Demand for local oil slips, producers say hike import duty

Ludhiana: Rising import of palm oil in India is a growing concern for the city’s oil expeller and parts manufacturing industry, which has now urged the Centre to increase the import duty on palm oil.
Industrialists rue that due to huge import of palm oil, the demand of locally made oils like mustard, cotton seed, coconut and soybean have drastically reduced, hence reducing the production and demand of new oil manufacturing units.
Harish Singla, finance secretary of Ludhiana Oil Expeller Manufacturers’ Association said, “During last year or so, there has been a huge reduction in the demand of oil expellers and their parts. The alarming increase in the import of palm oil is directly responsible for this, because it has led to huge drop in the production and sale of domestic varieties of oil like mustard, cotton seed etc. Due to this, no expansion or setting up of new oil manufacturing plants is taking place.”
Ranjit Singh, another oil expeller parts manufacturer urged the Centre to act and said, “The Centre must increase import duty on palm oil, which will discourage the imports and give a boost to the local oil manufacturing industry. This will give a push to the oil expeller industry, as well.”