August 09, 2006	Wednesday	Rajab 13, 1427

ISLAMABAD, Aug 8: Pakistan’s exports of non-textile products rose by 11pc to $6.601 billion during the fiscal year 2006 as against $5.946 billion the previous year. Official figures showed that the growth was mainly due to increase in export of primary commodities, leather finished products followed by engineering products. However, export of sports, surgical, cutlery, chemical and pharmaceutical, jewellery and molasses recorded a negative growth during the year under review.

According to official analysis, a copy of which was made available to Dawn showed that the export of all varieties of rice rose by 19.29pc to $1.112bn as against $0.932bn the previous year. Of these, the export of basmati rise rose by 15.46 c.

Among the primary commodities, exports of fish and fish foods increased by 41.17pc, fruits 28.29pc, vegetables 19.08pc and spices by 63.01pc. However, exports of raw cotton declined by 38.70pc, tobacco 42.66pc and oil seeds, nuts and kernals by 48.05pc.

The export of surgical goods and medicinal instruments also declined by 12.47pc, followed by jewellery dipped by 33.34pc, furniture by 18.77pc and molasses by 37.50pc during the year.

The export of engineering goods, however, increased by 14.60pc to $206.555 million during the FY06 compared to $181.984 million the previous year. Of these, exports of electric fans increased by 4.55pc, other electrical machinery increased by 2.48pc, auto parts by 14.90pc and machinery for specialised industries by 20.17pc. However, export of transport equipment declined by 13.48pc during the year under review.

The export of sport goods rose by 13.80pc to $348.225 million during the year under review as against $307.130 million the previous year. Of these, the export of footballs up by 35.49pc and gloves saw a fall of 44.85pc.

The export of footwear items up by 0.21pc to $137.956 million during the FY06 as against $137.666 million the previous year. Of these, the export of leather footwear increased by three per cent. However, exports of canvas footwear declined by 44.18pc.

The export of leather products increased by 32.33pc to $697.057 million compared to $526.774m the previous year. Of these, exports of leather garments rose by 48.60pc and other leather products by 91.34pc. However, the export of leather gloves declined by 12.19pc.

The statistics showed that exports of carpets, rugs and mats decreased by 9.50pc and cutlery by 3.25pc. However, export of onyx-manufactured increased by 49.38pc and gems by 7.51pc.