Food group imports decrease by 8.25pc, exports increase by 1.08pc in 8 months of FY 2018-19

ISLAMABAD: Food group imports into the country during first 8 months of current financial year decreased by 8.25 percent, where as exports increased by 1.08 percent as compared the corresponding period of last year.

Imports of the food commodities into the country during the period under review came down from US$ 4.216 billion to US$ 3.868 billion, according to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data on Monday.

During the period form July-February, 2018-19 the imports of the food commodities which had recorded negative growth in their imports including milk, cream, infants milk by 5.94 percent, dry fruit and nuts by 67.66 percent, tea by 1.12 percent spices by 7.83 percent.

The other commodities which had observed negative trend during the period under review included soya bean oil by 46.47 percent, palm oil by 8.20 percent and sugar 34.83 percent respectively, it added.

Meanwhile, exports of food commodities increased to US$ 2.871 billion which were recorded at US$2.841 billion during the corresponding period of last year.

The exports of food commodities which had recorded increase in their exports including Basmati rice by 14.83 percent, fruit and vegetable by 15.29 percent vegetables by 1.21 percent and wheat by 777.44 percent respectively.

During the period under review, the other commodities which had witnessed increase in their respective exports including spices by 16.71 percent, oil seeds, nuts by 121.68 percent meat and meat preparations by 84.84 percent. On month on month basis, food import into the country during the month of February, 2019 reduced by 7.82 percent as compared month of last year.

In February the food imports into the country came down from US$ 439.044 million to US$ 497.

On the other hand, the exports from the country also decreased by 6.51 percent in February, as it was recorded at US$ 408.263 million as compared the US$ 436.669 million of same month of last year.