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Corporate Economy Expressions Markets Leisure Monday, March 23, 1998   Industry gears up to advise centre on meeting edible-oil shortage The edible oil industry associations are gearing up to make their suggestions for bridging the demand-supply gap to the new government at the Centre. The estimated gap for the country as a whole is about 18 lakh tonnes.   Chilli exports down 5% in April '97-Jan '98 period Chilli exports have been lower by 5% during the the period between April 1997 and January 1998 at 37,950 tonnes valued at Rs 118 crore compared to 39,784 tonnes with a value of Rs 168 crore during the corresponding period last year. Decline in paddy area and output likely in Kerala A state government sample survey conducted to estimate paddy production during 1997-98 indicates that there has been a decline both in terms of area under cultivation as well as production in all districts of Kerala compared to the previous year. The survey shows an overall decline of 11.68% in area under cultivation and 14.22% in production. The mean yield was 3,008 kg per hectare while the area under cultivation was 1,14,743 hectares. Hybrid cardamom promises higher yield Scientists at the Indian Cardamom Research Institute, Idukki, have claimed a major breakthrough in developing three hybrid varieties of cardamom which promise to increase output many times over. The three new varieties--MCH-10, MHC-13 and MHC-18--were developed by the crop improvement division of the institute and are currently on farm trials at various places in the cardamom belt.   Falling lead stocks indicate price reversal The falling lead prices last week touched a low of $530 per tonne on the London Metal Exchange, down from $850 in mid-1996. With this, the battery manufacturers should be a happy lot as far as the raw material cost is concerned, for they account for nearly 80% of total lead consumption. Price fall turns heat on steelmakers February was a bad month for Indian steelmakers in terms of the prices they got in the market. The prices of most steel items fell significantly during the month compared to January this year, creating further pressures on their bottomlines.     Grain market exhibited downward trend in '97-98   Haryana, Punjab farm varsities develop new rice, cotton strains   Chilli-smuggling to Bangladesh on the rise   Hoarding of Arabica coffee to hit exports   Need for different segmentation of tea markets mooted   1998 holds promise for gold investors   Commodity Briefing   Caution is the buzzword in Malaysian markets