March 21, 2007	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 1, 1428

ISLAMABAD, March 20: Export of textile products marginally geared up to $7 billion mark in the first eight months (July-Feb) of the current fiscal year, up by 6.01 per cent from $6.609 billion the same period last year.

Official figures released here on Tuesday by Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) showed that export of almost all products excluding raw cotton, cotton cloth, cotton carded and bedwear recorded substantial growth during the period under review.

Export of readymade garments witnessed a growth of 7.59 per cent to $917.736 million as against $852.986 million over the same period last year. A rise of 15 per cent in export of readymade garment was recorded during February 2007 over the same month last year.

Statistics showed that export of knitwear also recorded a growth of 16.10 per cent during July-Feb period to $1.319 billion as against $1.36 billion the same period last year.

Export of raw cotton, cotton cloth, cotton carded and bedwear recorded a negative growth by 17.88pc, 9.10pc, 55.83pc and 5.29pc respectively during the same period over the corresponding period of last year.

Export of cotton yarn and yarn other than cotton yarn, was up by 3.07 per cent and 153.96 per cent, towels 2.02 percent, tents, canvas 167.37 per cent, art, silk and synthetic textile 164.03 per cent, made-up articles 2.53 per cent and other textile materials 24.26 per cent during the period under review.

The statistics showed that export of overall textile products had started picking up following the announcement of massive subsidies for the sector besides other financial incentives.