November 8, 2018 (MLN): During the first quarter of current financial year, food group import into the country reduced by 10.31% and reached $1.454 billion, as compared to the imports of $1.621 billion of the same period last year.
Tea import into the country during first quarter of current financial year grew by 8.51% as compared to the corresponding period last year, as tea worth $148.325 million was imported compared to $136.687 million of same period last year.
During the period from July-September, 2018-19, about 55,749 metric tons of tea was imported as compared to the imports of 45,426 metric tons of the same period last year, as per the data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
However, imports of spices during the period under review reduced by 12.37% and it was recorded at 34,164 metric tons this year as compared to 39,466 metric tons of the same period of last year.
Spices worth $40.696 million were imported in the quarter of current financial year, as compared to $46.440 million of same period last year, it added.
Meanwhile, the imports of edible including soya bean and palm also reduced by 70.47% and 4.82% respectively, as the import of soya bean oil into the country was recorded at $22.769 million as compared the $77.113 million of same period last year.
About 29,858 metric tons of soya bean oil was imported in first three months of current financial year as compared the import of 82,085 metric tons of same period last year.
The import of palm oil into the country was recorded at $485.715 million in first quarter of 2018-19, which stood at $510.303 million of corresponding period last year.
