Fruit exports up 28.95pc, vegetables down 28.31pc

ISLAMABAD: The exports of fresh fruits and vegetables from the country during the first month of the current financial year registered an increase of 28.95 percent and a decline of 28.31 percent, respectively, as compared to the exports in the corresponding period of the last financial year.

Fruit exports from the country during July 2016 grew 28.95 percent as compared to the same month of the last financial year, according the data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

Around 26,909 metric tons fresh fruits of different kinds were exported, earning $23.086 million during the first month of the current financial year as compared to the exports of 21,980 metric tons, valuing $17 million.

On month-on-month basis around 33,714 metric tons of fruit were exported in the month of June as compared to the exports of 26,909 metric tons in July.

However, exports of vegetables from the country decreased 28.31 percent and were recorded at 32 345 metric tons in July as compared to 43,305 metric tons in the same period of the last year.

During the first month of the current financial year, the country earned $8.25 million by exporting vegetables of different kinds as compared to the exports of $11.52 million in the same period of the last year.

The exports of leguminous vegetables (pulses) registered zero growth in the first month as no quantity was exported in July. Meanwhile, wheat exports grew 100 percent and around 86 metric tons of wheat worth $0.29 million was exported, which was recorded at zero in the same month of the last financial year.

In the first month of 2016/17, exports of oil seeds, nuts and kernals increased 67 percent and around 606 metric tons of above mention commodity worth $1.03 million were exported as compared to the exports of 448 metric tons, valuing $0.616 million in the same period of the last year.

Food group exports witnessed 15.35 percent decrease in the first month as compared to the exports in same period of the last year, as food commodities worth $185.528 million were exported.