Sensitive item imports up 11

India8217;s imports of sensitive items, including edible oil, have gone up 11.1 per cent to Rs 20,589 crore during April-December period of the current fiscal from Rs 18,532 crore a year ago. In the edible oil segment, the imports increased to Rs 8,433 crore in the first three quarters of 2007-08 from Rs 7,929 crore in the same period last year. The imports of both crude oil as well as refined oil went up by 5.6 per cent and 13.1 per cent respectively. 8220;The increase in edible oil import is mainly due to significant growth in import of crude palm oil and its fractions, which has gone up by 11 per cent,8221; an official statement said here on Tuesday. Imports of fruits and vegetables including nuts, foodgrains, cotton and silk, automobiles, rubber, alcoholic beverages and tea and coffee have also shown increase during the period under review.