Edible oil imports during the nine-month period November 2001-July 2002 was down 15 per cent to 2.97 million tonnes, against 3.49 million tonnes of the corresponding period last year.
Edible oil imports for the quarter ended July 31, 2002, were up by 8 per cent to 1.29 million tonnes compared to 1.2 million tonnes for the same quarter last year.
According to figures released by the Solvent Extractors Association of India, imports of refined oil continued to remain zero, on trend from June 2002. In fact, the percentage of refined oil imports has been decreasing from November 2001. India did not import any refined oil in March 2002 and June 2002. The ratio for refined and crude oil imports for the first nine months is 4:96 against 38:62 from last year.
Imports of crude palm oil rose to 1.38 million tonnes in November 2001-July 2002 from 1.07 million tonnes during the same period last year. Soyabean oil (degummed) imports stood at 876,731 tonnes during the nine-month period, up from 737,977 tonnes of the corresponding period last year.
Imports of refined, bleached and deodorised (RBD) palmolein dropped sharply to 118,895 tonnes in November-July from 1,308,237 tonnes in the same period last year.
India also imported 579,052 tonnes of crude palmolein during November-July, a significant rise from the 17,522 tonnes in the same period last year.
Non-edible oils imports increased 38 per cent during the November-July period. Total imports stood at 271,520 tonnes against 197,060 tonnes of the corresponding period last year.
