KARACHI: Auto parts and accessories exports declined to $2.83 million in July-September 2016 from $4m in the same period of 2015.

Total exports during 2015-16 fell to $14.5m from $20.3m in 2014-15, figures of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics stated.

Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories (Paapam) Chairman Mashood Ali Khan said manufacturers focused more on meeting the surging demand of parts of locally produced vehicles due to which they could not concentrate on exports.

However, he said the association has been urging its members to make a separate export department in their units so that both export orders and orders of parts and accessories for local production could run simultaneously.

He said a PAAPAM delegation had recently returned from a successful international business tour of the USA, Germany, and Italy. Meetings were held with representatives of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Electronica Automotive, EICMA and EIMA to discuss possible deals aimed at increasing Pakistani exports.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2016