Lok Sabha Question No. 1022 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Palm Oil Imports
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Ritesh Pandey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1022 ANSWERED ON 26/07/2023

## PALM OIL IMPORTS

## 1022.   SHRI RITESH PANDEY:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) the  reasons  attributed  to  the  decline  of  14.59%  in  India's  palm  oil  imports  to  4,39,173 tonnes in May this year as compared to 5,14,022 tonnes in May 2022;
- (b) whether  any  steps  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  to  address  the  decline  in  India's total vegetable oil imports from 10,61,416 tonnes in May last year to 10,58,263 tonnes in May this year, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any specific initiatives are in place to stimulate vegetable oil imports and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  plans  to  address  the  significant  increase  in  shipments  of  crude sunflower  oil,  which  rose  to  2,95,000  tonnes  in  May  this  year  from  1,18,000  tonnes  in May 2022; and
- (e) whether any policies or incentives are aimed at promoting the import of sunflower oil, if so, the details in this regard?

## ANSWER

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## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a) India's domestic production of edible oils is not sufficient to meet the demand and the shortfall is met through import of crude palm oil, refined palm oil, crude sunflower oil and crude soyabean oil. However, the quantum of import of particular oil varies depending on various factors such as price of competitive oils, the availability of stock, export policy of exporting countries, parity in domestic market, etc.  During May 2023, the Free on Board (FOB) international prices of palm oils were higher than the international prices of crude sunflower as well as crude soyabean oil which might have resulted in lower import of palm oils and higher import of sunflower oil.

(b) to (e) Higher prices of palm oil in May 2023 as compared to May 2022, and higher stock availability of palm oils at the Indian ports at the end of April 2023 as compared to April 2022, have

contributed  to  lower  vegetable  oil  imports  during  May  2023  rather  than  stimulating  vegetable  oil imports.  Higher imports of crude sunflower oil during May 2023 may be attributed to international prices of palm oils being higher than the international prices of crude sunflower oil.

The Government's efforts are aimed at reducing India's dependence on imported edible oils. The Government of India has been implementing various Schemes and Missions to augment the edible oilseeds  and  edible  oils  production  in  the  country  so  that  import  dependency  can  be  reduced.    The Government has been implementing National Food Security Mission-Oilseeds & Oil Palm (NFSMOS&OP) since 2018-19 to increase the production and productivity of oilseeds and area expansion of oil palm and tree-borne oilseeds in the country. Further, in 2021, Government launched the "National Mission for Edible Oils (Oil Palm)' - NMEO (OP) to enhance edible oils availability in the country by harnessing oil palm area expansion, improving productivity, and increasing crude palm oil production.

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