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13 pc increase in imports during July-February

AMER SIAL

ISLAMABAD: Imports during the July-February period of the current fiscal year amounted to $6.5 billion (Rs 340.895 billion), against $5.8 billion (Rs 285.146 billion) during the corresponding period of the last year, showing an increase of 13 percent.

The main items of import during February 2000 were petroleum products (Rs 7.675 billion), petroleum crude (Rs 3.990 billin), wheat unmilled (Rs 2.725 billion), plastic materials (Rs 1.525 billion), palm oil (Rs 1.455 billion), iron and steel (Rs 1.268 billion), fertilizer (Rs 1.026 billion), motor vehicles (Rs 1.005 billion), tea (Rs 934 million) and mechanical products (Rs 831 million).

Sector-wise current trade data shows that during July-February 1999-2000, import of 7.409 million tonnes petroleum products cost $1.156 billion (Rs 59.843 billion), whereas during the corresponding period of last fiscal year it was 6.319 million tonnes, costing $579.0466 million (Rs 26.755 billion). The rise in quantity was 17.25 percent while it amounted to 99.77 percent (123.67 percent) in rupees.

The import of 2.977 million tonnes petroleum crude during this period cost $0.513 billion (Rs 26.550 million), against 3.115 million tonnes valued at $0.275 billion (Rs 12.704 billion) during the corresponding period of last year. The decrease in the quantity amounted to 4.42 percent whlle it is 86.57 percent (108.99 percent) in value.

The import of 0.249 million tonnes plastic material during the first eight months of this fiscal year cost $ 0.213 billion (Rs 11.065 billion), against 0.268 million tonnes, valued at $0.191 billion (Rs 9.532 billion), during the corresponding period last year. The change in the quantity was a decrease by 5.16 percent while it decreased by 16.08 percent in value.

The import of soyabean oil decreased to 0.135 million tonnes costing $0.012 billion during these eight months, against 0.235 million tonnes valued at $0.155 billion during the corresponding period of last year. The change in quantity was decrease by 42.19 percent while it decreased by 60.73 percent in value.

The import of palm oil also decreased, to 0.559 million tonnes, costing $0.221 billion during this period, against 0.644 million tonnes, valued at $0.429 billion during the corresponding period last year. The quantity decreased by 13.26 percent while the decrease in value was 48.43 percent