Sensitive items import up 26.8% till Jan

The import of 300 sensitive items rose 26.8 per cent to Rs 14,621 crore during April-January 2003-04. The growth was mainly on account of a 121 per cent jump in refined edible oil imports valued at Rs 2,262.49 crore.

According to the latest data released by the government on Wednesday, the import of crude edible oil also rose 19.7 per cent to Rs 7,342.73 crore during April-January 2003-04, against Rs 6,131.85 crore in the corresponding period in 2002-03.

An official release said crude palm oil and its fractions were the major contributors to the spurt in imports.

"The share of crude imports against total edible oil imports remains as high as 76 per cent, indicating a better utilisation of the processing capacity in the country. The import of soya bean crude oil, kernel/babasu crude oil and sunflower crude oil have also gone up marginally," the release added.

The import of 300 sensitive items, monitored by the government, is expected to constitute 5.1 per cent of the gross imports during 2003-04, against 4.8 per cent in 2002-03.