April 24, 2007	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 06, 1428

ISLAMABAD, April 23: The export of non-textile products dipped by 2.32 per cent to $4.407 billion during the first nine months (July-March) of the current fiscal as against $4.512bn the same period last year.

The government policies are focused at promoting export of textile products have resulted into substantial reduction in export potential of the traditional products like carpets, leather, sports, surgical and other primary commodities.

However, the growth in export of non-textile products was more than 17 per cent during the same period last year. This showed that lack of any subsidy or any other financial assistance had rendered the traditional products less competitive with those coming from China, India etc., in international market.

Products wise analysis showed that the export of rice declined by 3.31 per cent to $818.157 million as against $846.164 million in the corresponding period last year. However, the export of basmati rise rose by 20.04 per cent.

The export of sport goods recorded a fall of 16.41pc to $193.901 million during July-March as against $231.956m the same period last year. Of these, export of footballs declined by 23.26pc while gloves rose by 182.96pc during the period.

The export of footwear products dipped 21.18 per cent to $83.373 million as against $105.783 million the same period last year. Of these, the export of leather footwear decreased by 19.50pc followed by 39.87pc in canvas footwear and 27.17pc in other footwears.

The export of leather products plunged 33.64pc to $369.296 million as against $556.474m last year. Of these, exports of leather garments fell 32.61 per cent, leather gloves 31.85pc and other leather products 45.26pc.

Exports of surgical goods and medicinal instruments declined 27.32 per cent to $86.595 million during the nine months of this fiscal as against $119.153 million over the corresponding period last year. The export of carpets, rugs and mat reached to $168.067 million, down 13.01pc from $193.210m the same period last year.

The commodities which recorded a negative growth in their export during the period under review included: furniture (9.73pc), molasses (14.39pc), handicrafts (63.46pc), fruits (8.55pc), sugar (100pc), etc.

There were few products which witnessed a marginal growth in their export including auto parts (18.50pc), engineering goods (6.14pc), meat (113.80pc), jewellery (82.89pc), gems (24.92pc), wheat (100pc), etc.