IMPORT OF SENSITIVE ITEMS - EDIBLE OIL IMPORT MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO GROWTH

DATA FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 2002-03

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The total import of 300 sensitive tariff lines for the period April-March 2002-03 has been Rs. 13236 crore against Rs. 10956 crore for the corresponding period of last year thereby showing a growth of 20.8%. The major item that has contributed significantly to the growth is the edible oil segment, mainly crude palm oil and its fractions.

Imports of cotton & silk, alcoholic beverages, Food Grains and poultry have shown a decline at broad group level during the period. Imports of edible oil, fruits & vegetables, automobiles, milk & milk products and SSI products have shown increase during the period under reference.

In the edible oil segment, the imports have increased from Rs. 6476 crore last year to Rs. 8458 crore for the corresponding period this year. However, significant feature of edible oil import is that while import of crude palm oil has gone up, that of refined palm oil has gone down leading to better utilisation of the processing capacity in the country. Import of Sunflower oil, both crude & refined, has gone down.

Imports from Indonesia, Malaysia, Guinea Bissau, Czech Republic & Switzerland etc. have shown some increase while those from Argentina, Australia, U.S.A., Paraguay & Thailand etc. have shown some decrease.

IMPORT OF SENSITIVE ITEMS-PROVISIONAL ESTIMATE
			Value in Rs. crore
Sl. No.	COMMODITY GROUP	No. of Tariff lines	IMPORT
			April-March 02		April-March 03
1	Milk & Milk Products	22	21.56		44.22
2	Fruits & Vegetables	48	928.50		1709.94
3	Poultry	13	0.27		0.04
4	Food Grains	12	4.14		1.35
5	Edible Oil	27	6475.94		8457.62
6	Alcoholic beverages	8	29.36		25.78
7	Cotton & Silk	6	2743.82		1949.89
8	Automobiles	32	86.95		321.52
9	Products of concern to SSI (Umbrella ,locks ,toys, writing instruments, tiles, glassware etc.)	20	103.92		135.26
10	Others	112	561.30		590.05
	Total	300	10955.76		13235.67