NEW DELHI (Commodities control) Covid-19 crisis shattered economic activities globally but few commodities’ export have registered upward trend even in lockdown period of April-July 2020. Rice, cereals, spices, oil meals, oil seeds and iron ore exports jumped not only in July but also in April-July first four months of current fiscal 2020-21. However, export of cotton yarn/Fabs/Made-ups, Handloom products etc. dampened in last four month but jumped in July. It means export of the cotton yarn picked up after initial period of Covid-19. Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s figures release few days back reveal this trend. In import of various commodities, the trend varies as per their usage pattern and industrial activities. Being an essential commodity, Pulses export remained almost stable but vegetable oil import registered impressive jump as India’s demand is growing. Gold import turned to standstill in April-June but picked up in July.
Rice
Rice (including Basmati and non-Basmati rice) export reached to Rs. 20215.86 crore during first four months of current fiscal while the export of same period was Rs. 15,629.27 crore. It shows 29.35 percent jumped in rice export. Rice export picked further in last July thus the export jumped 61.29 percent at Rs. 5694.99 crore against export of Rs. 3530.95 crore during July 2019. According to source, Africa has emerged as the major buyer of non-basmati rice. All India Rice Exporters Association told that non-basmati rice export jumped 52.3 percent to 11.13 Lakh tons in April-May of current fiscal. The export was 7.3 lakh tons during first two months in last fiscal 2019-20.
Cereals
Other cereals export increased 34.83 percent at Rs. 670.55 crore in first four months of current fiscal against Rs. 497.34 crore in same period of last year. The export in July this year also increased 232.45 percent at Rs. 330.26 crore against export of Rs. 99.34 crore in July 2019.
Spices
Spices export increased 5.2 percent at Rs. 9452.33 crore in first four months of current fiscal from Rs. 8985.16 crore of corresponding period of last fiscal. However in July alone, spices export fell down 3.42 percent at Rs. 2772.85 crore against Rs. 2871.03 crore of same period of last year. Down fall in export in July may be seasonal trend for spices trade.
Oil Meals
India exported oil meals of Rs. 2101.41 crore during first forth month of this year against Rs. 2003.86 crore of same period of last year. Thus, the export reported 4.87 percent rise during Covid-19 crisis. July export figure reveals that export of oil meals was in full swing during last month. It’s export increased 40 percent at Rs. 735.63 crore against 525.46 crore in July of last year.
Oil Seeds
The county’s oil seeds export increased 6.66 percent at Rs. 2686.35 crore in April-July 2020 against Rs. 2518.49 crore of same period of last year. Like oil meals, the export of oil seeds also registered strong recovery in last July when the export increased 44.53 percent at Rs. 935.63 crore. In July 2019, the export was Rs. 646.99 crore.
Iron Ore
India’s iron ore export zoomed 70.20 per cent during first four months of current fiscal. The export increased to Rs. 10,735.35 crore from Rs. 6307.48 crore of last years. July export registered jump of 52.16 percent and reached at Rs. 2815.78 crore while India has export iron ore of Rs. 1850.51 crore during July 2019. The figure shows that iron ore export was higher in Apri-June when lockdown restrictions were enforced strictly. But iron ore export continued without any impact.
Cotton Yarn
The export of cotton yarn/Fabs./made-ups, Handloom products etc. have registered reverse trend during last four months. Export of these items slipped 26.51 percent at Rs. 17,051.45 crore in first four months of current fiscal while the export during same period of last month was Rs. 23203.04 crore. It’s export picked up during July this year. It registered rise of 17.1 percent at Rs. 6639.33 crore against Rs. 5669.89 crore of July 2019. The figures show that export these items crippled during lockdown. After lifting of restriction, export activities improved with high pace.
Pulses Import
Pulses import remained almost stable during last four months of current fiscal. The country imported pulses of Rs. 2445.37 crore during the period while last year’s same period import was Rs. 2409.56 crore. The import increased mere 1.49 percent. In July 2020. Pulses import increased only 0.99 percent at Rs. 736.07 crore against import of Rs. 728.87 crore in July 2019. As an essential commodity, pulses import did not face much restriction. There was no panic import and buying in wholesale and retail.
Vegetable Oil
India’s vegetable oil import has registered 8.04 percent at Rs. 22874.29 crore in first four month of this year while there was import of vegetable oil of Rs. 21171.91 crore in same period of last year. The oil import increased 38.89 percent at Rs. 8232.31 crore in July 2020 against import of Rs. 5927.4 crore of July 2019.
Base Matels
The country imported base matels (copper, nickel, lead, zinc, tin etc) of Rs. 19,761.56 crore in April-July 2020 against import of Rs. 32942.28 crore in April-July 2019. The import declined 40.01 percent during Covid crisis. The import in July also decreased 45.96 percent at Rs. 4396.16 crore from Rs. 8130.93 crore of July 2019. It shows that industrial activities slowed down during first four month in the country. All macro indicators tell about decline in economic activities in the country during lockdown period.
Gold
Ministry’s figures show almost standstill in gold import during first three month of current fiscal. Gold import fell down 79.67 percent at Rs. 18590.85 crore in first four month of current fiscal. India imported gold of Rs.91440.11 crore in same period of las year. But gold imported picked up in July this year. The import increased 13.53 percent at Rs. 13382.44 crore in July this year against import of Rs. 11,787.36 crore in July 2019.
Silver
Silver import has registered more steep fall during July 2020. Silver import declined 52.46 percent at Rs. 5184 crore in first four month of this year against import of Rs. 10905.81 crore in same period of last year. In July this year, silver import registered decline of 77.12 percent at Rs. 826.48 crore against import of Rs. 3611.9 crore during July 2019.