Food group exports up by 34.74pc in first month of FY 2017-18

ISLAMABAD: Food group exports from the country during first month of current financial year increased by 34.74 percent as compared the corresponding month of last year.

During the month of July, 2017 different food commodities including rice, fish, meat, fruits, vegetables and spices worth US$ 250.860 million exported as compared the exports of US$ 188.180 million of same month of last year, according the latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

Meanwhile, rice exports from the country grew by 28.49 percent and 200,995 metric tons of rice worth US$ 107.896 million exported as compared the exports of US$ 83.974 million of same period last year.

During the first month of current financial year country earned US$ 32.990 million by exporting 30,951 metric tons of basmati rice as the basmati rice exports increased by 18.96 percent when it was compared with the exports of same month of last year.

Basmati rice exports from the country during month of July, 2016 was recorded at 28,725 metric tons valuing US$ 27.731 million, the data reveled.

Besides, 170,044 metric tons of rice other then basmati worth US$ 74.906 million exported as compared the exports of 135,367 metric tons valuing US$ 56.243 million of same period last year.

During first month of current financial year exports of fish and fish preparations grew by 12.19 percent, where as exports of meat and meat products increased by 15.80 percent.

In month of July, 2017 about 4,821 metric tons of fish and fish preparations worth US$ 12.473 million exported as compared the exports of 3,693 metric tons valuing US$ 11.118 million of same month last year.

During the period under review, about 4,167 metric tons of meat and meat products worth US$ 16.286 million exported as compared the exports of 4,138 metric tons valuing US$ 14.64 million of same period last year.

The food commodities including wheat and sugar witnessed tremendous increase in their respective exports during first month of the current financial year by showing 100 percent increase.

On the other hand food group imports into the country during first month of current financial year swelled by 43.15 percent as compared the imports of same month last year.

The imports of food commodities into the country was recorded at US$ 534.693 million as compared the imports of US$ 373.512 million of same month last year.

The major food items which had registered increasing trend in their respective imports included dry fruits, nuts tea, spices, soya bean and palm oil.

The food commodities with negative growth in their respective imports including tea and leguminous vegetables (pluses) and milk cream and milk food for infants.