Indian customs authorities are investigating a surge in soybean imports declared as originating from Niger amid suspicions that some of the cargoes were actually sourced from Nigeria and mislabelled to avoid import duties, according to Reuters.
The investigation follows a sharp increase in soybean shipments from Niger to India, even though Niger produces only a negligible quantity of the oilseed.
India’s trade ministry data showed that Niger was the country’s largest declared supplier of soybeans in the first seven months of 2026, accounting for 380,868 tonnes of imports, compared with no recorded shipments in the same period a year earlier. Overall, India imported a record 909,606 tonnes of soybeans during the period, up from just 1,996 tonnes a year earlier.
Indian customs authorities have questioned importers over whether shipments declared as originating in Niger qualify for duty-free treatment, according to two government and two industry sources cited by Reuters. If the shipments are found to have been mislabelled, importers could be required to pay the full 45% import tariff, the sources said.
Nigerian Connection Under Investigation
Niger produces less than 100 tonnes of soybeans a year, according to assessments within Africa’s soybean milling industry cited by Reuters. Nigeria, by contrast, is Africa’s leading producer and exporter of the oilseed.
Indian customs authorities said the volume of soybean imports attributed to Niger appeared inconsistent with the country’s production and export capacity.
“The production data of soybeans in Niger is very much less. Therefore, it appears that import quantity exceeds the usual levels of production and export capacity of Niger,” the customs department said in notices sent to importers and seen by Reuters.
Niger is landlocked, meaning shipments from the country can be transported through neighbouring countries, including Nigeria. Indian customs authorities have therefore asked importers to provide additional information on inland transportation, including transit permits for cargo moving from Niger.
The authorities are also examining certificates of origin and phytosanitary certificates submitted by importers to secure duty-free clearance.
Importers Relied on Suppliers’ Documents
Indian importers said they had relied on documentation provided by their overseas suppliers and were not in a position to independently verify where the soybeans had been produced.
“We imported the soybeans after suppliers told us they originated in Niger and provided all the necessary documents,” an importer who received a customs notice told Reuters. “It is not possible for us to physically travel to Africa to verify the origin ourselves,” the importer added.
A Dubai-based exporter said Indian buyers had since stopped purchasing soybeans declared as originating from Niger and cargoes already discharged at Indian ports or in transit could also face delays because importers and exporters are reluctant to bear the potential 45% tariff, the exporter said.
The investigation comes as India turns increasingly to overseas markets for soybeans after adverse weather affected domestic production, a situation which could also open opportunities for other West African producers, including Togo and Benin, to expand soybean exports to India through established and verifiable trade channels.
