14 February 2004	Saturday	22 Zilhaj 1424

LAHORE, Feb 13: Carpets' export registered an increase of 7.23 per cent during the first seven months of the current year. Figures obtained from the State Bank of Pakistan show that from July 2003 to Jan 2004, the carpet exports rose to $131.783 million , from $122.898 during the corresponding period last year.

There has also been a 4.02 per cent increase in the volume, which went up from 2.390 million square metres last year to 2.486 million square metres. Another healthy sign is the increased average unit price which has gone up from $51.42 to $53.01.

A spokesman for the carpet industry termed the increase a sign of industrial recovery in the post-9/11 period. The carpet market in the US has started looking up, specially the retail consumers. The demand for Pakistani carpets has increased because of competitive prices and innovative designs.

He claimed that though the US, Germany, France, UK and Italy were traditional markets for Pakistani carpet, sales had also gone up in Turkey.