New Delhi: India's crude oil import bill has jumped by over 38 per cent to 61.16 billion dollars in the first 11 months of 2007-08 fiscal on back of surge in global oil prices.

India imported 111.089 million tonnes of crude oil in April-February 07-08 for Rs 243,205.5 crore ($61.165billion) as opposed to 101.213 million tonnes crude imported a year ago for Rs 200,321 crore ($44.124 billion), according to the latest data available from the Petroleum Ministry here.

Besides crude, the nation also imported 20.19 million tonnes of products, mainly naphtha, LPG, kerosene and diesel, for Rs 54,180 crore ($13.4 billion). In April-February 2006-07,it had imported 15.77 million tonnes of products for Rs 37,632 crore ($8.527 billion).

The country's fuel consumption grew 6.4 per cent to 116.711 million tonnes in April-February 07-08 on back of a double digit growth in diesel demand at 43.27 million tonnes.

Of the crude imports, private refiners Reliance and Essar imported 34.644 million tonnes for Rs 72,381 crore ($18 billion).

With a surplus in refining capacity, the country saw a 20.4 per cent rise in fuel exports at 36.16 million tonnes for Rs 95,906 crore ($23.86 billion). The mainstay exports was that of diesel at 13 million tonnes (Rs 36,200 crore) and naphtha 8.62 million tonnes (Rs 25,002 crore).

In April-February period, India imported 5.77 million tonnes of naphtha for Rs 17,495 crore ($4.34 billion) and 2.5 million tons of LPG for Rs 7,479 crore ($1.86 billion).

Net imports (crude plus product imports minus exports) stood at 95.117 million tonnes for Rs 201,479.3 crore ($50.73 billion).
Source : PTI