Imports of edible oils during the first eight months of the current oil year (November-June) fell by 13 per cent to 2,577,654 tonnes from 2,970,642 tonnes of the corresponding period last year.
The share of refined edible oil imports in the total edible oil imports have been declining since November 2001, with its share declining from 22 per cent to zero per cent in March 2002. The overall ratio between refined and crude oil in the first eight months was 5:92 against 39:61 during the same period last year.
It continued to hover between 1 per cent and 5 per cent during April and May and again fell to zero per cent in June. In June, edible oils imports were at 432,606 tonnes against 311,576 tonnes of the same month last year.
According to figures released by the Solvent Extractors Association of India, the share of crude edible oil imports during November-June, 2002 was 61 per cent of the total edible oil imports, while that of refined edible oil imports were only 5 per cent.
The share of palm oil product imports have touched 74 per cent of the total edible oil imports. It has increased from 68 per cent in 1999-2000. Palm products are imported from Malaysia and Indonesia.
On the other hand, the share of soft oils has decreased to 26 per cent in the first eight months of 2001-02. It has been declining from 39 per cent in 1998-99 to 32 per cent to 1999-2000.
The imports of non-edible oils for the first eight months is up 39 per cent to 242,841 tonnes from 174,239 tonnes. The imports in June alone stood at 26,210 tonnes against 9,827 tonnes for the same month last year. Crude palm stearin and PFAD are the major non-edible oils imported by India.