Imports of commodities by 22.05 pc up during april-May, 2007

New Delhi, July 18 (UNI) The gross import of all commodities during April-May, this year stood higher at Rs 1,48054 crores compared to Rs 121305 crores during the same period of last year, up by 22.05 pr cent.

However, the total import of sensitive items for the same period declined by 7.9 per cent to Rs 2,606 crore as against to Rs 2,828 crore during the corresponding period last year.

Imports of edible oil, fruits and vegetables (including nuts), cotton and silk, products of SSI, spices, marble and Granite and milk and milk products have shown a decline at broad group level during the period. Imports of items viz. automobiles, rubber and A lcoholic beverages have shown increase during the period under reference.

In the edible oil segment, the import has decreased from Rs 1601 crore last year to Rs 1381 crores for the corresponding period of this year. The import of both crude oil as well as refined oil have gone down by 13.6 per cent and 16.4 per cent respectively. The fall in edible oil import is mainly due to significant decrease in import of Soya-bean oil and its fractions (Crude), which has gone down by 63 per cent.

Imports of sensitive items from Indonesia, China, Thailand, Germany, Japan, Cote D' Ivoire, Australia, the UK etc have gone up while those from Argentina, the us malaysia, Benin, Egypt, Sri Lanka , Brazil and Vietnam Soc Republic have shown a decrease, said an official release issued here today.

UNI