The Government has banned export of edible oils in branded consumer packs with immediate effect. The move is aimed at boosting domestic supplies and over come any supply shortage in view of deficient monsoon impacting the kharif oilseeds output.
The Directorate-General of Foreign Trade issued a notification to this effect late on Wednesday night. The Government had permitted export of edible oils last year in branded consumer packs of up to 5 kg, within a ceiling of 10,000 tonnes, till October 31. “Now, with immediate effect, even such export of edible oils is prohibited,” the DGFT notification said.
The Government expects a shortfall in kharif oilseeds output as groundnut sowing has been affected in in Saurashtra (Gujarat), parts of Karnataka and Maharashtra due to scanty rain. Till July last week, groundnut was sown on about 25.46 lakh hectares against 33.09 lakh hectares during the corresponding period a year ago.