Gold imports increase by 33.49%

Gold imports during the first nine months of the current fiscal year surged by 33.49 percent as against the same period last year.
According to data revealed by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), during the period under review, 2,942 kilogrammes (kg) of the yellow metal worth $159.172 million was imported as compared to imports of 2,236 kg valuing $119.239 million during same period of last year (2011-12).
On a month-on-month basis, gold imports in March 2013 registered a decrease of 30.42 percent and 23.24 percent, compared to imports in March 2012 and February 2013 respectively.
Gold imports in March 2013 stood at $15.531 million against imports of $22.322 million in March 2012 and $20.251 million in February 2013 respectively.
The overall imports of metal group registered an increase of 18.11 percent during July-March (2012-13) against the same period last year. Metal imports during the period under review were recorded at $2.402 billion against imports of $2.033 billion during the same period last year.
On a month-on-month basis, the metal group imports in March 2013 surged by 52.26 percent and 25.35 percent, compared to imports in March, 2012 and February, 2013 respectively. Imports of metals increased from $210.85 in March, 2012 and $256.112 in February, 2013 to $321.046 in March, 2013. Imports of iron and steel scrap registered a growth of 19.65 percent during July-March (2012-13) as compared to the imports during July-March (2011-12).
Iron and steel scrap imports into the country were recorded at $494.276 million during the first nine months of the current fiscal year against imports of $413.11 million the corresponding period last year.
Imports of iron and steel edged up by 13.72 percent, growing from $986.096 million to $1.121 billion while imports of aluminium, wrought and worked, also increased by 71.97 percent, going up from $93.299 million to $160.449 million.
Imports of all other metal and articles were recorded at $466.802 million during the period under review against the imports of $422.13 million last year, posting a growth of 10.58 percent.