December 10, 2012

Pakistan's Jan-Apr fertiliser, insecticides imports down

During the first four months of current fiscal year 2012-13, Pakistan's fertiliser imports dropped by 50.01% while imports of insecticides declined by 59.21% over same period of last year.

The Fertiliser manufactured imports into the country during July-October (2012-13) were recorded at US$251.252 million against the imports of US$502.607 million during July-October (2011-12), according to the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (FBS).

The imports of fertiliser manufactured into the country during the month of October 2012 witnessed a decrease of 45.02% when compared to the imports of October 2011 whereas the imports during the corresponding period increased by 38.13% against September 2012. The imports of fertiliser manufactured during October 2012 were recorded at US$87.007 million whereas the imports were recorded at US$158.244 million and US$63.497 million during October (2011) and September (2012) respectively.

Similarly the insecticides imports during the first four months of current financial year stood at US$20.086 million against the imports of US$49.242 million during same period of last year. The insecticides imports during October 2012 remained at US$3.062 million showing a decrease of 70.23% against US$10.284 million worth of imports during October 2011. Meanwhile imports of plastic materials during July-October 2012-13 reduced to US$307.305 million from US$525.162 million in July-October (2011-12) showing a downward trend of 14.2%.

The overall agriculture and other chemical group imports decreased by 16.19% during July-October (2012-13) against same period of last year.

The agriculture and other chemical group imports during first four months of current fiscal year were recorded at US$2.102 billion as compared to the imports of US$2.508 billion in July-October (2011-12).

It is pertinent to mention that the country's overall trade deficit decreased by 6.79%, with exports witnessing growth of 4.98% and imports decreasing by 0.54% during the first four months of the current fiscal year, showing a positive development in trade balance.