ISLAMABAD, May 9: Exports of textile manufactures increased by a marginal 0.57 per cent in terms of dollars during the period July-April (2001-02) over the corresponding period previous year, according to foreign trade data released by the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) here on Thursday.

In Pakistani currency, the exports figure showed a rise of 7.84 per cent, thanks to the depreciation of rupee below the Rs60 level.

The increase was not, however, reflected in overall performance of exports sector. Totalling $7.32 billion, the exports dropped by 1.78 per cent in dollars. In rupees, however, these showed 5.21 per cent increase.

A significant headway was discernible in the exports of value- added textile products. These included bedwear, towels, tents etc., readymade garments, madeup articles and cotton cloth. Their exports surged, respectively, by 24.53%, 10.85%, 7.05%, 6.41% and 3.92%.

Nevertheless, quantitatively the exports of some of these commodities were even more impressive — 25.79% (bedwear), 16.75% (towels), 22.74% (readymade garments) and 12.19% (cotton cloth). The only items that stand for significant increase in its unit value was tents, canvas and tarpaulin. While in quantity its export showed an increase of 6.89%, the value it fetched in dollars was 7.05% higher than in the same period of 2000-01.

Prominent among the textile products that showed a negative trend was cotton yarn. The amount of cotton yarn exported during the period under review was 439,073 tons, down 0.42% from previous year. In terms of value, it slipped by 12.03%, denoting a drastic drop in its unit price.

Other major groups emerged with negative trend in terms of dollars as follows: * Other manufacturers: -0.87%; * Leather manufacturers: -9.60%; and * Chemicals and pharma products: -19.13%.

The engineering goods apparently outperformed all the other groups as their exports jumped by 10%. The products that contributed to this upsurge were electric fans, “other electrical machinery”, auto parts and other machinery whose exports increased in value by as much as 50.56%, 71.14%, 43.14% and 10.59%, respectively.

Footwear and surgical instruments too continued their upward trend with increases of 22.92% and 16.22%, respectively.

The exports of food group dropped by 19.49% (in value). Their exports totalled $652.96 million during the first 10 months of current financial year as against $811.06 million in the same period of previous year.

While most of the items in the food group, the proverbial last straw on the camel’s back was rice — the single largest item of export in this group. The country exported 13,87,558 tons in the current year, down 28.40% from the same period of previous year. In value, there was a drop of 17.97%, denoting a significant improvement in unit price of rice.

IMPORTS: Cumulatively though, the imports ($8.24 billion) during the 10-month period were 6.93 per cent less than in dollars, these actually showed some upsurge during April. These were up 0.43 per cent compared to the preceding month and 8.72 per cent more than in the corresponding month of 2001.