PTI
 
New Delhi, May 11: Energy-hungry India's oil import bill has swelled 52 per cent to USD 44.64 billion in 2005-06 on the back of high global oil prices.

India imported 99.4 million tonnes of crude oil for USD 38.77 billion and 11.67 million tonnes of petroleum products for USD 5.86 billion in 2005-06, according to latest Petroleum Ministry data.

In 2004-05, India had spent USD 25.98 billion on import of 95.86 million tonnes of crude oil and USD 3.28 billion on import of 10.47 million tonnes of petroleum products.

The country exported 21.50 million tonnes of petroleum products for USD 10.54 billion in 2005-06 as against oil product exports of 17.57 million tonnes worth USD 6.33 billion a year ago.

India's net oil import bill (total imports minus exports) stood at USD 34.09 billion (Rs 150,492 crore) in 2005-06 as opposed to a net oil import bill of USD 22.94 billion in the previous fiscal.

While imports rose, domestic consumption remained almost flat at 111.92 million tonnes. The country consumed 111.634 million tonnes oil products in 2004-05 fiscal.

Demand for diesel, the mainstay fuel, grew 1.3 per cent to 40.15 million tonnes while that for industrial fuel like naphtha and LDO fell, the data showed.

LPG demand was up 0.6 per cent to 10.3 million tonnes and petrol consumption rose 4.8 per cent to 8.64 million tonnes.