ISLAMABAD: Food group exports from the country during first quarter of current financial year increased by 17.52 percent as compared the exports of the corresponding period of last year.

Food Commodities worth US$ 742.391 million were exported during the period from July-September, 2017-18 as compared the exports US$ 631.731 million of same period of last year, according the latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

During the first three months of current financial year, rice exports grew by 31.91 percent and reached at 621,094 metric tons as compared the exports of 482,445 metric tons of the same period last year, it added.

During the period under review, rice worth US$ 320.242 million exported as compared the exports of US$ 242.694 million of same period last year.

In first quarter of current financial year country earned US$ 90.931 million by exporting about 86,672 metric tons of rice as compared the exports of 88.772 million and 92,321 metric tons of same period last year. Exports of basmati rice grew by 2.43 percent and reached at 86,672 tons valuing of US$ 90.31 million in last three months as against 92,321 metric tons worth US$ 88.772 million tons of same period last year, it added.

Meanwhile, about 534,442 metric tons of rice other then basmati worth US$ 299.321 million exported during the period under review as against the exports of 390,124 metric tons valuing US$ 153,922 million of same period last year, showing an increase of 348.98 percent, it added.

Exports of fish and fish preparations grew by 17.64 percent and about 28,488 metric tons of fish and fish products valuing US$ 75.370 million exported as compared the exports of 21.959 metric tons worth of US$ 64.06 million of same period last year, it added. During the period under review, Wheat exports grew by 100 percent and about 1088 metric tons of wheat valuing US$ 344,000 exported, where as 91,916 metric tons of sugar worth of US$ 41.99 million exported which was also up by 100 percent as compared the exports of same period last year, it added.