Pakistan’s food group imports increased by over 16 percent

By APD writer Muhammad Sohail

ISLAMABAD, Dec. 26 (APD) -- Pakistan’s food group imports have increased by 16.08 percent during the first five months of the current fiscal year July2017-June2018), an official statement said on Tuesday.

The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) said that the rise was witnessed during the period from the month of July-November 2017 when food commodities worth 2.718 billion U.S. dollars were imported into the country as compared the imports of 2.341 billion U.S. dollars during the same period last year.

During the period under review, about 38,231 metric tons of milk cream and milk for infant food valuing 107.846 million U.S. dollars was imported which was up by 4.95 percent as compared the imports of 34,951 metric tons worth of 102.754 million U.S. dollars during the same period last year.

Pakistan consumed 68,965 metric tons of dry fruits and nuts costing 78.920 million U.S. dollars in first five months of the current financial year, which was recorded at 56,605 metric tons worth of 96.171 million U.S. dollars of the same period of last year.

Meanwhile, 230.917 million U.S. dollars were spent on the imports of about 80,597 metric tons of tea as compared the imports of 84,324 metric tons valuing 208.383 million U.S. dollars, showing an increase of 10.81 percent.

The spices imports into the country also grew by 26.74 percent as about 67,115 metric tons of spices valuing 66.667 million U.S. dollars were imported as compared the imports of 51,443 metric tons worth 52.601 million U.S. dollars of the same period last year.

The food group imports into Pakistan on month basis also grew by 1.38 percent in November 2017 as compared the same month of last year.

Food commodities worth of 520.127 million U.S. dollars were imported in last month as compared the imports of 513.071 million U.S. dollars of the same period of last year.

On the other hand food group exports from Pakistan witnessed 12.05 percent growth as compared the exports of the corresponding period of last year. During the said period, food commodities worth of 1.491 billion U.S. dollars exported as against the exports of US$ 1.319 billion of the same period of last year.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)