ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s non-textile exports fell by 22.56 per cent to $2.605 billion during the first four months (July-Oct) of 2015-16 from $3.364bn in the same period last year, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data showed on Friday.

Product-wise details showed a decline of 80.25pc year-on-year in exports of overall petroleum products, mainly due to a 99.48pc drop in petroleum naphtha exports. Crude exports also declined by 57.08pc.

Carpets and rugs exports fell by 13.40pc during the period and exports of sports goods dipped 6.50pc year-on-year. Exports of tanned leather dropped 22.48pc and leather products by 16.80pc.

Footwear exports dipped 28.97pc, primarily due to 34.96pc decline in exports of leather footwear. Last year, footwear exports grew on the back of preferential access to European markets under GSP+ scheme.

Exports of surgical goods and medical instruments went up by 4.38pc, while engineering goods exports dipped by 22.09pc during the period under review.

On a year-on-year basis, exports of gur declined by 59.02pc, cement 36.18pc, handicraft 100pc, molasses 33.31pc, furniture 23.52pc, gem 55.58pc and jewellery by 2.08pc.

In the food basket, rice (basmati and non-basmati) exports dropped by 6.37pc. Exports of oil, tobacco also witnessed decline during the period under review. However, exports of vegetables, spices, wheat and meat witnessed a growth.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2015