MUMBAI (Dow Jones)--Indian edible oil prices fell during the week ending
Friday on a surge in imports and tracking weak global markets, traders said.

  Indian edible oil prices mostly track overseas trends as the country imports
nearly half its annual vegetable oil requirements of 12 million metric tons.

  The country's edible oil imports more than doubled to 696,625 tons in May, up
from 302,345 tons a year earlier, due to lower domestic production of oilseeds
and increased local consumption, according to the Solvent Extractors'
Association.

  Vegetable oil imports, which include edible oil and non-edible oils, also
more than doubled on the year to 751,097 tons compared with 361,564 tons last
May, the trade body said.

  Edible oil imports since the 2008-09 marketing year began in November jumped
88% on the year to 4.79 million tons.

  "Higher imports have led to a surge in stocks at ports, which is putting some
pressure on prices," said a trader based in the main producing state of Madhya
Pradesh.

  Around 500,000 tons of crude palm oil, more than 150,000 tons of refined,
bleached and deodorized palm olein, close to 50,000 tons of soybean oil and
about 100,000-120,000 tons of sunflower oil is currently stored at Indian
ports, said Srinivaas Sirigeri, managing director of Shakti Enterprises, a
Mumbai-based importing company.

  However, a lower area under the summer-sown oilseeds crop may support prices
in coming days, said another trader.

  Oilseed planting as of June 19 was 414,000 hectares, down 17.5% on the year,
government data showed.

  Prices of refined soyoil fell to 45,200 Indian Rupees a ton ($933) from
INR46,300/ton last week.

  Refined, bleached and deodorized palm olein prices decreased to INR38,600/ton
from INR40,300/ton last week, while crude palm oil was at INR33,800/ton down
from INR35,500/ton last week.