ISLAMABAD, Jan 9: Exports of manufactured goods surged by nearly 16.30 per cent to $4.71 billion during the period July-December 2002, over the corresponding period of previous year, according to foreign trade figures released by the Federal Bureau of Statistics here on Thursday.

As a fraction of total exports ($5.197 billion), however, manufactured goods exports indicated downward trend from 90.94% during July-December 2001 to 90.66% this year.

A noteworthy aspect of exports is 16.40% rise in exports of textile manufactures, which totalled $3.31 billion. Their contribution to total exports, nevertheless, dropped by 0.10% to 63.76% during the period under review. But as a constituent of manufactured exports, their share improved somewhat to 70.28%, up 0.16% from the previous year.

Within the textile manufactured group, the cotton yarn exports went up 2.69%, totalling 270,918 tons. But in terms of value, foreign exchange intake declined by 0.51% in dollars and by 6.28% in Pakistani rupee.

An increase of 12.47% is, however, reported in exports of cotton cloth (991.618 thousand square meters). In terms of value, however, this item fetched $627.16 million, that is, 20.08% more than during the same period of previous year.

But cotton yarn and cotton cloth are intermediate goods. Taken together, these accounted for 33.018% of total textile manufactures exports as against 35.24% during the first half of 2002-03.

By implication, the exports of finished textile products were on upward swing. This is true, particularly in respect of knitwear, bedwear, towels and art. Silk & synthetic textile whose exports (quantity-wise) soared by 32.99%, 32.31%, 9.27% and 7.55%, respectively. In value, the amounts that accrued to foreign exchange earnings of Pakistan were $544.09 million, $576.66 million, $146.77 million and $243.35 million, respectively.

However, tents, canvas & tarpaulin, a traditional export group, registered 0.62% decline (quantity-wise). The unexpected development, nevertheless, is a substantial drop in export of ready made garments (-12.85%). In spite of this, their export earnings ($522.04 million) increased by 20.48% over the previous year, indicating higher unit price fetched by these.

Another value-added item — made-up articles (including other textiles) — registered 3.64% drop in its export earnings ($164.83 million).

OTHER MANUFACTURES: This category constitutes a vagary of an era when the dollar. Its export proceeds totalled $969.29 million. This shows 6.09% growth over the corresponding period of previous year in dollars. In rupee however, (Rs 57.29 billion), it registered a loss of 0.12%.