ISLAMABAD - Tea import into the country during first quarter of current financial year increased by 2 percent as compared the imports of the corresponding period of last year.

In first quarter, about 48,794 metric tons of tea valuing $137.142 metric tons imported to fulfill the domestic requirements as compared the imports of 54,912 metric tons valuing $134.448 million of same period of last year. According the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), edible oil imports including soya bean and palm into the country during first quarter of current financial year grew by 78.11 percent and 38.53 percent respectively as compared to the imports of the corresponding period of last year.

During the period from July-September, 2017-18 about 101,094 metric tons of soya bean oil valuing $77.155 million imported to fulfill the local consumptions as compared the imports of 24,485 metric tons worth of $43.297 million of the same period last year. About 721,097 metric tons of palm oil costing $510.308 million imported in first three months as compared the import of 542,145 metric tons valuing $368.383 million of same period last year.

Meanwhile, tea import into the country during first quarter also grew by 2 percent and reached at $77.115 million as against the import of $134.448 million of same period last year. Around 48,794 metric tons of tea imported during last three months as compared the imports of 54,962 metric tons of same period last year.

In last three months of current financial year, about 49,330 metric tons of spices worth $46.439 million imported as compared the imports of 34,322 metric tons valuing $30.631 million of same period last year. In first quarter, food group imports into the country registered increase of 19.35 percent and stood at $1.622 billion as compared the imports of $1.359 million of same period last year.

On the other hand, exports of the food group grew by 17.52 percent as compared the exports of the corresponding period of last year. Food commodities worth $742.391 million were exported during the period from July-September, 2017-18 as compared the exports $631.731 million of same period of last year.