Kanwal Naseer

Exports of fish and fish preparations climbed by 39.65% during the first four months of the current fiscal year compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). It shows that the country's seafood exports brought in $134.596 million from July to October of 2022–23 compared to $96.384 million from July to October of 2021–22, a rise of almost 39.65%. Quantitatively, the exports of fish and fish preparations climbed by 40.93%, from 36,088 metric tonnes in the first four months of the previous year to 50,859 metric tonnes in the first four months of this year.

When compared year over year, the exports of seafood rose by 38.65% to $54.662 million in October 2022 from $39.425 million in October 2021. In terms of quantity, the exports increased by 38.74% this year, from 14,544 metric tonnes to 20,179 metric tonnes. Compared to the $41.848 million in exports from July through September, the amount of seafood exported grew by 30.62% month over month.When compared to the exports of 14,758 metric tonnes in July 2022, the amount of fish exported increased by 36.73% in October 2022.

Overall food exports from the country were valued at $1493.859 million between July and October (2022-23) compared to $1432.712 million between July and October, an increase of 4.27%. It is important to note that, compared to the exports of $9,460 million during the same period last year, the total value of merchandise exported during the first four months of the current fiscal year grew by 0.94% to $9,549 million. On the other hand, the country's imports declined over the study period by 16.21%, falling from $25,084 million last year to $21,018 million this year. According to the data, the trade deficit decreased by 26.59% from last year's deficit of $15,624 million to this year's deficit of $11,469 million, the PBS data shows.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk