ISLAMABAD: About 520,759 metric tons of basmati rice worth $540.231 million were exported during the period from July-June, 2017-18 as against the exports of 496,263 metric tons valuing $453.441 million of the corresponding period of last year.
During the period under review, the exports of basmati rice witnessed a 19.14 per cent growth when the quantity was compared with the same period of last year, according to the data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
Meanwhile, about 4.106 million tons of rice worth $2.073 billion were exported during 12 months of last financial year as compared the exports of 3.523 million tons valuing $1.606 billion of the corresponding period of last years, registered 26.78 per cent growth during the period under review. During the period from July-June, the country earned $1.496 billion by exporting rice other than basmati as about 3.585 million tons of other rice exported as against the exports of 3.053 million tons worth $1.153 billion of the same period last year.
It may be recalled that food group exports from the country recorded about 29.28 per cent growth as country earned $4.797 billion exporting different food commodities, which were recorded at $3.711 billion in the same period of last year.
The other commodities which recorded positive growth in their exports during the period under review included fish and fish products by 14.57 per cent, fruits and vegetables by 5.8 per cent and 30.56 per cent respectively.
During the period under review fish and fish products worth $451.026 million, fruit and vegetables $400.237 million and 241.426 million respectively were exported.
On the other hand, the country spent $6.185 billion on the import of food during last financial year, which was recorded at $6.143 billion during the same period of last year, showing an increase of 0.68 per cent, the data added.
During the last year, the country consumed about 183,321 metric tons of tea costing $551.881 million as compared the 194.833 metric tons and $523.790 million in the same period of last year.
