ISLAMABAD: Exports of textile and clothing products witnessed over seven per cent growth in the first seven months of the current fiscal year from a year ago.

According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics here on Thursday, textile and clothing exports reached $8.035 billion in July-Jan period this year as against $7.468bn over the corresponding period last year.

Only three products witnessed negative growth in exports among all textile and clothing categories during the period under review.

On monthly basis, export of textile and clothing witnessed a growth of over three per cent in January 2014 over the corresponding month of last year.

In terms of rupees, export proceeds witnessed a growth of 18.07pc in July-Jan period this year from a year ago.

Export of low value-added products, such as cotton cloth, was up by 7.62pc, cotton carded 459pc, yarn other than cotton yarn 17.22pc, and made-up articles excluding towels, bedwear 18.52pc during the months under review over the corresponding months of last year.

In the value added sector, export of bedwear increased by 19.83pc, knitwear 6.82pc, and readymade garments 7.65pc.

Exports of towels dipped by 5.19pc; cotton yarn 5.10pc and tents 17.34 pc.

Raw cotton export witnessed a robust growth of 70.21pc.

Total export proceeds witnessed a growth of 4.64pc to $14.699bn in July-Jan 2014 from $14.047bn over the corresponding period of last year.

Oil and foodstuffs

Oil and eatables import bill witnessed a decline by 3.15 per cent in the first seven months of the current fiscal year from a year ago, over the corresponding period of last year.

In absolute terms, import bill of these two products declined to $11.101bn in July-Jan 2014 from $11.463bn during the same period last year.

Pakistan’s total import bill reached $25.808bn during the months under review as against $25.685bn, showing a decline of 3.15pc.

The import bill of food products witnessed a decline of 8.95pc at $2.374bn in July-Jan 2014 as against $2.608bn over the corresponding months last year.

The decline in food items import was mainly driven by import of palm oil, tea, soyabean oil and spices.

Import of sugar witnessed an increase of 22.78pc, wheat 100pc and dry fruits 9.34pc during the months under review.

Statistics showed that oil import bill reached $8.727bn in July-Jan 2014 this year as against $8.855bn over last year, indicating a decline of 1.44pc.