May 19, 2025 – Food Import Bills Surge to Nearly $7 Billion in First 10 Months of FY25
ISLAMABAD- May 19, 2025 — Pakistan’s food import bills surged to nearly $7 billion during the first 10 months of fiscal year 2025 (FY25), according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). This rise highlights Pakistan’s increasing dependence on imported food to meet domestic demand.
From July to April, the country spent $6.98 billion on food imports, up from $6.82 billion in the same period last year. The increase mainly came from higher imports of edible oil, pulses, sugar, tea, and milk products. Palm oil dominated imports, reaching $2.87 billion — a 24.78% increase compared to last year.
Pulses imports rose sharply by 33.5% to $917.89 million, while soya bean oil imports jumped dramatically by 140% to $279.63 million. The United States has raised concerns over Pakistan’s soya bean oil imports, warning of a potential 29% tariff on Pakistani exports if compliance issues continue.
Tea imports decreased slightly by 5.13% to $519.37 million. However, milk and infant food imports rose by 18.35% to $103.32 million despite higher taxes imposed in the previous budget.
On the export side, food exports dropped by 1% to $6.16 billion from $6.23 billion. Rice exports fell by 9.7%, driven by a decline in non-basmati rice shipments, although basmati rice exports increased by 14.8%. Exports of meat, vegetables, and fruits also declined, while seafood exports grew by 8.4%.
Despite persistent inflation and ongoing trade challenges, Pakistan continues to rely heavily on food imports to fulfill its domestic needs.
This growing trade imbalance in the food sector remains a serious concern for the country’s economy. Food import bills continue to outpace exports. Policymakers now face rising pressure to act. They must find sustainable solutions to cut import reliance. Strengthening local food production is key to long-term stability.
