ISLAMABAD: Food group exports from the country during five months of current financial year grew by 12.05 percent as compared to exports of the corresponding period of last year.
During the period from July-November, 2017-18 food commodities worth US$ 1.491 billion were exported as against exports of US$ 1.319 billion of same period last year (SPLY), according to data available from Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
During the period under review, 1,350,916 metric tons of rice valuing US$ 644.370 million were exported against exports of 1.275,856 metric tons worth of US$ 557.338 million in SPLY, showing an increase of 15.62 percent.
In last five months of current financial year, exports of basmati rice increased by 2.80 percent as about 144,039 metric tons of basmati rice exported to earn US$ 147.310 million against the export of 150,631 metric tons worth of US$ 143.994 million of same period last year, it added.
Meanwhile, country earned US$ 497.060 million by exporting about 1,206,877 metric tons of rice other than basmati, which was recorded at 1,125,225 metric tons valuing US$ 414.042 million of first five months of last year, which was up by 20.05 percent.
During last five months exports of fish and fish preparations enhanced by 6.37 percent and reached at 62,570 metric tons worth of US$ 165.943 million as compared the exports of 56,164 metric tons US$ 156.006 million tons of same period last year.
However, the data reveled that exports of fruits and vegetables remained on down ward as exports of both above mentioned commodities decreased by 17 percent and 4.33 percent respectively.
From July-November, 2017, Pakistan exported about 155,222 metric tons of fresh fruits valuing of US$ 122.918 million, which was recorded at 192,383 metric tons and US$ 148.093 million of same period last year.
In first five months of last financial year country had exported 169,303 metric tons of vegetables valuing US$ 46.471 million, which stood at 135,552 metric tons worth of US$ 44.225 million in same period of current year.
