Imports of all major food items observed reducing trend in 9 months of FY 2018-19

ISLAMABAD: Tea import into the country during first 9 months of current financial year reduced by 1.13 percent as compared the imports of the corresponding period of last year.

During the period form July-March, 2018-19, about 171,237 metric tons of tea valuing US $445.815 million imported to meet the domestic demand of the commodity as against 147,921 metric tons worth US $450.908 million imported in same period of last year.

Meanwhile, the imports of spices decreased by 8.51 percent and it was recorded at 100,748 metric tons valuing US $111.663 million during the period under review as compared the imports of 99,823 metric tons worth of US $122.049 million of same period of last year, according to the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

In last 9 months of current financial year, imports of soyabean oil into the country had also observed reducing trend and went down by 38.04 percent as country had consumed about 125,193 metric tons of the above mentioned commodity during  same period of last year, which came down to 95,112 metric tons valuing US$68.503 million during the period under review.

The import of palm oil into the country also decreased by 10.22 percent as 2, 325, 639 metric tons palm oil costing US$ 1.386 billion imported as against 2,117,612 metric tons valuing US$ 1.543 billion of same period of last year.

During first 9 months of FY 2018-19, import of leguminous vegetables (pulses) decreased by 3.57 percent and it was recorded at 712,540 metric tons as against the import of 43,950 metric tons of same period of last year.

Country spent an amount of US$ 393.357 million on the import of pulses to fulfill the domestic requirements as against the spending of US$ 407.930 million of same period of last year.

It may be recalled that food group imports into the country during first 9 month had recorded 9.92 percent reduction as it came down form US$ 4.730 billion to US$ 4.261 billion.

On the other hand the exports of the food group from the country also reduced by 2.40 percent as it came down from US$ 3.430 billion to US$ 3.348 billion during the period under review.