ISLAMABAD: Rice exports from the country during first three months of current financial year grew by 31.91 percent compared to exports in same period last year (SPLY).
During the period from July-September 2017-18 around 621,094 metric tons rice exported as compared to exports of 482,445 metric tons in same period last year, according to data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
During the period under review, rice worth US$ 320.242 million exported as compared to exports of US$ 242.694 million of same period last year.
Meanwhile, exports of “Basmati” rice grew by 2.43 percent and touched 86,672 tons valuing US$ 90.31 million in last three months as against 92,321 metric tons worth US$ 88.772 million tons of SPLY, it added.
In first quarter of current financial year, about 534,442 metric tons of rice other than basmati worth US$ 299.321 million was exported against exports of 390,124 metric tons valuing US$ 153,922 million in SPLY.
During the period under review, seafood exports from the country registered an increase of 17.64 percent as about 28,488 metric tons of fish and fish products valuing US$ 75.370 million was exported compared to exports of 21,959 metric tons worth US$ 64.06 million in SPLY.
However, the exports of fruit, vegetable reduced by 24.37 percent and 0.99 percent respectively during the period under review, whereas no quantity of pulses got exported in first quarter of current financial year, the data reveled.
It may be recalled that food group exports from the country during first quarter of current financial year increased by 17.52 percent as compared to exports in SPLY.
Food commodities worth US$ 742.391 million were exported during the period from July-September 2017-18 as compared to exports US$ 631.731 million in SPLY.
Wheat exports grew by 100 percent and about 1088 metric tons of wheat valuing US$ 344,000 exported, whereas 91,916 metric tons of sugar worth of US$ 41.99 million exported which was also up by 100 percent as compared the exports of same period last year, it added.
During the period under review, all other food commodities worth US$ 140.299 million were exported against exports of US$ 132.216 million in SPLY, hence showing an increase of 16.11 percent.