New Delhi, Sep 14 (IANS) India’s import of sensitive items, which include edible oils, pulses, cotton and fruits and vegetables, rose 13.6 percent to Rs.1,190 crore during April-June period.

Gross import of all commodities during April-June 2010 was Rs.3,78,992 crore as compared to Rs.3,01,439 crore during the same period last year, according to official data released Tuesday.

Import of sensitive items rose to 4.7 percent of total imports during the reporting period this year as compared to 4.3 percent a year ago.

Imports of most items including edible oil, automobiles, fruits and vegetables, rubber, milk and milk products, spices, marble and granite, alcoholic beverages and food grains have shown increase during the period under reference.

However, imports of pulses, cotton and silk declined during the reporting period.

In the edible oil segment, the import has increased from Rs.5,856.52 crore last year to Rs.6,071.09 crore for the corresponding period of this year.

A significant feature of edible oil import is that import of crude oil has gone up by 11.5 percent and that of refined oil have gone down by 40.6 percent. The increase in edible oil import is mainly due to substantial increase in import of Soya-bean crude oil.

Imports of sensitive items from Indonesia, China, Korea, Brazil, US, Argentina, Germany, Thailand, New Zealand and UK have gone up while those from Myanmar, Malaysia, Ukraine, Japan, Canada and Australia have shown a decrease, an official statement said.