Edible Oil Imports Rise 8 Per Cent In 2000-01

The total imports of edible oils for the oil year 2000-01 (November to October) has registered a growth of eight per cent at 48,33,808 tonne as against 44,94,953 tonne during the previous year, according to data compiled by the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEAI).

The ratio of refined and raw oil imported during 2000-01 is 32:68 compared with 50:50 for the last year. Import ratio of palm and soft oil has changed from 68:32 during 1999-2000 to 60:40 during 2000-01, mainly due to surge in import of crude soybean oil.

The import of RBD palmolein has gone down from 22,13,777 tonne to 15,16,688 tonne, but largely this decline has been compensated by increase in import of crude palm oil from 8,28,359 tonne to 14,04,723 tonne during 2000-01.

SEAI executive director B V Mehta said the import of edible oil during October 2001 was 45 per cent lower at 2,88,376 tonne as against 5,24,073 tonne imported in October 2000.

Giving the data of non-edible oil imports, Mehta said the imports had increased by five per cent during 2000-01. The total imports of non-edible oil during November 2000 to October 2001 was 2,63,055 tonne as against 2,49,877 tonne during the preceding 12 months.

Palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD), crude palm stearin (CPS) and crude palm kernel oil (CPKO) are major non-edible oils being imported for soap manufacturing, he revealed.