Import of sensitive items increased by 52 per cent during April-September 2003 to Rs 9,871 crore (Rs 98.7i billion) as compared to Rs 6,482 crore (Rs 64.82 billion) in the corresponding period the previous year.
The major item that has contributed to the growth was crude palm oil and its fractions, an official release said on Wednesday.
Though the import of crude oil went up by 61 per cent, that of refined palm oil and palmolein grew by 74 per cent while weightage of crude to total edible oil remained high at 83 per cent.
Import of 300 sensitive items constituted only 4.7 per cent last year and 6.1 per cent this year to the gross import.
Imports of soyabean crude oil, kernail crude oil and sunflower crude oil also jumped marginally.
The higher share of crude indicates better utilisation of capacity in India.
Gross import of all commodity during the review period stood at Rs 1,60,779 crore (Rs 1,607.79 billion) over Rs 1,38,800 crore (Rs 1,388 billion) during the year ago period.
Imports of spices, tea, coffee, milk and milk products dipped while edible oil, cotton, silk, fruits and vegetables, automobile, rubber and small-scale items witnessed an upward trend.
Imports of sensitive items from Indonesia, Malaysia, Argentina, the USA and Egypt among others surged even as that from Sri Lanka and Australia showed a decline.