April 10, 2003	Thursday	Safar 7, 1424

ISLAMABAD, April 9: The exports of manufactured textiles surged by 21.57 per cent during the period July-March 2002-03 as compared to the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

In absolute terms, according to provisional foreign trade figures released by the Federal Bureau of Statistics here on Wednesday, their exports surpassed the $0.5 billion mark, accounting for 64.27 per cent of total exports. During the same period of previous year, their contribution had been 63.55 per cent.

Nevertheless, the share of semi-processed goods in this impressive performance remained high. For cotton yarn and cotton cloth with combined exports totalling $1.65 billion accounted for as much as 32.67 per cent of the textile manufactures figure. Although higher by $0.16 billion than previous year, its share in textile manufactures was still 3.23 per cent lower.

The quantity of yarn exported during the period under review has been reported at 403,754 tons, up 3.20% from the previous year. But due to continued decline in unit price, the proceeds in dollars ($701.52 million) increased only by 2.82%, while in local currency, the country even suffered a loss of 2.47%.

By contrast, the unit price of cotton cloth remained relatively high. A total of $951 million accrued from the export of 1,466,125 tons. Thus as against quantitative increase of 7.36%, the foreign exchange earnings were up by 18%.

Even more positive aspect of the FBS data is that finished textile manufactures continue to fetch higher unit price as compared to previous year with the sole exception of knitwear. While in quantity, its export (36,096 thousands dozens), soared 43.60%, in dollar the foreign exchange earning ($793.31 million) remained confined to 31.71%.

But bedwear, registering a quantitative increase of 24.70% (164,994 tons), increased its foreign exchange earning by 34.94% to $889.74 million, as compared to July-March 2001-02.

The export of towels surged by 18.81% to 66,373 tons, fetching 26.51% more value ($239.64 million). Tents, canvas & tarpaulin exports increased in value by 26.41% ($47.6 million) as against 25.61% rise in quantity of export (21,169 tons).

Art, silk & synthetic textile too showed substantial rise in exports that were up by 14.94% (552,163 thousand sq metres), while the accrual in dollars was higher by 26.63% ($372.87 million).

The quantity of readymade garments exported (27,835 thousands dozens) denoted a decline of 10.23% over the same period of previous year. Nevertheless, the value ($800.51 million) that accrued from their exports was higher by 25.82%.

Another item is madeup articles (including other textiles), whose quantity is not given in the FBS data. It increased its contribution to the foreign exchange earnings by 3.18%.

OTHER MANUFACTURES: This category of value-added exports added $1.49 billion to the foreign exchange earnings of Pakistan. This is 10.75% more than in the corresponding period of previous year. As fraction (18.95%) of the total export figure, however, it indicated some slowdown. For during the same period of 2001-02, this category had accounted for 20.56% of total exports.

Highest single subcategory in terms of value though, the leather manufactures exports amounted to $284.20 million, down 3.58% from previous year. This reduced their share in total other manufactures figure to 19.09%, as against 21.92% during the same period of previous year.

Petroleum products is a major export item in this category. Its exports ($133.8 million) registered an increase of 64.83% over the previous year. However, petroleum crude was not so fortunate. As its export (180,241 tons) was up 34.42%, the foreign exchange earning ($34.82 million) fell 28.88%.

Among the traditional items, sports goods exports ($221.18 million) surged by 10.43%. But another traditional item, surgical goods, fared less better with exports (102.82 million) declining by 1.42%, although cutlery ($20.54 million) — also a product of Sialkot, Wazirabad, etc., — improved by an impressive 15.35%.

Chemicals and pharmaceutical products, with exports worth $190.22 million, surged by 86.33%, raising their share in other manufactures exports to 12.77% as against 7.59% of previous year.

Likewise, engineering goods also showed a positive growth of 41.38% with exports worth $48.11 million.

Among the upcoming non-traditional items are onyx manufactures, gems, jewellry and furniture. Their exports aggregated to nearly $30 million. Thus in value, their exports were up, respectively, by 18.07%, 99.63%, 6.09% and 50.06%.

PRIMARY COMMODITIES: With exports worth $734.78 million, their share in total export figure moved slightly up to 9.44%, as against 9.18% during the corresponding period of 2001-02, thus reducing the share of manufactured items.

Major players in this included rice with exports worth $390.02 million, wheat ($105 million), fisheries ($97.16 million), fruits (63.37 million) and raw cotton ($43.84 million). As regards the quantity-wise performance, the country exported a total of 12,92,466 tons of rice, 944,681 tons of wheat, 64,543 tons of fisheries), 194,444 tons of fruits and 50,485 tons of raw cotton.