ISLAMABAD: Food imports grew a paltry 2.23 per cent in the first two months of 2026-27, driven mainly by higher purchases of powdered milk and tea.

However, exports of raw food items rose 7.68 per cent in July-August FY27, reversing the negative trend seen in the preceding fiscal year, mainly due to higher exports of rice, according to data compiled by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

In absolute terms, food imports reached $1.503 billion in 2MFY27, up from $1.470bn over the last year.

The government has already approved a plan to import wheat to plug shortfalls in local production. In FY26, Pakistan’s food import bill rose 11.66pc to $9.150bn from $8.195bn in FY25. In contrast, exports of raw food products plunged 29.49pc to $5.017bn in FY26 from $7.116bn in FY25.

Rice drives 24.68pc growth in July-August

Other products contributing to the rise in exports include fish products, tobacco, oilseeds, and meat products. The government has also allowed the export of 200,000 metric tonnes of sugar in the current fiscal year.

The product-wise data showed that rice exports surged 24.68pc in 2MFY27 from a year earlier. Exports of basmati rice, however, edged up 53.03pc and non-basmati by 9.99pc in value on a YoY basis. The increase was also noted in the quantity of both basmati (42.91pc) and non-basmati (14.74pc), respectively.

The Ministry of Commerce has extended the rice export subsidy scheme until Sept 30, and raised the Duty Drawback of Local Taxes and Levies (DLTL) rate for non-basmati rice to support exporters facing weaker international demand.

Similarly, meat exports surged 22.53pc in 2MFY27. Fish products recorded a 3.23pc rise. Most other food products recorded negative growth. Vegetables registered a significant fall, plunging by 27.28pc and fruits by 36.42pc.

Tobacco exports surged 121pc, and spices by 8.29pc in 2MFY27.

Palm oil accounted for the largest share of imported food items, followed by pulses, tea, and soyabean oil. However, the value of palm oil imports dipped 1.41pc. In terms of quantity, palm oil imports also recorded negative growth of 13.40pc during the months under review.

Imports of pulses shrank 23.84pc in July-August FY27. Soyabean oil arrivals in value plunged 99pc year-on-year in 2MFY27.

All other food items rose 19.71pc, tea 28.74pc and milk products 20.41pc during the period under review.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2026