Washington — The United States is expected to sell farm products worth about $760 million to South Asia in the new fiscal year, up 19 percent from fiscal 1985, the Agriculture Department reported Monday.
The department’s Economic Research Service attributed the increase mostly to large concessional wheat sales to Pakistan, with no growth likely in wheat sales to other countries in the area.
In its South Asia Outlook and Situation Summary, the agency said India and Pakistan are likely to increase their edible oil imports in fiscal 1986, but no significant gains are expected for U.S. soybean oil because of the stiff competition from palm oil marketed by other nations.
Opportunities for U.S. cotton exporters probably will be limited by record exportable cotton supplies in Pakistan, the research service said.
The agency said exports to South Asia are down to $641 million in the current fiscal year, off about 25 percent from last year.
“Wheat sales are off nearly 20 percent, despite larger exports to Bangladesh, because India ended commercial wheat imports and competitors met most of Pakistan’s increased demand,” the agency said.
U.S. exports of soybean oil dropped about 25 percent, largely because of improved South Asian oilseed harvests and competition from palm oil, the report added.
Cotton exports from the United States plunged 70 percent below last year’s levels, largely because Pakistan stopped its imports and renewed its competition in the Bangladesh market, the report said.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 30, 1985
