The import of vegetable oils is also expected to be marginally up in 2000-2001 at 47.5 lakh to 48 lakh tonnes against 45 lakh tonnes in 1999-2000.

The crop estimates were announced at the 38th all India convention of Oilseeds and Oils Trade 2000 in Chennai. The 39th convnetion is to be held in Mumbai.

The increase in oilseeds output is seen in the groundnut crop in Andhra Pradesh by 4.5 lakh tonnes to 13 lakh tonnnes against 8.5 lakh tonnes last season. This has compensated the loss in Gujarat and Maharashtra owing to drought and low yields there. The Tamil Nadu groundnut crop is estimated to be five lakh tonnes, same as last year. Karnataka crop would be up by one lakh tonne at 6 lakh tonne against five lakh tonne last year.

Soyabean crop is marginally up at 52.5 lakh tonnes (52.00 lakh tonnes), and sesame seed at 5.2 lakh tonnes (4.7 lakh tonnes).

Copra production is estimated to increase to 8.6 lakh tonnes against 6.5 lakh tonnes last season.

The production of rice bran oil is estimated to be 4.8 lakh tonnes against five lakh tonnes last year. The output of solvent extracted oils from rapeseed, sunflower seed, groundnut, cotton seed and other oilbearing materials would be around 1.5 lakh tonnes. The total production of SE oils and oilcakes are expected to be 6.3 lakh tonnes against 7.3 lakh tonnes last season.