Tea imports grew by 2.36pc in two-months

ISLAMABAD: Tea worth US$96.419 million was imported into the country during first two-months of current financial year as compared to the imports of the corresponding period of last year.

Tea import into the country during the period July-August, 2017-18 increased by 2.36 percent as compared to the imports of the same period of last year.

According to the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, tea import into the country was recorded at 34,126 metric tons valuing US$94.419 million as compared to the imports of 39,115 metric tons worth  US$94.194 million of the same period last year.

Meanwhile, food group imports into the country during first two months of current financial year increased by 27.18 percent as compared to the imports of the corresponding period of last year.

The food group imports into the country during the period from July-August 2017 was recorded at US$1.123 billion as against the import of US$883.156 million of same period last year, according to the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

Country consumed dry fruits and nuts worth US$ 33.836 million in first two months of current financial year as compared to the consumption of US$24.142 million of same period last year.

Around 33,596 metric tons of dry fruits and nuts were imported into the country during the period under review as compared to the imports of 18,950 metric tons of same period last year.

Meanwhile, 35,277 metric tons of spices valuing US$31.912 million were imported into the country during July-August, 2017 as compared to the imports of 24,894 metric tons worth US$19.527 million of same period last year, which was up by 63.43 percent, it added.

However, during the period under review, import of milk cream and milk food for infants decreased by 22.59 percent as it came down from 18,655 metric tons to 14,150 metric tons, it added.

According the data, milk cream and milk food for infants worth US$41.909 million were imported into the country during first two months of current financial year as against the import of US$54.142 million of same period last year.

Imports of leguminous vegetables (pulses) into the country also reduced by 22.07 percent as about 129,332 metric tons of pulses worth US$102.670 million were imported as compared to the imports of 150,150 metric tons valuing US$131.750 million of same period last year, the data revealed.

It may be recalled here that during first two months of current financial year food commodities worth US$ 1.123 billion were imported as against the import of US$883.156 million of same period last year.