Food exports up by 58.38 percent

ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP): Exports of food products during the first seven months of the current financial year witnessed increase of 58.38 percent over the corresponding period of the last financial year.

Overall food group exports were recorded at $1.87 billion in July-January (2008-09) as against the exports of $1.18 billion recorded July-January (2007- 08), figures provided by Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) said.

Among the food group, the export of rice increased by 90.9 percent by growing up from exports of $658.7 million during last year to $1.25 billion during the first seven months of the current fiscal year.

According to the figures, export of basmati export during the time under review increased by 72 percent while that of other rice commodities increased by 117 percent.

Exports of fish were increased by 21.84 percent, fruits by 5.43 percent, leguminous vegetables (pulses) by 133 percent, spices by 19 percent, sugar by 73 percent, meat and meat productions by 48 percent while the exports of other food items were increased by 7.01 percent.

However, the exports of vegetables during the time under review were decreased by 19.59 percent while oil, seeds, nuts and kernels exports also decreased by 19.97 percent.

During the month of January 2009 exports of food commodities increased by 4.18 percent as compared to exports of December 2008. Food exports during the month under review were recorded at $215 million as against export of $206 million recorded during December 2008.

Rice exports during January 2009 were increased by 1.89 percent, fish and fish preparations by 16.25 percent, fruits by 24.77 percent, vegetables by 72.71 percent, tobacco by 286 percent, spices by 47.7 percent, meat and meat preparations by 48.14 percent and exports of other food items were increased by 1.79 percent.

Source: http://www.app.com.pk/