ISLAMABAD, Exports from the country during the first half of current financial year increased by 20.63 percent as compared to the exports of the corresponding period of the last year.

Exports from the country stood at US$10.976 billion during July-December (2010-11) as against the exports of US$9.099 billion during July-December (2009-10), according to data of Federal Board of Statistics (FBS) that was made public by Secretary FBS Asif Bajwa and Director General of the Bureau, Arif Mehmood Cheema here on Tuesday.

 On the other hand, imports into the country increased by 19.58 percent

during the period by growing from US$15.994 billion in 2009-2010 to US$19.125 during 2010-11, the data revealed.

Based on the figures, the trade deficit during the first half of the

current fiscal year stood at US$8.149 billion, showing an increase of 18.20

percent over the deficit of US$6.894 billion recorded during the corresponding period of last year.

Exports during December 2010 increased by 19.69 percent over November 2010 by going up from US$1.776 billion to US$2.126 billion, the data revealed.

While Imports during the month under review also grew by 20.03 percent from US$3.125 billion in November 2010 to US$3.750 billion in December 2010.

As compared to the exports of US$1.566 billion during December 2009,

exports during December 2010 increased by 35.79 percent. While the imports into the country grew by 29.01 percent as compare to the Imports of US$2.907 billion during December 2009, the date revealed.