ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Fruit exports from the country during first six months of current financial year increased by 10.53 percent as compared to the exports of the corresponding period of last year.
About 259,341 metric tons of fresh fruit of different kinds worth $198.583 million were exported from the country during the period from July-December, 2016-17 as compared to same period of last year.
The fruits export from the country in first six months of last financial year were recorded at 267.133 metric tons valuing of $179.661 million, according the latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
However, in last two quarters of current financial year, vegetable exports decreased by 25.10 percent as compared to same period of last year.
In last six months about 199,883 metric tons of fresh vegetables worth $59.753 million were exported as compared to 278.986 million tons valuing $79.779 million of same period of last year.
During the period under review tobacco exports grew by 9.14 percent as 1,064 metric tons tobacco valuing $3.987 million exported as against 1,113 metric tons costing $3.653 million of same period of last year.
In first half of current financial year, food group exports from the country decreased by 10.94 percent as compared the corresponding period of last year.
During last six months, food commodities worth $1.659 billion were exported as compared the exports of $1.862 billion of same period of last year.
The commodities which registered negative growth in their exports included rice by 17.97 percent, basmati rice by 25.52 percent and rice other than basmati reduced by 15.28 percent respectively.
On the other hand, the exports of food commodities from the country recording the positive growth in exports during first half of current financial year included wheat by 100 percent, spices by 5.55 percent oil seed, nuts and kernals by 38.27 percent respectively.
It may be recalled that during the period from July-December, 2016-17 food group imports in the country increased by 9.04 percent as food commodities worth $2.884 billion were imported to fulfill the domestic requirements as against the import of $2.628 billion of same period of last year.
