Vegetable oil import up 3.5 pc in Apr at 13.86 lakh tonnes

Vegetable oils import rose by 3.5 per cent in April to 13.86 lakh tonnes, according to industry data.

Imports of vegetable oils (edible oil and non-edible oil) stood at 13.39 lakh tonnes in April 2017, according to Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA).

Edible oil imports rose to 13.68 lakh tonnes from 13.24 lakh tonnes, while non-edible oils imports increased to 17,850 tonnes from 15,475 tonnes during the period under review.

"The overall import of vegetable oils during November 2017 to April 2018 is reported at 73,18,295 tonnes compared to 71,38,265 tonnes, up by 2.5 per cent," SEA said in a statement.

Edible oil year runs from November to October.

During November 2017 to April 2018, the overall palm oil import has increased to 45,74,098 tonnes from 43,06,135 tonnes, thanks to withdrawal of export duty by the Malaysia.

"Since October 2016 and onwards, landed price of RBD (refined) palmolein and CPO (crude palm oil) have remained more or less the same, encouraging import of RBD palmolein," SEA said.