CBIC Revises Import Customs Duty on Cane Molasses and Edible Oils [Read Notification]

The Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, through the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) issued Notification No. 48 / 2025 Customs dated 14 November 2025 announcing changes to import duty on cane molasses and several categories of edible oils.

As per the notification, the government has fully removed customs duty on cane molasses falling under HS code 1703 10 00. This has been done by inserting a new entry under the long-standing exemption Notification 27 / 2011 Customs.

This change will benefit distilleries, ethanol producers and food processing firms. It may also help ease raw material shortages during low production periods and support the national ethanol blending programme.

Along with this exemption, the CBIC has made important revisions to the duty structure for edible oils under Notification 45 / 2025 Customs. The government has modified tariff headings eligible for concessional duty and created a separate rate for a key edible oil category. The updated duty structure includes:

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• Cane molasses (HS 1703 10 00)
• New import duty: Nil
• Virgin olive oil (HS 1510 10 00)
• New import duty: 15 percent
• Other edible oils under headings 1508, 1509, 1510 (excluding 1510 10 00), 1512 (excluding 1512 11 10), 1513 and 1515
• Revised coverage under concessional duty list

The timing of these changes coincides with increased monitoring of food inflation and seasonal demand. The new duty structure will help maintain the smooth availability of edible oils in the market while providing clarity to importers. The notification has come into effect from the date of its publication in the Gazette of India.

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