Edible oil imports rise 9.5 per cent

The country's vegetable oil imports jumped 9.5 per cent to 4,802,153 tonnes from 4,385,723 tonnes in the year-ago period in the first 11 months of the oil year (November-October) on rising edible oil demand.

Total edible oil imports during the period witnessed a growth of 11.47 per cent to 4,213,724 tonnes compared with 3,780,112 tonnes in the corresponding period last year, according to data compiled by the Solvent Extractors' Association (SEA).

However, non-edible oil imports, declined 2.84 per cent to 5,88,429 tonnes from 6,05,611 tonnes, according to a press release issued by the SEA. 

IN DEMAND Import of edible & non-edible oils
(In mn tonnes)	Edible	Non-edible
Nov '06	1,500	49,792
Dec '06	2,968	72,890
Jan '07	500	36,110
Feb '07	1,799	19,056
Mar '07	"�	64,032
Apr '07	500	49,918
May '07	1,200	1,15,196
Jun '07	"�	43,191
Jul '07	"�	32,688
Aug '07	"�	46,738
Sep '07	455	58,818
Total	8,922	5,88,429
Source: Solvent Extractors' Association of India

The country's vegetable oil imports during the quarter ended July recorded a 96 per cent upsurge at 1,781,528 tonnes compared with 9,08,108 tonnes in the previous quarter. Of this, edible oil contributed 1,590,453 tonnes (7,75,102 tonnes), while non-edible oil shared 1,91,075 tonnes (1,33,006 tonnes).

In September, edible oil imports was up 23 per cent at 4,46,721 tonnes compared with the year-ago period figures, while non-edible oil imports declined 14 per cent to 58,818 tonnes from 68,094 tonnes recorded in the corresponding period the previous year.

Due to reduction of import duty on CPO to 45 per cent from 80 per cent, crude palm oil imports jumped to 2,624,632 tonnes from 1,982,418 tonnes. Imports of sunflower oil also more than doubled on reduction of duty from 75 per cent to 40 per cent.

Import of refined oil has reduced from 1,15,602 tonnes to 1,02,622 tonnes, while the crude oil further increased to 3,664,381 tonnes from 3,300,941 tonnes in November 2006-August 2007 as compared to corresponding period of last year.

Palm oil products (CPO, RBD palmolein, crude palmolein and crude palm kernel oil) import share has further increased to 2,775,803 tonnes (66 per cent) from 2,165,548 tonnes (57 per cent), while soft oil import reduced to 1,437,921 tonnes (34 per cent) from 1,614,564 tonnes (43 per cent) during November 2006 to September 2007 compared to the same period of last year.

Within soft oil, crude soybean oil import reduced to 1,225,010 tonnes from 1,480,907 tonnes due to disparity compared to CPO, while sunflower oil import increased to 192,795 tonnes from 90,843 tonnes.

Import of non-edible oil during September 2007 reported at 58,818 tonnes compared with 68,094 tonnes in September 2006. The total import of non-edible oil during November 2006 to September 2007 is reported at 5,88,429 tonnes compared to 6,05,611 tonnes of last year.

PFAD import has substantially increased from 1,60,989 tonnes to 2,37,597 tonnes, while CPS import is drastically reduced in last few months. It may be noted that government has imposed 8 per cent CVD on CPS import effective August 2.

According to the fourth advance estimates released by the agriculture ministry in July, oilseeds output in 2006-07 is estimated at 23.88 million tonnes, down 14.65 per cent from the final production estimates of 27.98 million tonnes in 2005-06.

The government has also reduced customs duty on edible oil imports to boost the domestic availability and keep prices under check.