ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s food exports during the first four months of the current fiscal year grew by 30.29% as compared to the exports of the same period last year.
During the period from July to October 2023, food commodities valued at 1.944 billion dollars were exported as compared to the exports of 1.492 billion dollars in the same period of last year, according to the latest trade data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
In the last four months, the exports of commodities, including rice, grew by 30.12%, fruits by 13.53%, pulses by 80.08%, spices by 24.56%, sugar by 100%, meat and meat preparations grew by 18.77%, respectively.
Meanwhile, the exports of fish and fish products dropped by 7.96%, vegetables by 37.89%and tobacco by 20.97%, respectively.
In the last four months of the current fiscal year, over 1.054 million tons of rice valued at 710.788 million dollars were exported as compared to the exports of 981,589 metric tons costing 546.262 million dollars in the corresponding period of the last year.
Pakistan also earned 108.995 million dollars by exporting about 216,238 metric tons of fresh fruits during the period under review, in contrast to the exports of 150,985 metric tons valued at 96.003 million dollars in the same period of last year.
During the period from July to October 2023, more than 96 metric tons of pulses valued at 84,000 dollars were also exported, in contrast to the exports of 48 metric tons worth 47,000 dollars in the same period of last year.
Pakistan’s Imports Decreased
On the other side, the food group imports into Pakistan went down by 23.25% as food commodities worth 2.633 billion dollars were imported in the last four months in contrast to the imports of 3.431 billion dollars in the same period of last year.
During the period under review, the items that recorded negative growth in their imports, including milk, cream, and food for infants at 19.20%, wheat un-milled at 63.82%, spices at 3.73%, soya bean oil at 33.08%, palm oil at 31.45%, and sugar import decreased by 46.37%.
