Imports of sensitive items up by 12 pc

New Delhi, Jan 23 (UNI) India's import of sensitive items for the April-November 2007 period went up by 11.8 per cent to Rs 18,702 crore from Rs 16,726 crore during the same period in 2006.

However, in terms of percentage of gross import of Rs 61,2357 crore the senstive imports constiuted just 3.07 per cent, Commerce Ministry said today.

The minister said while imports of spices, marble, granite, milk and its products declined, those of edible oil, fruits and vegetables, including nuts, cotton and silk, food grains, automobiles, rubber, alcoholic beverages,tea and coffee went up.

The country imported edible oil worth Rs 8,024 crore for first 8 months of the current fiscal,up from Rs 7,304 crore during the same period in the previous fiscal. The increase is mainly due to 16 per cent growth in import of crude palm oil and its fractions.

Import of both crude oil and refined oil have gone up by 9.1 per cent and 15.8 per cent respectively, the Ministry added.

UNI SAA PDT HT1828