ISLAMABAD: The food imports into the country witnessed decrease of 4.48 percent during the first eleven months of the fiscal year 2013-14 compared to the same period of last year.
The overall food imports into the country were recorded at $3.753 billion in July-May (2013-14) compared to the imports of $3.929 billion in July-May (2012-13), according to the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
The food products that witnessed negative growth in trade included tea, imports of which decreased from $350.539 million in 2013-13 to $272.101 million in 2013-14, showing a decrease of 22.38 percent.
Similarly, the imports of palm oil into the country decreased from $1,835.416 million to $1,671.281 million, showing fall of 8.94 percent while the imports of pulses (leguminous vegetables) decreased by 10.80 percent by going down from $302.374 million to $269.729 million.
Meanwhile, the food products that witnessed positive growth in trade included milk, cream and milk food for infants, imports of which increased by 22.16 percent by going up from $121.337 million to $148.231 million.
Imports of wheat (unmilled) increased from $6.836 million to $107.237 millions, showing an increase of 1468 percent whereas the imports of dry fruits increased by 25.17 percent, from $74.853 million to $93.691 million.
According to the PBS data, the imports of spices increased by 29.14 percent by going up from $62.726 million to $81.005 million, while the imports of soyabean oil increased by 10 percent from $74.023 million to $81.425 million.
The sugar imports into the country during the period under review were recorded at $5.628 million against the imports of $4.378 million, showing an increase of 28.55 percent.
The imports of all other food products decreased by 6.73 percent by falling from $1,096.774 million to $1,022.950 million, the data revealed.
On the other hand, the food imports into the country during the month of May 2014 increased by 4.91 percent when compared to the imports of May 2013. The imports in May 2014 were recorded at $311.436 million compared to the imports of $296.871 million in May 2013.
On month-on-month basis, the food imports into the country decreased by 10.19 percent in May 2014 when compared to the imports o f$346.754 million in April 2014.
It is pertinent to mention here that the country's overall trade deficit narrowed by 5.66 percent during first 11 months of current fiscal year as exports expanded by 3.71 percent while imports witnessing negative growth of 0.57 percent as compared to the same period of last year.
On year-on-year basis, the trade deficit witnessed sharp decrease by 27.60 percent in May 2014 when compared to the deficit of the same month of last year.
According to break up figures, the exports from the country during July-May (2013-14) were recorded at $23.112 billion against the exports of $22.286 billion recorded during July-May 2012-13.
On the other hand, the imports into the country during the period under review were recorded at $40.777 billion against the imports of $41.011 billion during the corresponding period of last year.
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