BEIJING, Sept 20 Asia Pulse - China's domestic edible oil supply will beabout 20 million tons this year while domestic consumption will hoveraround 17 million tons, according to a forecast made by the Ministry ofCommerce.

In the first eight months of this year, China imported 4.49 million tonsof edible oil, up 43.4 per cent year on year. A sharp increase of bean oilwas the main reason.

Customs statistics show that China imported 1.8 million tons of bean oilin January-August, up 98.2 per cent year on year.

During the same period, the country also imported 1.5 million tons of palmoil and 0.26 million tons of rapeseed oil.