Imports of sensitive items up 42.8% in 2011-12

Value of sensitive items imported in year ago period was Rs 70,655 cr vs Rs 1,00,911 cr

Imports of sensitive items, including fruits, vegetables and edible oils, went up by 42.8% year-on-year to Rs 1,00,911 crore in 2011-12.

The value of sensitive items imported during the year-ago period was Rs 70,655 crore.

Imports of fruit and vegetables soared by 70% to Rs 8,929.24 crore during April-March 2012, from Rs 5,248.38 crore in the same period previous fiscal, Commerce Ministry said in a statement.

Items such as foodgrains, automobiles, milk and beverages fall in the sensitive category and the import of these goods are monitored by the government to see if there is any adverse impact on the domestic industry.

Imports of edible oils rose by 57.9% to Rs 46,309 crore from Rs 29,319 crore in the last fiscal. India is the world's largest importer of edible oil and one of the largest consumers.

"The imports of both crude oil as well as refined oil have gone up by 53.5% and 85.6% respectively. The increase in edible oil import is mainly due to substantial increase in import of crude palm oil and its fractions," it said.

During the period, the import of items such as alcoholic beverages and spices also increased by 58.3% and 54.2%, respectively.

Imports of products of small scale industries such as umbrellas, locks, toys and glassware went up by 43% year-on-year to Rs 2,205.75 crore.

Automobile imports jumped by 40% to Rs 3,587 crore. Similarly, milk imports too increased by 43.8% during the period.

"Imports of food grains have declined at broad group level during the period. Imports of all other items like edible oil, automobiles, pulses, fruits & vegetables, rubber, cotton & silk and spices have increased during the period," it added.

Imports of foodgrains contracted 92.6%.

Imports of sensitive items from Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Germany, Argentina, Korea,  USA, Japan, Thailand, Canada, Myanmar, UK, Australia, have gone up while those from Brazil have gone down.

Imports of sensitive items constitutes 4.3% of the gross imports during the period.