Food exports surge 22.7 percent to reach $1.514bn

ISLAMABAD: The exports of food commodities surged by 22.73 percent during the first five months of the current fiscal year to reach at $1.514 billion, Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) reported.

The overall food exports were recorded at 1.514 billion during July-November (2011-12) as compared to the exports of $1.233 billion during July-November (2010-11), according to FBS figures issued.

The food products that contributed to positive growth included fish and fish preparations, exports of which increased from $106.742 million last year to $125.959 million during the first five months of this year, showing an increase of 15.83 percent.

Exports of fruits also increased by 13.94 percent from $77.753 million to $88.595 during the period under reviews, showing positive growth of 13.94 percent, the data revealed.

Exports of vegetables and tobacco increased by 28.47 percent and 27.62 percent respectively during the period under review.

According to data vegetable and tobacco exports during July- November (2011-12) were recorded at 28.577 million and 7.130 million respectively as compared to the exports of $22.228 million and 5.587 million during the same period of last year.

The exports of leguminous vegetables (pulses) witnessed 100 percent increase as its exports reached to $1.892 million in July- November (2011-12) against the zero exports during last year.

Wheat and spices exports from the country also urged by 100 percent and 9.10 percent during the period under review, the FBS data revealed.

Wheat exports were recorded at $94.204 million during July- November (2011-12) as against the zero exports of the commodity during the same period of last year while the spices exports increased from 17.102 million last year to $18.658 million this year.

Exports of oil, seeds and kernals increased by 125.23 percent by going up from $ 3.765 last year to $8.480 million this year while the exports of meat and meat preparations increased from $56.669 million to $73.789 million, showing an increase of 30.20 percent.

However,the food products that witnessed negative growth during the period under review included rice, exports of which decreased by 12.52 percent.

The rice export stood at $701.133 million in July-November (2011-12) against the exports of $801.488 million during same period of last year.

Among rice group, the exports of Basmati declined by 15.66 percent whereas the exports of other rice commodities witnessed negative growth of 9.49 percent.

On the other hand, during the month of November 2011, the food exports witnessed negative growth of 25.85 percent ad 6.93 percent when compared to the exports of October 2011 and November 2010 respectively.

The overall food exports during November 2011 were recorded at $223.360 million against the exports of $301.246 million in October 2011 and $239.984 million in November 2010, the data revealed.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011