By Azeem Ahmed Khan
Pakistan is spending a lot more on food imports this year.
In just the first two months of the 2025-26 financial year, the country’s food import bill shot up by almost 37%, hitting $1.47 billion, compared to $1.07 billion during the same period last year, according to new data from the Ministry of Commerce.
Food now makes up a bigger slice of Pakistan’s imports, climbing from 11.05% to 13.19% between July and August.
Palm Oil and Soybean Oil Drive the Increase
Palm oil imports alone reached a whopping $639.63 million, up 29.14% in value and 15.17% in quantity. Soybean oil imports skyrocketed even higher, nearly doubling with a 92.43% jump to $42.74 million.
Other Food Items on the Rise
Several other food items also saw sharp increases:
- Milk cream and infant milk food: up 24.41% to $24.51 million
- Dry fruits: up 32.90% to $17.78 million
- Pulses (a key household staple): up 10.91% to $147.32 million
A Few Imports Fall Back
Not everything went up. Tea imports slipped by 5.67% to $96.98 million, while sugar imports dropped 19.46% to just $0.57 million. Spices stayed mostly the same, with a tiny 1.79% increase.
One of the most surprising figures came from the catch-all category of “all other food items.” Imports here nearly doubled, jumping from $248.60 million last year to $460.08 million this year — a massive 85% increase.
Why Are Food Imports Rising?
Economists say the rise comes from stronger demand at home, weaker local crop production, and high global prices.
Experts warn that this growing food import bill could put even more pressure on Pakistan’s fragile finances, especially as the government tries to cut the trade deficit and stabilize the economy.
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