LAHORE: Food group exports from the country during first half of the current fiscal year increased by 7.22 per cent whereas imports decreased by 6.98 per cent.
Official data reveals that during the first half of FY 2013-14 food commodities worth $ 2.132 billion were exported as compared to the exports worth of $ 1.988 billion during same period of the last fiscal year.
During the period under review rice exports registered 25.89 per cent growth by going up from $ 749.8 million last fiscal year to $ 943.9 million this fiscal year. Meanwhile, the country’s fresh fruit exports surged by 35.95 per cent with exports recorded at $ 205.4 million against $ 151.1 million last fiscal year. Similarly the export of oil seeds, nuts and kernels also increased by 295 per cent going up from $ 16.3 million last fiscal year to $ 48.3 million this fiscal year during July-December.
During the period under review exports of vegetables and leguminous vegetables (pulses) increased by 23.5 per cent and 185 per cent respectively. Vegetables’ exports increased from $ 65.5 million last fiscal year to 80.9 million this fiscal year. Pulses’ exports were recorded at 2.7 million as compared to that of $ 0.98 million last fiscal year.
Meat and meat preparations exports increased from $ 119.3 million during July-December 2012-13 to $ 121.9 million during same period this fiscal year, thus showing an increase of 2.19 per cent. Fish and fish preparations exports posted 15.81 per cent increase to $ 181.6 million this fiscal year against $ 156.8 million last fiscal year.
The items which witnessed a negative growth in their exports included wheat, spices and sugar. Exports of wheat decreased by 82.57 per cent; exports of spices decreased by 20.06 per cent; export of sugar dipped by 24.7 per cent; while, export of all other food items also decreased by 21.32 per cent collectively.
On the other hand imports of food commodities in the country during first six months of current fiscal year went down by 6.98 per cent. The imports of food group during the period under review were recorded at $ 2.011 billion as compared to that of $ 2.162 billion during same period of last fiscal year.
Import of milk cream and milk preparation for infants decreased by 6.29 per cent and was recorded at $ 68.9 million during July-December period this fiscal year as compared to that of $ 73.6 million in same period last fiscal year. Tea and spices import decreased by 26.7 per cent and 5.9 per cent respectively. Tea imports went down from $ 182.7 million to $ 133.9 million whereas spices’ imports went down from $ 35.8 million to $33.7 million.
Similarly, during the period under review imports of palm oil declined by 11.47 per cent being recorded at $ 906.8 million this fiscal year as compared to that of $ 1.024 billion last fiscal year. The imports of soybean oil decreased from $ 44.2 million last fiscal year to $ 32.2 million this fiscal year showing a negative growth of 27.24 per cent.
