Pakistan’s food group exports were recorded at $1.077 billion during the first quarter (July-September) of the current fiscal year (2022-23) compared to $1.019 billion during the corresponding period of 2021-22, showing an increase of 5.70%, according to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

The food commodities that contributed to growth in trade included vegetables, the exports of which grew by 44.34% from $50.082 million to $72.289 million. In addition, the exports of fish and fish preparations increased by 40.20% from $56.959 million to $79.855 million, and the exports of tobacco rose by 74.66% from $7.9 million to $13.798 million, shows the PBS data seen by WealthPK.

The exports of leguminous vegetables (pulses) increased by 100% from zero exports to $0.047 million; meat and meat preparations by 21.68% from $78.283 million to $95.254 million, and all other food items by 26.75% from $221.017 million to $280.136 million. The food commodities that contributed to negative growth in trade included rice, the exports of which decreased by 5.10% from $423.192 million to $401.629 million.

Exports of basmati rice witnessed a decrease of 15.47% from $153.671 million to $129.896 million, and fruits exports decreased by 30.76% from $114.373 million to $79.196 million. The exports of spices dipped from $23.163 million to $18.823 million, a decrease of 18.74%, and oil seeds, nuts and kernals by 17.67% from $44.707 million to $36.806 million.

On a month-on-month (MoM) basis, the exports of food commodities decreased by 3.31% during September 2022 compared to $366.945 million during August 2022. Exports of food commodities witnessed a nominal decrease of 1.26% on a year-on-year (YoY) basis during September 2022 compared to the same month of last year. Food exports during September 2022 were recorded at $354.816 million against $359.331 million during the same period of the previous year.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk