ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s non-textile exports fell by 21.81 per cent to $4.045 billion during the first half (July-December) of 2015-16 from $5.173bn in the same period last year, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data showed on Tuesday.

Product-wise details showed a decline of 77.47pc 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 60.64pc.

Carpets and rugs exports fell by 21.52pc and exports of sports goods dipped 3.27pc year-on-year. Exports of tanned leather dropped 26.04pc and leather products by 15.56pc.

Footwear exports dipped 23.49pc, primarily due to 28.84pc decline in exports of leather footwear.

Exports of surgical goods and medical instruments went up by 4.38pc, while engineering goods exports dipped 23.54pc during the period under review.

On a year-on-year basis, exports of gur declined by 59.84pc, cement 36.54pc, handicraft 99.74pc, molasses 42.84pc, furniture 32.78pc, gem 58.09pc. However, exports of jewellery increased by 0.30pc.

In the food basket, rice (basmati and non-basmati) exports dropped by 11.04pc. Exports of oil, tobacco also witnessed a decline during the period. However, exports of vegetables, spices, wheat and meat witnessed a growth.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2016