ISLAMABAD: Rice exports from the country during the first two months of the current financial year (FY20) surged by 48.64pc as compared the corresponding period of last year.

About 590,053 metric tonnes of rice, worth $322.836 million, were exported in July-August 2019, as compared to 399,633 metric tonnes of rice, worth of $223.918 million, exported during the same months of 2018, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

During the period under review, the country earned $135.249 million by exporting about 148,772 metric tonnes of basmati rice, as compared to 99,287 metric tonnes of basmati rice, worth $101.851 million, exported during the same period last year, an increase of 32.79pc.

The export of ‘other’ rice grew by 61.87pc, as about 441,281 metric tonnes of rice other than basmati rice, valued at $197.587 metric tonnes, were exported, when compared with 300,346 metric tonnes of rice, worth $122.067 million, exported during the same period last year.

In the first two months of FY20, 16,652 metric tonnes of fish and fish preparations, worth $36 million, were exported, besides 13,150 metric tonnes of meat and meat products, worth $48.174 million.

It is pertinent to mention that the food group exports from the country during the period under review grew by 14.27pc as food commodities worth $650.257 million were exported in July-Aug 2019, as compared to $569.039 million earned through the same in the corresponding period of last year.