ISLAMABAD: Rice exports from the country during the first nine months of 2017-18 increased by 27.67 per cent as compared to the corresponding period of last year.

From July-March 2017-18, about 3,132,997 tonnes of rice worth $1.494 billion were exported versus 2,681,253 tonnes valuing $1.17bn in the same period last year.

According the latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, basmati rice exports from the country also grew by 19.13pc as 332,179 tonnes of basmati rice costing $348.558 million exported during the last nine months as against exports of 302,339 tonnes at $290.897m in the corresponding period of FY17.

During the period under review, about 2,800,818 tonnes of rice others then basmati were exported and earned $1.148bn as compared the exports of 2,378,914 tonnes valuing $897.804m of same period last year, showing an increase of 30.49pc.

Meanwhile, the country earned $315.497m by exporting about 130,148 tonnes of fish and fish preparations, which was recorded at 105,039 tons at $275.807m in same period of 2016-17, the data show.

During these nine months, food group exports from the country grew by 28.06pc as different food commodities worth $3.431bn were exported versus $2.679bn in the corresponding period of last year.

On a monthly basis, food group exports also registered a growth of 70.73pc during the month of March as compared to exports in the same month of 2016-17. In March food commodities worth $589.122m were exported as against $345.051m in the corresponding period of last year.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2018