$ 2.4 billion food commodities exported in seven months

Country earned US$ 2.395 billion by exporting different food commodities during last seven months of current financial year as compared the exports of US$ 2.016 billion of the corresponding period of last year.

During the period from July-January, 2017-18, food group exports from the country grew by 18.83 percent as against the exports of same period last year, according the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

About 2,292,348 metric tons of rice worth US$ 1.061 billion exported in last seven months as compared the exports of 2,048,037 metric tons valuing US$ 876.745 million of same period last year, it added.

Exports of rice during the period under review increased by 21.7 percent as compared the exports of same period last year, the data added.

Meanwhile, 213,460 metric tons of basmati rice valuing US$ 222.365 million exported in last seven months as compared the exports of 221.785 metric tons worth US$ 208.145 million of same period last year, showing an increase of 6.83 percent, it added.

Country earned US$ 839.136 million by exporting about 2,078,888 metric tons of rice other then basmati rice as compared the exports of US$ 666.600 and 1,826,939 metric tons of same period last year.

On the other hand food commodities imports into the country during the period under review grew by 9.77 percent and stood at US$ 3.777 billion as against US$ 3.441 billion of same period last year.

However, on month on month basis, imports of food croup decreased by 7.21 percent as it was recorded at US$ 535.339 million  in January, 2018 as against the imports of US$ 576.883 million of same month of last year - APP