ISLAMABAD: Export of non-textile products remained stagnant at $11.40 billion during the last fiscal year compared with $11.42bn a year ago.

The overall drop in exports from these sectors was due to decline in exports of cement, gur, etc.

A commerce ministry official said a support package for the nine value-added pro­ducts in the non-textile sector has already been approved.

Under this package cash subsidies would be given to cut the cost of production of leather, footwear, sports goods, surgical, engineering goods, furniture, meat and meat products, fish products and cutlery sectors.

The products whose exports surged during FY14 included petroleum products, carpets, sports goods, and leather products. There was a massive year-on-year growth in export of petroleum products to $721.364 million from $28.337m.

The export of carpets, rugs, etc grew by 2.29 per cent, while that of sports goods by 7.13pc year on year.

Foreign sales of footballs, which had been in decline for the last few years, jumped by 35.70pc. Pakistan has emerged as the main supplier of soccer to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. A Sialkot-based manufacturer that had complied with standards by upgrading its manufacturing facility led the surge in football exports.

The export of tanned leather witnessed a growth of 10.11pc in 2013-14.

Leather products export also increased by 10.73pc, while export of leather garments rose by 7.33pc. Export of gloves also witnessed an increase of 19pc during the period under review.

Export of footwear swelled by 13.71pc, mainly driven by 17.53pc growth in export of leather footwear.

The growth in leather manufacturers and footwear was mainly driven by preferential market access to the European Union markets under GSP+ scheme.

Export of surgical goods and medical instruments went up by 10.57pc and engineering goods by 10.58pc.

Year-on-year export of gur declined by 52.93pc, cement 11.77pc, handicraft 61.74pc, and jewellery 72.44pc.

In the food basket, the export of rice witnessed an increase of 12.51pc as its value reached $2.162bn in 2013-14 as against $1.922bn over the corresponding period of last year. Of these, the export of basmati rice rose by 9.10 pc while export of non-basmati rice increased by 14.32pc.

Export of meat, oil, fish, pulses, vegetables, and fruit also went up during the year under review.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2014