Islamabad: Vegetable and Fruit Exports See Notable Growth in FY 2023-24

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s export performance in the agricultural sector showed significant improvement in the financial year ending June 30, 2024. The country exported over 1.126 million metric tons of vegetables, valued at $430.055 million. This represents a decrease in quantity but an increase in value compared to the previous year, when 1.336 million metric tons were exported, amounting to $300 million. The decrease in quantity by 15.7% was offset by a 43.20% increase in value, reflecting improved prices or higher-value varieties.

In parallel, fruit exports also saw substantial growth. During the same period, Pakistan exported 935,631 metric tons of fresh fruits worth $343.532 million. This is a notable increase from the previous year’s exports of 627,133 metric tons valued at $283.188 million, marking a 21.31% rise in both volume and value.

The overall food group exports witnessed a significant uptrend, growing by 46.77%. The total export value for food commodities reached $7.369 billion in FY 2023-24, up from $5.021 billion in FY 2022-23. This surge underscores a robust performance in Pakistan’s food export sector, reflecting increased demand or enhanced market access for Pakistani food products.

In contrast, food imports decreased in the same financial year. Pakistan imported food goods worth $7.903 billion, down from $8.936 billion the previous year. This 11.54% reduction in imports suggests a positive shift towards a more self-sufficient food sector or reduced domestic demand for imported foodstuffs.

Data Source and Additional Context

The data is sourced from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), which provides comprehensive insights into the country’s trade dynamics. The increase in export values amidst fluctuating volumes suggests a strategic focus on high-value agricultural exports, which could be a result of policy shifts, improved farming practices, or better international market positioning.