State-owned trading agency PEC has invited bids for the import of 13,500 tonnes of edible oil through two separate tenders dated June 11.
One tender for the purchase of 1,500 tonnes of crude degummed soyabean oil (CDSO) closes on June 16, while the other, for importing 12,000 tonnes of RBD palmolein oil (edible grade), closes on June 18, PEC said on its website.
The tender notice for import of CDSO said the entire quantity of oil should be immediately shipped to the Kandla port, after the award of contract on June 17.
The oil should be sourced from Argentina and/or Brazil, it added.
The tender for importing RBD palmolein, on the other hand, stipulated that 8,500 tonnes of the oil should be shipped to the Chennai port between July 20 and August 15, while the remaining 3,500 tonnes has to reach the Tuticorin port by end-July.
The oil should be sourced from Indonesia and/or Malaysia, the tender said, adding that a decision on the award of contract will be taken on June 21.
India's annual edible oil demand is around 14.5 million tonnes, of which over 8 million tonnes comes through imports done by state-owned agencies like Nafed, STC, PEC and MMTC on behalf of the government.
