The food exports from the country increased by 4.89 percent during the first seven months of the current fiscal year to reach at $2.241 billion as compared to the exports of 2.136 billion during the same period of last year.

The products that contributed in the positive growth of food exports during July-January (2011-12) included leguminous vegetables (pulses), exports of which increased by 100 percent.

According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) data, the exports of leguminous vegetables reached to $2.388 million during the period against the zero exports of the commodity during July- January (2010-11).

The other products that witness positive growth included fish and fish preparations, exports of which grew by 15.27 percent by increasing from $151.833 million last year to $175.011 million during the first seven moths of current fiscal year.

Exports of fruits also increased from $182.214 million last year to $195.296 million in the current year, showing positive growth of 7.18 percent while the exports of tobacco increased from $10.372 million to $16.229 million, showing growth of 56.47 percent.

Wheat exports from the country increased by 45.71 percent from $64.820 million to $94.450 million, while the exports of oil seeds, nuts and kernels increased from $8.398 million to $13.445 million, showing an increase of over 60 percent.

The exports of meat and meat preparations during the period under review increased by 17.23 percent by going up from $82.316 million to $96.503 million while exports of other food items increased by 48.61 percent by growing from $323.465 million to $480.710 million, the data revealed.

The food products that witnessed decrease in their exports during the period under review included rice, exports of which decreased by 9.21 percent. The exports of rice decreased from $1.205 billion last year to $1.094 billion during the current year.

Among the rice commodities the exports of basmati rice decreased by 18.60 percent whereas the exports of other rice commodities decreased by 2.91 percent.

According to the data, the exports of basmati rice decreased from $546.650 million to $454.816 million whereas the exports of other rice commodities decreased from $658.775 million to $639.575 million.

The exports of vegetables also witnessed negative growth of 42.44 percent during the period under review by going down from $82.040 million to $47.225 million while the exports of spices witnessed nominal 0.89 percent down fall by declining from $25.964 million to $25.732 million.

It is pertinent to mention here that the overall exports from the country witnessed growth of 0.25 percent during the first seven months of the current fiscal.

Exports from the country during July-January (2011-12) stood at $13.155 billion against the exports of $13.122 billion during July-January (2010-11).

On the other hand, the imports into the country increased by 16.77 percent during the period under review. The imports increased from $22.546 billion last year to $26.327 billion during the current year, the data revealed.

Based on the figures, the trade deficit during the period stood at $13.172 billion against the deficit of $9.424 billion last year, showing an increase of 39.77 percent.