Against the tide : Fish exports rise 23.83%

ISLAMABAD: Despite decline in the overall food trade, the exports of fish and fish preparations increased by 23.83% during the first month of the fiscal year 2012-13 as compared to the same month of last year.

However, as compared to the exports of June 2012, the seafood exports in July 2012 witnessed a negative growth of 5.2%, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported.

The overall exports of fish and fish preparations during the month under review were recorded at $17.769 million against the exports of $14.350 million in July 2011 and $18.742 million in June 2012. Meat and meat preparations exports increased 31.62% during July 2012 as compared to the exports in July 2011.

The exports of meat and meat preparations reached to $22.632 million in July 2012 as compared to the exports of $17.195 million in July 2011. The other food items that witnessed increase in exports during July 2012 included spices, exports of which increased 2.70% compared to the exports of July 2011. However, the exports of spices also declined 17.39% compared to the exports of June 2011. Overall exports of food commodities registered a negative growth of 27.88% to $278.074 million during July 2012 from $385.577 million in July 2011.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th, 2012.