India's 2002-03 crude imports up at 82.34 MT

India's crude oil imports in 2002-03 rose to 82.34 million tonnes from 78.7 million in the previous year, Oil Minister Ram Naik said on Wednesday.

Naik told reporters the country's oil product exports during this period were marginally down at 9.79 million tonnes from 10.09 million tonnes.

The oil import bill for the past year to March 2003 jumped to $15.71 billion from $12.64 billion a year earlier.

India imports 70 per cent of its crude oil needs for its 17 refineries that can process 2.3 million bpd.