Food group export increases by 17.58pc in six months

ISLAMABAD: The food group exports from the country during the first half of current financial year increased by 17.58 percent as compared the exports of same period last year.

According the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), during the period from July-December 2011, the country earned US$ 1.88 billion by exporting the food commodities including rice, fruits, vegetables, fish, meat and other edible items.

Fruit export from the country during first six months of the current financial year registered an increase of 8.94 percent as compared with the same period of last year.

During the period from July-December 2011 about 219,704 metric tons fruit of different varieties worth US$ 144.714 million exported as compared to the export of 289,886 metric tons cost 132.83 million of same period of last year.

However, the export of vegetables from the country during the period under review was decreased by 5.81 percent as about 131,455 metric tons vegetables worth US$ 39.911 million were exported as against 107,522 metric tons of US$ 42.37 million during the same period of last year.

Meanwhile, the export of leguminous vegetables (pulses) witnessed 100 percent increase during the first half of the financial year 2011-12.

The export of leguminous vegetable was recorded at 2,720 metric tons during the period from July-December 2011 as compared the export of o metric tons of the same period of last year.

The rice export in first half of FY 2011-12 remain on declining track as rice export reduced by 10.69 percent, while the export o basmati rice 17.02 percent, the data revealed.

Meat and meat preparations from the country during the period under review increased by 23.33 percent as about 28,097 metric tons of meat and meat products exported in first six months of 2011-12 and added US$ 85.7 million in national accounts.

The other food commodities which registered positive growth during the period under review including, fish and fish preparations, wheat, tobacco, spices oil seed, nuts and kernals.