Import of sensitive goods in to the country expanded by 34.5% in the April-October 2009 period and stood at Rs 35,487 crore against Rs 26,378 crore in the corresponding period last year. This was due to increase in imports of food products and farm items.
Import of edible items rose against the backdrop of a spike in wholesale price index-based food inflation. According to the department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) data, the average WPI-based food inflation in the April-October 2009 period stood at 10.4%, almost double of what was seen in the same period in the previous year.
Government monitors imports of sensitive items which mainly comprise food products, farm produce, automobiles and related components. In the period under consideration, the share of sensitive products in overall commodities imported in to the country rose to 5% from 3% a year ago. However, in the April-October period, over all imports in to the country stood at Rs 7,16,535 crore, down by 21.8%.
Import of pulses in the period under review surged by 54.3% and stood at Rs 5,163 crore. Overseas consignments of milk and milk-related products that came in to the country stood at Rs 131.16 crore, up by 376.6%. Import of tea and coffee grew 88.7% and stood at Rs 185.4 crore.
Crude edible crude oil imports in the period under consideration increased 83% and stood at Rs 5,403 crore while refined edible oil imports grew 36% and stood at Rs 2,281 crore.
The country imported lesser automobiles in the period. Between April and October, the country imported vehicles worth Rs 583.28 crore, down by 40.3% over the year ago period. In addition, imports of auto accessories contracted 6.5% valued at Rs 6,616.17 crore. This was because of a shortfall in imports of gear boxes and mounted brake linings.