ISLAMABAD: Rice exp-orts witnessed a growth of 3.46 per cent during the first half of this fiscal year. Around 1,781,401 tonnes of rice ($976.784 million) were exported during July-Dec period of 2014-15 as against 1,709,883 tonnes ($944.077m) in the same period last year.

Data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Thursday showed export of basmati rice rose to 260,481 tonnes ($302.265m), from 269,272 tonnes ($294.517m) in the same period last year.

Export of other rice varieties also increased to 1,520,920 tonnes ($674.519m) during the period under review, from 1,440,611 tonnes ($649.560m) in the corresponding period last year.

However, fruit and vegetables export recorded negative growth of 3.29pc and 25.23pc respectively during July-Dec period of this fiscal year.

The fruit export dipped to 256,146 tonnes ($189.136m) from 345,791 tonnes ($204.875m) in the corresponding period of last year.

Vegetable export was recorded at 167,648 tonnes during the period as compared to 244,365 tonnes in the same period last year.

Sugar export posted an increase of 0.46pc at 204,711 tonnes ($98.652m) as compared to 208,438 tonnes ($98.202m) last year.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2015

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