India's crude oil import bill has jumped by over 19 per cent to $5.615 billion in the first four months of the current fiscal as opposed to $4.731 billion in the same period the previous year.

"India imported 30.198 million tonnes of crude oil for $5.615 billion (Rs 26,276 crore) in April-July as against 26.474 million tonnes crude imported for $4.731 billion (Rs 23,154 crore) last year," official sources said.

Besides crude, the country also imported 1.277 million tonnes of petroleum products for $284 million, which was lower than last year's import of 2.154 million tonnes of product imports for $460 million.

The total oil imports (crude plus product) was 13.68 per cent higher at $5.98 billion as against $5.260 billion of April-July 2002.

Reliance Industries imported 10.987 million tonnes of crude worth $1.976 billion in April-July this year, higher than 9.734 million tonnes imported for $1.663 billion a year ago.

Sources said India exported 4.321 million tonnes of products, mostly diesel and petrol, for $964 million in the first four months of the current fiscal.

Sluggish domestic demand saw diesel exports more than double to 1.856 million

tonnes ($390 million) when compared to the export of 812,000 tonnes ($164 million) in April-July last year.