Question : IMPORT OF EDIBLE OILS

(a) the demand of the edible oils in the country during 1999-2000 and 2000-2001; (

(b) whether the Government are capable of meeting the demand through domestic production; (

(c) if not, whether the Government are contemplating to import the edible oils to meet its demand during the current financial year;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the import of edible oils has become costlier due to imposition of additional custom duty; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to minimise the import of edible oil?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI V. SREENIVASA PRASAD)

(a) Demand for edible oils in the country during 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 are estimated at 96.43 lakh metric tonnes and 100.96 lakh metric tonnes respectively.
(b), (c) & (d) : As per the oilseed production projection of the Agriculture Ministry, there would continue to be gap between demand and supply of edible oils. As a supplemental measure, to meet the gap between demand and supply of edible oils, Government has allowed import of edible oils. The import of edible oils during the current financial year (April, 1999 to January, 2000) is estimated at 42.18 lakh tonnes.

(e) The prices of imported edible oils before and after the Union Budget 2000-2001 are recorded below :-

CIF prices per MT in US $
Name of Oil
28.2.2000
6.3.2000
RBD Palmolein
340
347
Soyabean
373
383
Sunflower
375
388
Rapeseed
N.A.
404