The country’s pulses import slumped by $47.654 million during July-September period of the current fiscal year because of bumper local crop this year, importers said on Tuesday. They said the country’s local crop was high this year to cater to the consumer needs, as the significant production also pulled down the import of pulses.
“Around 40 percent of the pulses import is expected to fall this fiscal year after good local production,” they hoped. The country imported pulses of $75.129 million during July-September period of the current fiscal year as compared the commodity’s import of $122.783 million in the same period last fiscal year, showing a fall of 39 percent or $47.654 million, say Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
“This year the country’s pulses production was around one million metric tons which increased anticipation for its import fall besides improved local supplies on reduced rates,” they said. In terms of quantity import of pulses, the PBS suggests: the country made import of 116,685 metric tons during July-September span this fiscal year as compared to the commodity’s import of 173,199 metric tons in the same period last fiscal year, depicting a slump of 33 percent or 56, 514 metric tons.
Pakistan largely makes its pulses imports mainly from Australia, Burma, Tanzania and Ethiopia to satisfy 0.6 million metric tons local demand for the commodity every year, importers said. “There are more expectations that import of pulses may further plunge in coming months for the better local production,” they anticipated.
