09/01/2010 (Daily Times), Islamabad - Palm oil imports into the country declined by 19.90 percent during the first five months of current financial year as against the corresponding period of last year.

Palm oil imports during July-November (2009-10) were recorded at $470.544 million against the imports of $637.219 million recorded during July-November (2008-09), according to provisional figures provided by Federal Bureau of Statistics.

Palm oil imports during the month of November 2009 also witnessed negative growth of 19.94 percent as compared to the imports of October 2009. Imports of the commodity during November were recorded at $97.059 million as against the imports of $121.236 during October 2009. However, as compared to the imports of $93.823 million recorded during the same month of last financial year, palm oil imports during November 2009 increased by 3.45 percent. On the other hand, the imports of soyabean oil during July- November (2009-10) registered negative growth of 76.06 percent when compared to the imports of corresponding period of last year. Soyabean imports were recorded at $3.001 million during the time under review as against the imports of $13.429 million recorded during July-November 2008-09, the figures revealed.