Islamabad, Dec 18: Food group exports from Pakistan during the first five months of the current financial year increased by 19.58% compared to the same period last year. From July to November 2024, food exports totaled $3.155 billion, up from $2.638 billion during the same period in the previous year, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
Exports of rice saw a significant rise of 35.40%, with 2.377 million tons valued at $1.515 billion, compared to 244,664 metric tons worth $286.778 million in the same period last year.
Meanwhile, fish and fish product exports grew by 0.21%, reaching 75,314 metric tons valued at $162.334 million, up from 72,600 metric tons worth $162.00 million in the previous year.
In the first five months of the current fiscal year, fruit exports rose by 3.47% and vegetable exports increased by 24.88%. The country earned $132.577 million from exporting approximately 220,705 metric tons of fruits and $110.221 million from over 338,173 metric tons of vegetables.
Other commodities showing strong growth include tobacco, with a 348.48% increase, sugar up by 833.68%, and meat and meat products growing by 2.80%. During this period, 20,771 metric tons of tobacco worth $75.116 million, 353,550 metric tons of sugar valued at $196.717 million, and 47,503 metric tons of meat and meat products worth $201.586 million were exported.
On the other hand, food imports into Pakistan declined by 11.13%, totaling $2.977 billion, down from $3.350 billion during the same period last year.
