8/18/04, INDIA(Oilmandi) - The import of edible oil in the third quarter(May-July) of the current oil year (November 2003 to October 2004) fell 51per cent to 880,045 tonne compared with 1,778,736 tonne in thecorresponding period last year, according to the Solvent ExtractorsAssociation of India (SEA).

Import in July 2004 were at 292,066 tonne against 518,179 tonne in July2003.

Overall imports of edible oils during the period from November 2003 toJuly 2004 fell 30 per cent at 2,695,675 tonne compared to 3,863,149 tonne.

Imports during the four months from November to March was largely stablecompared with the previous year. However, imports fell between April toJuly to 1,066,000 tonne as domestic supply rose following large kharif andrabi season crops last year.

Imports of refined oil between November 2003 and July 2004 rose. Itconstituted about 18 per cent of the total import, against only three percent in the same period of previous year.

Refined oil import was at 488,019 tonne against total import of 109,324tonne. Import of crude oil between November 2003 and July 2004 was2,207,656 tonne or 82 per cent of total imports against 3,753,825 tonne or97 per cent in the same period of last year.

Palm oil product import between November 2003 and July 2004 was 2,255,241tonne, or 84 per cent of total imports. Soft oil imports were 440,434tonne.