LAHORE: Exports of fish and fish preparations surged by 11.26 per cent during the first seven months of the current fiscal year as compared to the corresponding period of last fiscal year.
The fish exports during July-January (2013-14) were recorded at $ 200.416 million against the exports of $ 180.137 million in July-January (2012-13), according to official data. In terms of volume, the seafood exports increased 2.45 per cent going up from 80,495 metric tonnes to 82,470 metric tonnes.
Overall food exports increased by 6.30 per cent during the first seven months of the current fiscal year, by going up from $ 2.499 billion last year to $ 2.657 billion during current fiscal year. Meanwhile, the seafood exports decreased by 23.87 per cent during January 2014 when compared to the exports of January 2013, the data revealed. Seafood exports in January 2014 were recorded at $ 17.725 million against the exports of $ 23.283 million in January 2013 and $35.150 million in December 2013.
It is pertinent to mention here that the country’s overall trade deficit narrowed by 4.55 per cent during first seven months of current fiscal year as exports expanded by 4.64 per cent while imports going slightly up by 0.48 per cent as compared to the same period of last fiscal year.
The exports from the country during July-January (2013-14) were recorded at $ 14.699 billion against the exports of $ 14.047 billion recorded during July-January 2012-13. While, the imports into the country during the period under review were recorded at $ 25.808 billion against the imports of $ 25.685 billion during the corresponding period of last fiscal year.
Based on the figures, the trade deficit during July-January (2013-14) was recorded at $ 11.109 billion against the deficit of $ 11.638 billion in July-January (2012-13), showing negative growth of 4.55 per cent.
