Drop in sensitive imports

New Delhi, May 19 (UNI) The total import of sensitive items have fallen by 8.3 per cent to Rs 15,086 crore during April-February 2005-06 as compared to Rs 16,460 crore during the corresponding period of last year.

The gross import of all commodities during same period of current year was Rs 5,58,992 crore as compared to Rs 4,27,456 crore during the same period of last year. Thus, import of sensitive items constitute only 3.9 per cent of the gross imports during last year and current year respectively.

Imports of edible oil, cotton and silk, milk and milk products and rubber have shown a decline at broad group level during the period.

Imports of fruits and vegetables, spices, automobiles, tea and coffee, alcoholic beverages and products of SSI have shown increase during the period under reference.

In the edible oil section, the imports has decreased from Rs 9,558 crore last year to Rs 7,863 crores for the corresponding period of this year. A significant feature of edible oil import is that import of crude oil has gone up by 26.4 per cent and that of refined oil have gone down by 75.8 per cent.

The downfall in edible oil import is mainly due to huge shortfall in import of RBD Palmolein, which has gone down by 72 per cent and Other Refined Palm oil which has gone down by 77 per cent.

UNI PC PV RK1905