India may restrict import of all types of refined edible oils

The government is considering putting restrictions on the import of all kinds of refined edible oils while continuing to keep crude oils under the free category.

This will help India encourage import of more crude oils, facilitating better utilisation of the refining capacity of the domestic industry. Currently, both refined and crude edible oils are under the free category of foreign trade, resulting in an unrestricted inflow into the country. If the proposal gets through, refined oils can be imported only after obtaining an import licence while crude oils can continue to be shipped in on the basis of the import export code, without the requirement of any kind of licences.

“The need to amend the existing trade policy has arisen as the duty on both crude and refined palm oil is going to be lowered from January 1, 2020. The duties are set to go down to 37.5% from 40% on crude palm oil and to 45% from 50% on refined palm oil, effecting a low differential of 7.5 percentage points between the import duty of crude and refined palm oil.

This will encourage import of refined oil, affecting the domestic oil-refining business,” said a senior consumer affairs ministry official.

According to the Solvent Extractors’ Association (SEA), a trade body, the existing refining capacity in the country is around 30 million tonnes, but only 45% this is being utilised.

“If refined edible oils are put in the restricted category, the import of crude oil will increase and domestic refiners will get business and in turn jobs will also be created. Currently, due to lower tariffs, refined oils are directly imported and packaged for selling in market,” SEA executive director BV Mehta said.

India Times