India has opened an inquiry into a spike in soybean shipments declared as being from Niger, suspecting some cargoes might have, in fact, originated in Nigeria.
Indian customs officials are asking importers to demonstrate that the shipments qualify for duty free treatment for least developed countries such as Niger. If the shipments are proven to have been improperly declared, importers could be charged a 45% tariff.
The News Chronicle reports that the investigation follows an extraordinary jump in India’s soybean imports from Niger. According to trade data, 380,868 tonnes of cargo were declared as originating from Niger in the first seven months of 2026, compared to none in the same period last year.
The figure is noteworthy because Niger produces under 100 tonnes of soybeans on an annual basis, whereas its main trading partner, Nigeria, is the biggest producer and exporter of soybeans in Africa.
Indian customs authorities are reportedly seeking documents pertaining to the origin and transits of the cargo, as well as transit permits for shipments that pass through Nigeria.
Importers have reportedly stopped purchasing soybeans declared as Nigerian-origin? Wait, declared as Niger-origin, amid concerns that cargoes already at Indian ports or in transit could become stranded if the tariff is imposed.
India imported 909,606 tonnes of soybeans in the first seven months of 2026, up sharply from just 1,996 tonnes a year earlier.
