Strict crude edible oil import norms and expectation of higher crop in the ensuing months has dampened the import of edible oil in the last month.
Import of refined oil represented 4 per cent of total import and crude oil the rest in the period November 2002 to August 2003. Palm product import accounted for 74 per cent of the total import of edible oils between November 2002 to August 2003. The balance 26 per cent was degummed soybean oil and small quantity of sunflowerseed oil.
Import of non-edible oil during August 2003 jumped to 48,539 tonnes from 13,613t for in August 2002. Total import of non-edible oil between November 2002 to August 2003 was 221,950t compared to 285,133t for the same period of last year. The major non-edible oils imported were crude palm stearin and PFAD.
According to the Solvent Extractors