Fruit and vegetable exports from the country during first seven months of current financial year increased by 26.88 percent and 14.65 percent respectively.
During the period from July-January, 2013-14, about 416,390 metric tons of fresh fruits worth US$ 280.337 million exported which were up by 26.88 percent as compared to same period last year. The fruit exports from the country was recorded at 417,808 metric tons valuing US$ 220.941 million during first seven months of last year, said the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
Meanwhile, about 320,948 metric tons of vegetable valuing US$ 109.892 million exported during the period under review as it was recorded at 297.832metric tons worth US$ 95.851 million i first seven months of last financial year. On month on month basis, fruit exports from the country during month of January registered growth of 8.81 percent as compared to same month of last year, while the exports of vegetables dropped by 4.06 percent. The data reveled that the exports of leguminious vegetables (pluses) posted tremendous increase of 190.43 percent and reached at 3,278 metric tons of US$2.823 million.
According the data the exports of pulses were recorded at 1,204 metric tons worth US$ 0.972 million during the same period of last year.
It may be recalled that over all food group exports from the country during the period under review grew by 6.30 percent where as food imports in the country decreased by 8.5 percent as compared to same period of last year. During the period from July-January, different food commodities worth US$2.657 billion exported as compared to US$ 2.449 billion of same period last year which were up by 6.30 percent.