According to data from the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China, Pakistan’s exports of fruits and vegetables to China surpassed $54.34 million from January to September, a significant increase year-over-year (GACC).
According to the GACC, imports of dried leguminous vegetables (commodity code 07139090) totaled $6.17 million, with more than 4,040 tonnes imported from January to September, compared to $3.97 million during the same period previous year.
Ahmed Raza, a Pakistani exporter of fruits and vegetables, told China Economic Net that as a result of the increased demand for fruits and vegetables on the Chinese market, Pakistani merchants have an excellent opportunity to increase exports and become China’s food basket.
“Chinese folks prefer Pakistani fruits and vegetables due to their superior flavour and quality. “Export value will increase if we improve China’s high-end product manufacturing techniques,” he continued.
He continued by stating that the flood had a negative impact on various sectors in Pakistan, including agriculture. Many crops, including rice, sugarcane, fruits, and vegetables, were wiped out by the flood, but he emphasised that these crops must be replanted as quickly as possible to compensate for losses and boost exports.
“When our farmers harvest fresh fruits and vegetables, they have issues with storage, shipping, and preservation due to climate change.
Farmers in Pakistan are utterly helpless as they see the fresh fruits and vegetables decay with time. “In order to resolve this issue, China and Pakistan should intensify their cooperation in the domains of vegetable and fruit cultivation, storage, and processing to create high-end products,” he stated.
Despite the COVID-19 outbreak and the flooding in Pakistan, bilateral trade between Pakistan and China has expanded substantially. In the first nine months (January-September) of fiscal year 22 (FY22), Pakistan’s exports were $ 2.57 billion, up 2 percent from $ 2.51 billion in the same period of the previous year, which had increased for three consecutive years.
