Refined oil replace crude in import basket

Edible oil import in the country has continued to remain high despite bumper oilseeds crop. In last five months the only difference from last year was a shift from crude to refined oils.

Currently refined oils constitute about 20 per cent of total import. Hardly any refined oil was imported last year. Also palm oil share has increased to 82 per cent in total import from 77 per cent during the same period of last year.

Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA) data said import of edible oils during March 2004 was 438,169 tonnes. The total import of edible oils between November 2003 and March 2004 was 1,591,911 tonnes compared to 1,574,420 tonnes in previous year.

Import of refined oil from November 2003 to March 2004 was at 311,079 tonnes (20 per cent ), against 24,148 tonnes (2 per cent) during the same period of last year.

Import of crude oil from November 2003 to March 2004 was at 1,280,832 tonnes ( 80 per cent ), against 1,550,272 tonnes (98 per cent) during the same period of last year.

Import of non-edible oil in March 2004 was at 21,316 tonnes compared to 17,965 tonnes in March 2003. Total import of non-edible oil between November 2003 and March 2004 was 99,721 tonnes compared to 100,203 tonnes in previous year. Crude palm stearin and PFAD and PKFAD were the major non-edible oils imported.

Palm oil products import between November 2003 and March 2004 was at 1,312,052 tonnes representing 82 per cent of the total import. Soft oils import was at 279,859 tonnes (18 per cent).