Import of sensitive items during April-August 09

The total import of sensitive items for the period April-August 09 has been Rs.22429 crores as compared to Rs.17206 crores during the corresponding period of last year thereby showing an increase of 30.4%. The gross import of all commodities during same period of current year was Rs.497108 crores as compared to Rs 648041 crores during the same period of last year. Thus import of sensitive items constitutes 2.7% and 4.5% of the gross imports during last year and current year respectively.

Imports of automobiles, cotton & silk, products of SSI and alcoholic beverages have shown a decline at broad group level during the period. Imports of all other items viz. edible oil, Pulses, fruits & vegetables (including nuts), rubber, spices, marble & granite, tea & coffee, milk & milk products and food grains have shown increase during the period under reference.

In the edible oil segment, the import has increased from Rs 4791.49 crores last year to Rs 8994.36 crores for the corresponding period of this year. The imports of both crude edible oil as well as refined oil have gone up by 89% and 81% respectively. The increase in edible oil import is mainly due to substantial increase in import of crude palm oil and its fractions.

Imports of sensitive items from Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, United States of America, Brazil, Canada, Ukraine, Argentina, Benin, Australia etc. have gone up while those from China P RP, Korea RP, Japan, Cote D' Ivoire, Germany, Thailand, Czech Republic etc. have shown a decrease.