ISLAMABAD: Exports of non-textile products witnessed a negative growth of 4.8 per cent during the first eleven months of 2016-17 on a year-on-year basis.

In absolute terms, export proceeds from these products fell to $7.71 billion in July-May, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

The government has announced subsidy schemes for non-textile value-added sectors, but exporters have failed to avail them owing to cumbersome procedures.

In the petroleum group, exports of petroleum top naphtha recorded a year-on-year increase of 3,231pc. However, a decline of 17.21pc was witnessed in the exports of petroleum crude.

Exports of carpets and rugs witnessed the negative growth of 21.27pc in July-May while those of sports goods fell 5.62pc. Foreign sales of footballs dipped 12.6pc over the same period. Exports of tanned leather decreased 5.77pc in July-May while those of leather products declined 6.61pc. All value-added leather products witnessed a decline in exports in July-May.

Exports of footwear dipped 8.31pc because of the negative growth of 9.75pc in the leather footwear category. Another reason was a steep fall in the exports of footwear to European countries.

Exports of surgical goods and medical instruments went down 6.51pc and those of engineering goods 5.93pc during the period under review.

Year-on-year exports of gur were up 12.83pc while those of handicrafts rose 21,838pc in July-May. Exports of cement dropped 27pc, gems 24.47pc, jewellery 19.43pc, molasses 29.34pc and furniture 13.88pc during the 11 months.

In the food basket, exports of rice witnessed a negative growth of 14.75pc with a decline in foreign sales of both basmati and non-basmati types.

Exports of spices, meat, wheat, oil seeds and fish witnessed an increase during the period under review.

Exports of sugar amounted to $158.72 million in July-May against $132.28m last year. In volumetric terms, sugar exports witnessed an increase of 21pc.

Pakistan exported wheat worth $1.02m in July-May against $0.158m over the corresponding period of last year, reflecting an increase f 548pc.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2017