Seafood exports up 15.68pc in one year

The exports of fish and fish preparations surged by 15.68 per cent during the fiscal year 2013-14 as compared to the exports of the commodity during the corresponding period of last year.

Pakistan exported seafood products of worth $367.472 million in July-June (2013-14) compared to the exports of $317.652 million in July-June (2012-13), according to the latest data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

In terms of Pakistani rupee, the fish exports increased by 22.64 per cent by going up from Rs30,759 million to Rs 37,722 million during the period under review.

According to the data, Pakistan exported as many as 155,671 metric tons of seafood compared to the exports of 138,680 metric ton showing an increase of 12.25 per cent in terms of quantity. Meanwhile, on year-on-year basis, the exports of fish and fish preparations increased by 20.40 per cent in June 2014 as compared to the exports of June 2013.

The country exported seafood products of $31.726 million in June 2014 as against the exports of $26.351 million in June 2013. However, as compared to the exports of $42.000 million in May 2014, the seafood exports on month-on-month basis reduced by 24.46 per cent in June 2014, the PBS data revealed.

The overall food exports from the country decreased by 2.90 per cent during the fiscal year 2013-14 compared to the same period of last year. The overall food exports from the country were recorded at $4.623 billion compared to the exports of 4.762 billion.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan’s trade deficit narrowed by 2.48 per cent during the fiscal year 2013-14 as exports expanded by 2.75 per cent while imports witnessing slight increase of 0.36 per cent as compared to the same period of last year.

The exports from the country during July-June (2013-14) were recorded at $25.132 billion against the exports of $24.460 billion recorded during July-June 2012-13.

On the other hand, the imports into the country during the period under review were recorded at $45.113 billion against the imports of $44.950 billion during the corresponding period of last year. Based on the figures, the trade deficit during July-June (2013-14) was recorded at $19.981 billion against the deficit of $20.490 billion in July-June (2012-13), showing negative growth of 2.48 per cent.