20000411

Imports up by $868m in 9 months

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: During the July-March period of the current fiscal year imports, in terms of dollar, totalled $ 7.498 billion, as against $ 6.63 billion during the corresponding period of last year, showing an increase of 13.09 percent.

The increase in import bill is attributed to the rise in prices of petroleum products and petroleum crude. However, the imports of other major groups like food, machinery, textile, agriculture and chemical, metal have shown a declining trend in both quantity and value.

According to the provisional data released by the Federal Bureau of Statistics, main items of imports during March, 2000 were petroleum products (Rs 9.755 million), petroleum crude (Rs 4.174 million), plastic materials (Rs 1.477 million), road motor vehicles (Rs 1.352 million), tea (Rs 1.334 million), palm oil (Rs 1.233 million), medicinal products (Rs 1.052 million), textile machinery (Rs 0.874 million), iron and steel (Rs 0.859 million) and fertilizer (Rs 0.803 million).

Sectorwise current trade data shows that during July-March 1999-2000, import of 8.306 million tonnes petroleum products costing $ 1.348 billion (Rs 69.757 billion), whereas during the corresponding period of last fiscal it was 7.305 million tonnes, costing $ 30.737 million (Rs 665.378 million). The rise in quantity was 13.70 percent while it amounted to 126.95 percent (102.62) last year in value.

The import of 3.384 million tonnes petroleum products cost $ 0.593 million (Rs 30.723 billion), whereas during the corresponding period of last fiscal it was 3.436 million tonnes, costing $ 0.305 million (Rs 14.130 billion). The decrease in quantity was 1.51 percent while it increased 94.06 percent (117.43) in value.

The import of soyabean oil decreased to 0.155 million tonnes costing $ 0.068 million (Rs 3.557 million), whereas during the corresponding period of last fiscal it was 0.270 million tonnes, costing $ 0.177 million (Rs 8.702 billion). The decrease in quantity is 42.60 percent while it is 61.25 percent (59.12) in value.

The import of palm oil decreased to 0.631 million tonnes costing $ 0.247 million (Rs 12.784 billion), whereas during the corresponding period of fiscal it was 0.725 million tonnes, costing $ 0.477 million (Rs 23.190 billion). The decrease in quantity is 12.94 percent while it is 48.28 percent (44.87) in value.

The import of plastic material decreased to 0.296 million tonnes costing $ 0.243 million (Rs 12.619 billion), whereas during the corresponding period of last fiscal it was 0.303 million tonnes, costing $ 0.219 million (Rs 10.913 billion). The decrease in quantity was 2.33 percent while it increased 11.21 percent (15.63) in value.