ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s export of non-textile products witnessed a negative growth of 9.62 per cent during the first 11 months of the outgoing fiscal year from a year ago.

Export proceeds from these products fell to $9.472 billion in July-May 2014-15 from $10.480bn in the corresponding months of last year, suggested data compiled by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

Last year, export of non-textile products reached $11.40bn from $11.42bn in the previous year, showing a decline of 0.18pc.

Product-wise details showed a decline of 11.01pc year-on-year in export of petroleum products.

Exports of petroleum products witnessed a decline of 23.51pc, led by naphtha, during the period under review.

However, exports of petroleum crude witnessed an increase of 100pc.

Export of carpets and rugs witnessed a negative growth of 4.80pc during July-May 2014-15 period of this fiscal year from a year ago.

Export of sports goods dipped by 8.29pc year-on-year during the months under review. Foreign sales of footballs were also down by 12.49pc.

Export of tanned leather witnessed a negative growth of 9.52pc in July-May 2014-15 from a year ago.

Leather products’ export declined by 4.37pc during the period under review.

All value-added leather products witnessed decline in exports in July-May. However, export of leather gloves witnessed a growth of 8.35pc during the period under review.

Export of footwear swelled by 11.90pc, mainly driven by 12.51pc increase in export of leather footwear. This is the only sector which witnessed an impressive growth during the period under review compared to a year ago.

The growth in footwear was mainly because of preferential market access in the EU market because of GSP+ scheme.

Export of surgical goods and medical instruments went up by 1pc. However, export of engineering goods dipped by 29.50pc.

Year-on-year export of gur was down by 14.85pc, cement 9.94pc, molasses 61.03pc, and jewellery 97.91pc. However, exports of furniture increased by 5.20pc and handicraft 447pc during the period under review.

In the food basket, export of rice declined by 5.53pc. The decline was witnessed in export of basmati. However, export of non-basmati rice grew by 3.79pc during the period under review.

Export of oil, wheat, tobacco, leguminous vegetables, and vegetables also witnessed decline during the period under review.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2015

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