Pakistan’s food import bill rises 18.41% to $6.41bn in July-February

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s food import bill increased by 18.41 percent to $6.410 billion during the first eight months of the 2025-26 fiscal year, compared to $5.413 billion in the same period last year, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

The surge in food imports was primarily driven by higher purchases of sugar and edible oil, as well as increased imports of tea, to meet domestic demand. Palm oil represented the largest share of imported food items, followed by pulses, tea, soyabean oil, and sugar. The rise in imports highlights the country’s growing dependence on external food supplies amid ongoing shortfalls in domestic production, particularly of pulses, and continued supply constraints.

In contrast, exports of raw food items saw a significant decline, dropping by 34.38 percent to $3.394 billion in the July-February period of 2025-26, compared with $5.173 billion during the same months of the previous year. Export volumes fell across most major food categories, with the most pronounced decrease observed in rice exports, including both basmati and non-basmati varieties. Meat was the only major food export category that did not experience a decline.

The data underscores the challenges facing Pakistan’s agriculture sector, as the country increasingly turns to imports to bridge the gap between local production and consumption needs. The continued reliance on imported foodstuffs, especially essential items such as edible oils and pulses, reflects persistent issues in domestic agricultural output and supply chain limitations.