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India's edible oil imports fell to a four-month low in February 2025, reaching 8.85 lakh tonnes, a 7.64% decrease from the same month last year, according to the Solvent Extractors’ Association (SEA). This decline marks the lowest monthly import level since May 2020, attributed to a significant drop in palm oil imports, which fell by nearly 25% to 3.73 lakh tonnes. In contrast, shipments of soft oils rose by 8.94% to 5.12 lakh tonnes, driven by high stock levels accumulated until November 2024. Despite a slight increase in total edible oil imports for the first four months of the oil year, the high price premium on palm oil has curtailed both imports and consumption. Trade flows from Nepal have also contributed to the market, with increased exports of refined soybean oil and Vanaspati benefiting from duty-free access. Major suppliers of crude palm oil included Indonesia and Malaysia. 
Published: Mar 11 2025, 2 pmeznews.inIndia's retail inflation is projected to decline to approximately 4% in February 2025, down from 4.3% in January, marking the lowest rate in five months. The official data will be released on Wednesday, and if the inflation rate falls below 4%, it will be the first time since August that it dips below the median of the targeted inflation range. This potential decrease is significant for the Monetary Policy Committee, which recently reduced the policy rate by 25 basis points for the first time in five years. The ongoing decline in food prices is a key factor contributing to this trend, and the upcoming data will be closely monitored as it may influence future monetary policy decisions.
Published: Mar 12 2025, 8 ameznews.inIndiGo, India's leading airline, is set to launch its premium service, 'IndiGoStretch', on March 26, 2025, enhancing travel on key routes including Delhi-Chennai, Delhi-Bengaluru, and Delhi-Mumbai. The airline plans to introduce 45 specially equipped aircraft, facilitating over 260 daily flights across 12 routes. Ticket prices for IndiGoStretch will start at Rs 21,000 for the Delhi-Chennai and Delhi-Bengaluru routes, and Rs 18,018 for Delhi-Mumbai. The service features spacious seating with a 38-inch pitch and 21.3-inch width, alongside premium meal options curated by Oberoi Flight Services. Additional perks include priority check-in, advance seat selection, and increased baggage allowances of 30 kg for check-in and 12 kg for cabin luggage. Bookings will be available through IndiGo's direct channels and aggregator websites, aiming to elevate the overall travel experience for business passengers.
Published: Mar 12 2025, 7 ameznews.inIndia and the United States are set to negotiate a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement aimed at enhancing market access and reducing trade barriers, according to Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada. In a statement to Parliament, Prasada noted that the US has not yet imposed reciprocal tariffs on India, despite a recent memorandum issued on February 13, 2025, which mandates an investigation into non-reciprocal trade arrangements. The US Secretary of Commerce and the Trade Representative will assess potential harm to the US economy and propose remedies. Both nations are targeting a significant increase in trade, aspiring to reach $500 billion by 2030 under the "Mission 500" initiative. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has indicated plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on countries with high tariffs starting April 2, emphasizing a tit-for-tat approach to trade relations.
Published: Mar 11 2025, 9 pmeznews.inThe Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF) has urged for the swift implementation of the proposed Digital Competition Bill, citing the need to protect Indian start-ups from the monopolistic practices of global tech giants. With India's digital economy expected to reach $1 trillion by 2028, ADIF emphasizes that proactive regulations are vital to ensure fair competition for over 31,000 tech start-ups across various sectors. The Bill, introduced in March 2024, aims to empower the Competition Commission of India to regulate anti-competitive behaviors, such as self-preferencing and algorithmic bias, which hinder market entry for smaller players. Drawing parallels with the EU's Digital Markets Act, ADIF argues that the legislation will foster a more equitable digital marketplace, particularly benefiting e-commerce start-ups. The foundation is advocating for a parliamentary review to finalize the Bill by mid-2025, asserting that it will bolster India's digital innovation and align with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
Published: Mar 11 2025, 8 pmeznews.inAs of March 7, 2025, the sowing of summer (zaid) crops in India has reached 37.54 lakh hectares, marking a 21.1% increase from the previous year, despite low reservoir levels across several states. The Agriculture Ministry's weekly update indicates that paddy sowing rose by 11.5% to 27.13 lakh hectares, while the area for nutri/coarse cereals, including maize and bajra, also saw significant increases. Notably, summer pulses more than doubled to 5.02 lakh hectares, driven by a surge in green gram and black matpe cultivation. However, oilseed coverage has declined by 4.7% to 2.51 lakh hectares. Compounding these agricultural trends, cumulative pre-monsoon rainfall from March 1 to March 11 is reported to be 38% below normal, with central India experiencing no rainfall and the south peninsula facing a 41% deficit, according to the India Meteorological Department.
Published: Mar 11 2025, 8 pmeznews.inIndia's corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending rose by 13% in the 2022-23 fiscal year, reaching nearly ₹30,000 crore, as reported by Harsh Malhotra, Minister of State for Corporate Affairs, in the Lok Sabha. Education was the primary focus, accounting for approximately ₹10,086 crore, or one-third of the total expenditure, while healthcare received ₹6,830 crore. This increase reflects a steady growth trend in CSR contributions, which have risen from ₹20,218 crore in 2018-19 to nearly ₹30,000 crore in 2022-23. Under the Companies Act, 2013, firms are mandated to allocate at least 2% of their average net profits to CSR activities. Regulatory changes since 2021 require all CSR agencies to register with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, with 87,578 agencies currently registered. As corporate investments in education and healthcare exceed ₹16,800 crore, their role in addressing socio-economic challenges in India is increasingly significant.
Published: Mar 11 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA) has projected a sluggish recovery for India's passenger vehicle market, with sales unlikely to grow in high single digits for the upcoming financial year. Currently, car dealers are facing high inventory levels, averaging 50-52 days, significantly above the ideal 21 days, prompting expectations of discounts to stimulate sales. FADA CEO Saharsh Damani noted that February saw a 7% year-on-year decline in overall automobile retail sales, with passenger vehicle sales dropping by 10%. He anticipates a gradual increase in demand starting in April, driven by rising disposable incomes due to tax exemptions for certain salaried individuals. However, Damani emphasized that the recovery will not be rapid, predicting a more substantial rebound around Ganesh Chaturthi in August, contingent on normal monsoon conditions to support overall industry performance.
Published: Mar 11 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Indian government is considering enhancements to its ₹2,250-crore export promotion mission, initially announced in the Union Budget, to support exporters facing potential tariff increases from the US. Director General of Foreign Trade, Santosh Kumar Sarangi, indicated that the government is exploring flexible measures within the mission to assist exporters if US President Donald Trump implements reciprocal tariffs on April 2. Despite a nominal year-on-year growth of 1.39% in goods exports during April-January 2024-25, recent months have seen a decline in export momentum, prompting some exporters to delay orders. The new export promotion mission aims to facilitate access to export credit and support for MSMEs, replacing previous schemes like the market access initiative. As the mission awaits formal notification, there is potential for adjustments in product coverage and incentive scales to better accommodate exporters' needs.
Published: Mar 11 2025, 8 pmeznews.inMumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) faced a setback as the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) rejected its request for a staggering 675% increase in user fees for the period from 2024 to 2029. Instead, AERA proposed a modest 18% rise, citing ongoing Supreme Court litigation and the need to rationalize planned capital expenditures, including an airside tunnel and a corporate office building. Currently, MIAL charges ₹187 as a user development fee (UDF) for international passengers, with no fee for domestic travelers. The Adani Group-operated airport aims to invest ₹17,439 crore in improvements, including the redevelopment of Terminal T1 and expansion of Terminal T2, to enhance its capacity to handle 65 million passengers and one million tonnes of cargo annually. However, projected passenger traffic is expected to decline from 52 million in FY24 to 48 million by FY29 due to the terminal's closure. AERA also noted an over-recovery of ₹934 crore by MIAL and rejected its plea for a true-up of ₹13,665 crore from previous tariff orders.
Published: Mar 11 2025, 7 pmeznews.inIndia's tea production faced a setback in January 2025, declining by 2.13% to 17.03 million kgs, primarily due to adverse weather conditions in Kerala, where output fell by 7.94% to 4.87 million kgs. In contrast, Tamil Nadu saw a 3.34% increase to 11.75 million kgs, while Karnataka's production remained stable at 0.37 million kgs. The United Planters Association of South India (UPASI) highlighted that the lack of rainfall and low humidity in Kerala has severely impacted yields, with February's production expected to drop by 15% compared to last year. UPASI President Mathew Abraham noted that the dry conditions persisted into March, raising concerns for future crop output unless significant rainfall occurs. The first quarter of 2025 is projected to be one of the lowest in recent years, with overall production in South India down by 4.2% in 2024.
Published: Mar 11 2025, 7 pm
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