Import of sensitive items during April-July 09

The total import of sensitive items for the period April-July 09 has been Rs.18061 crore as compared to Rs.13424 crore during the corresponding period of last year thereby showing an increase of 34.5%. The gross import of all commodities during same period of current year was Rs.382422 crore as compared to Rs.488668 crore during the same period of last year. Thus import of sensitive items constitutes 2.7% and 4.7% of the gross imports during last year and current year respectively.

Imports of automobiles, 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), cotton & silk, rubber, spices, marble & granite, milk & milk products, tea & coffee and food grains have shown increase during the period under reference.

In the edible oil segment, the import has increased from Rs.3682.91 crore last year to Rs.7150.81 crore for the corresponding period of this year. The imports of both crude edible oil as well as refined oil have gone up by 94.6% and 91.6% 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, United States of America, Malaysia, Canada, Ukraine, Brazil, Argentina, Benin, Cote D' Ivoire, Australia, Thailand etc. have gone up while those from China P RP, Korea RP, Japan, Germany, Czech Republic etc. have shown a decrease.