ISLAMABAD: The import bill of oil and eatables widened by over 25 per cent in the first half (July-December) of 2011-12 over the same period last year triggering higher than expected trade deficit.

The share of these two sectors in total import bill reached to 45 per cent this year from 42 per cent last year making the country dependent on imports of these items, showed Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data issued on Thursday.

In absolute terms, the July-December import bill of these commodities reached to $10.203 billion as against $8.148 billion the same period last fiscal year.

Statistics showed the oil import bill reached $7.602 billion in the July-Dec period, up by 39.73 per cent from $5.441 billion over the last year. This mainly reflects the spike in international oil prices.

Of these, the import of petroleum products reached $5.139 billion in the first six months, up by 52.11 per cent from $3.378 billion last year.

The surge in import of value-added petroleum products showed that Pakistani refineries were operating on low scale because of circular debt.

The import of crude oil was up by 19.45 per cent to $2.463 billion as against $2.062 billionthe same period last year. This increase was because of rising oil prices in international market. The depreciation of the rupee further added up the import value of oil during the period under review.

The food groups emerged second after oil in the import bill during the period under review to bridge the shortfall recorded in the local production of farm products as the floods destroyed the standing crops in Sindh province.

However, the import of some items witnessed a negative growth during the period under review. The import bill of eatables reached $2.601 billion in the first half of this fiscal year against $2.707 billion in the same period last year, reflecting a slight decrease of 3.90 per cent.

Within food group import, the major contribution came from edible oil, spices, tea and pulses. The edible oil import witnessed a substantial increase during the period under review in quantity, value and per value terms.

Falling international prices, strong domestic demand and cut in import duty encouraged import of palm oil which recorded a growth of 35.95 per cent in the first six months this year.

However, import of soybean oil declined 0.62 per cent this year.

However, imports of milk products, wheat, sugar, pulses witnessed a decline during the July-December period over the last year.