ISLAMABAD: The export of fish and fish preparations increased by 7.97 per cent during the first three quarters of the current fiscal year as compared to the corresponding period of last year.
The seafood exports during July-March (2019-20) were recorded at $317.307 million against the export of $293.895 million in July-March (2018-19), showing a growth of around 8pc, according to the Pakistan Bureau of statistics (PBS).
In terms of quantity, Pakistan exported 133,226 metric tonnes seafood during the period under review against the export of 129,704 metric tonnes last year, showing an increase of 2.72pc.
On year-on-year basis, the fish exports from the country declined by 15.74pc by going down from $45.895 million during March 2019 to $38.669 million in March 2020.
On month-on-month basis, the seafood exports, however, increased by 51.67pc in March 2020 when compared to the export of $25.495 million in February 2020, the PBS data revealed.
Overall food exports from the country increased by 1.43pc during the first nine months of the current year compared to last year. The food exports from the country were recorded at $3396.022 million during July-March (2019-20) against the export of $3348.104 million during July-March (2018-19).
The country’s overall merchandise trade deficit witnessed a significant reduction in the first three quarters of the current financial year as it declined by 26.45pc as compared to the corresponding period of last year.
During the period under review, the country’s exports registered about 2.23pc growth, whereas imports reduced by 14.42pc.
During the period from July-March (2019-20), the exports witnessed an increase of 2.23pc and reached to $17.451 billion against the export of $17.071 billion of the same period of last year, stats added.
The country’s imports witnessed significant decrease of 14.42pc and went down from $40.679 billion in the first three quarters of last financial year to $34.814 billion of same period of current financial year, it said.
Based on the figures, the trade deficit during the period under review was recorded at $17.363 against the deficit of $23.608 during last year, showing a decline of 26.45pc.
