Though exports declined from August this year in Pakistan, the first quarter of the fiscal year brings a case of cautious optimism for food exports as a whole but not so much for fruit.
1QFY18 saw an 11 percent increase in exports over the same period last year with all major commodity groups’ exports rising. The growth in exports was led by the food category.
Despite growth in exports like sugar, exports of fruits went down compared to the first quarter last fiscal year. The mango crop this season was also not bountiful due to bad weather affecting nearly half the crops, which may have led to a decrease in Pakistan’s fruit exports by 24 percent.
The next quarter’s food exports depend partly on the kinnow (mandarin) season which drives fruit exports in winter months, and partly on the continuation of the positive trend in rice exports.
Source: brecorder.com
