State-run trading firm PEC has invited bids for the import of 18,000 tonnes of refined, bleached and deodorised (RBD) palmolein for the domestic market.
The last day for submission of bids is July 25 and the contract will be awarded on the same day, PEC said in a notification on its Website.
The company has asked for the shipment of 9,000 tonnes of refined soyabean oil to be delivered at the Chennai and Tuticorin ports between June 25-30 and another 9,000 tonnes to be shipped at the same ports between July 5-15.
The imported palmolein should be from Indonesia and/or Malaysia, the company said.
RBD palmolein is a refined, bleached and deodorised form of palm oil, which is extracted after crushing palm fruit. It is used as edible cooking oil.
MMTC, PEC and STC import edible oils on behalf of the government for distribution through ration shops. Import duty on crude edible oil is nil and 7.5 per cent on refined oil.
India had imported around 8.37 million tonnes of edible oil in the 2010-11 oil year (November-October).