Report: Soybean from Nigeria mislabelled as Niger imports in India to evade taxes
Indian customs authorities are investigating a surge in soybean imports declared as originating from Niger Republic, suspecting the cargoes came from Nigeria and were mislabelled to evade import tariffs, Reuters reports.
India allows duty-free imports from countries categorised as least-developed, such as Niger, which produces less than 100 metric tonnes of soybeans a year, according to assessments within Africa’s soybean milling industry.
Neighbouring Nigeria, by contrast, is Africa’s leading producer and exporter of the oilseed, although it ranks much lower globally.
Indian customs authorities began to raise eyebrows after trade ministry data showed Niger as the biggest supplier of soybeans to the Asian country in the first seven months of 2026, despite producing no significant quantity of the oilseed, according to sources and a customs letter seen by Reuters.
According to the data, India’s soybean imports surged to a record 909,606 tonnes in the first seven months of 2026 from just 1,996 tonnes a year earlier, while shipments declared as originating in Niger Republic rose to 380,868 tonnes from zero.
“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.
Indian customs authorities had cleared the consignments after importers submitted documents required for duty-free clearance, including certificates of origin and phytosanitary certificates issued by Niger, the sources said.
Customs authorities are now asking importers to prove that soybean shipments declared as originating in Niger qualify for duty-free treatment, two government and two industry sources aware of the matter said.
Niger is landlocked, and soybean shipments from the country can be routed through Nigeria which borders the Atlantic.
Importers now have to provide details of inland transportation, including transit permits issued for cargo moving from Niger.
However, Indian importers have baulked at the request which they say is impossible.
“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 importers said they had asked their overseas suppliers to provide the records.
India’s soybeans production took a hit from dry conditions following last year’s floods. The country now relies on imports to meet local demands.
