February 20, 2019: Food group exports during first seven months of current financial year witnessed 2.46 percent increase, meantime the imports had also witnessed significant decrease of 8.29 percent as compared with the corresponding period of the last year.

During the period from July-January, 2018-19 different food commodities worth US $2.463 billion were exported as compared the exports of US $2.404 billion witnessing growth of about 0.059 billion, according the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

Meanwhile, imports of food commodities during the period under review was reduced by US$ 0.013 billion and was recorded at US $3.464 billion as compared with the US $3.77 billion of the corresponding period of last year.

The increase in exports and decrease in imports were mainly attributed to the efforts made by the government for curtailing the current deficit by discouraging the imports of unessential and luxury goods and encouraging the exports.

During the last seven months, the exports of the commodities which had witnessed positive growth including basmati rice by 19.51 percent, fruits 20.64 percent vegetables by 9.80 percent, spices 14.44 percent and oil seeds and nuts by 130.57 percent.

The other commodities with positive growth in their respective exports including meat and meat products by 6.92 percent, spices by 14.44 percent and all other food items by 8.45 percent, the data showed.

From July-January, 2018-19 328,374 metric tons of basmati rice worth US $305.419 million exported as compared the 244,040 metric tons valuing US $255.560 million of same period of last year.

About 437,737 million tons of fresh fruits valuing US$ 294.064 million were also exported as against 412,962 metric tons costing US$243.761 million of the same period of last year, it added.

Meanwhile, country earned US $115.496 million by exporting about 507,041 metric tons of vegetables, which were recorded at 359,262 metric tons worth of US $105.191 million of same period of last year.

During the period from July-January, 2018-19, the imports of food commodities with negative growth included milk cream and milk food for infants by 9.60 percent, dry fruits and nuts by 70.28 percent spices 7.17 percent soybean oil by 53.31 percent and palm oil by 8.91 percent respectively.

On month on month basis, the imports of food commodities reduced by 7.04 percent in month of January, 2019 as compared with the same moth of last year. Different food items worth US$ 497.616 million were imported as compared the imports of US$ 535.323 million of same month of last year.

On the other hand exports of the food group from the country in month of January was recorded at US$ 468.799 million, which was stood at US$ 469.446 million of same month of last year.

(APP)

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