20/04/2026 (Borneo Bulletin), Ann/Dawn - Pakis­tan’s food import bill surged 15.22 per cent to USD7.09 billion in the first nine months of the current fiscal year from USD6.15 billion in the same period last year, driven mainly by higher purchases of sugar and edible oil.

However, exports of raw food items recorded a steep decline, falling to USD3.80 billion in 9MFY26 from USD5.75 billion a year earlier, a contraction of 33.90 per cent, according to official data.

The drop in exports was broad-based, with volumes declining across nearly all major food categories, except meat, which showed some resilience during the period.

Rice exports suffered the most pronounced setback, with both basmati and non-basmati shipments declining significantly in March and over the nine-month period.

Analysts said the widening gap between im­ports and exports highlights increasing reliance on foreign food supplies, amid weakening domestic output and supply constra­ints, particularly in pulses.

SUGAR, EDIBLE OIL DRIVE SURGE

The surge in imports was largely attributed to higher demand for sugar, edible oil and tea, as authorities moved to stabilise local markets and bridge shortages by increasing purchases from international markets.

According to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, palm oil accounted for the largest share of imported food items, followed by pulses, tea, soya bean oil and sugar.

Pakistan imported 308,937 tonnes of sugar in 9MFY26, marking an unprecedented increase of 11,457.69 per cent, compared with just 2,673 tonnes in the same period last year.

In value terms, sugar imports surged 6,554.38 per cent to USD174.744 million in 9MFY26 from USD2.626 million a year earlier after the government’s decision to allow large-scale imports to address domestic shortages and contain rising prices in local markets. Retail sugar prices have remained volatile, hovering between PKR160 and PKR180 per kilogramme in different cities, prompting authorities to step in and improve supply through imports.

Officials said the move was aimed at stabilising the market amid tight domestic availability, as the country increasingly relied on external supplies to meet demand.

The value of palm oil imports rose 17.49 per cent to USD3.023 billion during July-March FY26 from USD2.573 billion a year ago. In terms of quantity, import of palm oil jumped 12.81 per cent to 2.809m tonnes in 9MFY26 from 2.490m tonnes a year ago. This growth shows that higher consumption of edible oil and ghee in Pakistan.

However, imports of pulses increased 24.19 per cent to USD624.38 million in 9MFY26 compared with USD823.63 million a year ago.

Imports of soyabean oil fell 56.75 per cent to USD108.68 million from USD251.28 million.
The import bill for all other food items rose 37.77 per cent to USD2.244 billion in the 9MFY26 from USD1.629 billion a year ago. Imports of tea increased 1.95 per cent to USD485.93 million from USD476.64 million.

The import of milk, cream and milk food for infants rose 5.11 per cent to USD105.38 million in July-March from USD100.26 million.

Contrary to imports, exports of major food commodities during July-March FY26 recorded a broad-based decline compared to the same period last year, with basmati rice down 11.82 per cent and other rice varieties down 47.2 per cent.

Fish and fish preparations showed a relatively modest increase of 5.99 per cent, while fruit exports rose by 3.16 per cent and meat 3.80 per cent in 9MFY26. Vegetables’ exports plunged 52.71 per cent, followed by tobacco, which declined by 21.07 per cent.

Spices exports also decreased by 7.91 per cent during the period.

https://borneobulletin.com.bn/food-import-bill-jumps-to-usd7-09b-in-pakistan/