The food group imports declined by 18.13% to $624.804 million in the first month of the current financial year, compared with $763.134 million imports in the same group during the first month of the previous fiscal year, data issued by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) showed on Tuesday.

The PBS said that no wheat was imported in July 2023, compared with the import of 211,597 metric valuing $107.142, in the same month of last financial year. At the same time, the data showed, the import of edible oils – palm and soybean – also came down by 5.4% and 6.82%, respectively.

In July, food commodities valued at $329.156 million were exported as compared to the exports of $356.073 million of the same month last year, which was down by 7.56%. overall, the exports during the month were recorded at $2.057 billion, against $2.250 billion last year, showing a decline of 8.57%.

The official data showed that the sugar imports grew by 20.09% as 574 metric tons, costing $593,000 were imported, against the imports of 550 metric tons, valuing $449,000, during the same month last year.