ISLAMABAD: Tea import in the country during the last 8-month of current financial year (2011-12) has registered an increase of 4.84 percent.

During the period from July-February 2011-12, country consumed about 80,405 metric tons worth US$ 237.4 million which was recorded at 82,087 metric tons costing US$ 226.4 million during the same period of last year.

However, the import of sugar in the country was decreased by 97.91 percent, said the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

The sugar import was recorded at 18,006 metric tons costing US$ 14.12 million during the period under review as against the import of 1,018,614 metric ton of sugar tons of same period of last year.

Meanwhile, the import of soybean oil in the country also remain on down track as its import fell by 7.66 percent during first eight months of current financial year.

During the period under review, soybean oil import was recorded at 32,219 metric tons costing US$ 41.8 million as compared with the import of 44,879 metric tons of the commodity during same period of last financial year.

The other commodities which posted the negative growth in their import from July-February 2011-12 included wheat unmilled decreased by 100 percent, spices 11.7 percent and pulses 11.04 percent.