KARACHI: Pakistan’s import bill plunged by 17.06 percent during first six months (July – December) 2019/2010 owing to deceleration in international commodity prices and lower domestic demand.
According to data released by the ministry of commerce, the import bill reduced to $23.18 billion during first half of current fiscal year as compared with $27.94 billion in the corresponding half of the last fiscal year.
The exports exhibited 3.21 percent growth during the period under review owing to better earning of local manufacturers in the international markets.
The total exports were at $11.54 billion during July – December 2019/2020 as compared with $11.81 billion in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year. The lower import bill brought down the trade deficit by 30.58 percent for the period under review.
The trade deficit declined to $11.64 billion during July-December 2019/2020 as compared with the deficit of $16.77 billion in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.
According to trade data for the period July – December 2019/2020 revealed that the import of motor cars in completely build unit (CBU) fell by 80 percent to $31 million as compared with $156 million.
While import of CKD (Completely Knocked Down) motor cars fell by 46 percent to $229 million in first six months of current fiscal year as compared with $426 million in the same period of the last fiscal year.
The import of petroleum crude declined by 30 percent to $1.7 billion during first six months of current fiscal year as compared with $2.42 billion in the corresponding months of the last fiscal year.
While import of petroleum products fell by 24 percent to $2.59 billion during July – December 2019/2020 when compared with $3.41 billion in the same period of the last fiscal year.
According to top performing export items, basmati rice posted 56 percent increased to $380.2 million during first six months of current fiscal year when compared with $244 million in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.
Export of meat posted 52 percent growth to $155.9 million during July – December 2019/2020 when compared with $103 million in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.
The exports of readymade garments registered increase of 12 percent to $1.41 billion during first half of current fiscal year as compared with $1.26 billion in the same half of the last fiscal year.
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