ISLAMABAD (PEN) : In July and August, Pakistan saw a significant annual decrease in food imports, dropping by 18.15%, while rice exports experienced an impressive 100% surge. However, fertilizer consumption has notably declined during the first eight months of the calendar year.
According to the Bureau of Statistics, the country imported food items worth $1.066 billion in the past two months, a drop from $1.303 billion during the same period last fiscal year. Interestingly, imports of dried fruits rose by 88.24% and spices by 59.05%, reflecting changing consumer preferences.
On the export side, rice has become a bright spot for Pakistan. During this period, rice exports soared by 98.58%, totaling 430,045 tons and bringing in $272.057 million, a testament to the quality of Pakistani rice in international markets.
Conversely, from January to August, the country’s urea fertilizer consumption fell to 4,208,311 tons, marking a 3.9% decline compared to the previous year. Similarly, DAP consumption dropped by 11%, totaling 796,853 tons.
These figures paint a complex picture of Pakistan’s agricultural landscape, highlighting both challenges and opportunities as the country navigates its economic and agricultural strategies.