigerian imports are currently blocked pending verification of the shipments' origins.
Written by urgent.news from The Economic Times - Economy's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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