ISLAMABAD: Imports of food groups into the country have seen a significant decline of 18.15% during the first two months of the current financial year compared to imports during the corresponding period last year. From July to August 2024, Pakistan imported various food commodities worth $1.066 billion, down from $1.303 billion in the same year last year, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. During the period under review, the commodities saw a negative trend in their respective imports, including tea, by 11.07 percent when it was recorded at $97.956 million compared to imports of $110.155 million in the same period last year. Meanwhile, imports of edible oil such as soybean and palm fell by 52.20 percent and 10.23 percent, respectively, as soybean oil worth $22.241 million and palm oil worth $495.874 million were imported compared to imports of $552.404 USD million and USD 46.00 million. In the first two months, the import of sugar into the country also decreased by 10.01 percent and was recorded at $0.71 million as against the import of $0.789 million in the same period last year. However, imports of commodities including dry fruits and nuts rose by 88.24 percent as dry fruits and nuts were imported worth $13.378 million in the last two months compared to imports of $7.1017 million in the same period last year. Imports of spices also increased by 59.05 percent as US$ 39.384 million worth of spices were imported compared to US$ 24.762 million in the same period last year. It is worth mentioning here that the exports of food groups from the country in the first two months of the current financial year have increased by 42.39 percent compared to the same period last year. Food commodities worth $1.011 billion were exported between July and August 2024, compared to exports of $710.651 million in the same period last year.
