ISLAMABAD, May 11: Exports of cotton yarn, knitwear, art, silk, synthetic textile have declined as against other textile related sectors, which showed growth in the first three months (Jan-March) of the post-quota regime this year. Official figures made available to Dawn showed that during the first three months of the post-quota regime, exports of cotton cloth; bedwear; towels; tents canvas and tarpaulin, readymade garments, art, silk, synthetic textile and made up articles registered growth.

Pakistan was expecting tough competition in the garment sector particularly from China and India in the international market after abolition of textile quota in January 2005.

Further analysis of the statistics showed that export of cotton yarn declined by 16.24 per cent to $277.13 million during the Jan-March period this year as against $330.883 million of the last year; knitwear declined by 4.15 per cent to $318.383 million during the same period this year against $332.172 million of the corresponding year.

Similarly, export of art, silk and synthetic textile has registered a negative growth of 16.9 per cent during the first three months of the post-quota regime as it stood at $75.139 million this year as against $90.44 million during the same period of last year.

The analysis showed that the export of readymade garments registered growth of 36.51 per cent and stood at $333.513 million during the Jan-March period this year as against $244.309 million worth export during the same period of the last year.

The export of bedwear was $380.821 million during the period under review as against $353.499 million over the same period of the last year, showing an increase of 7.72 per cent; towels exports stood at $136.192 million during the period under review as against $102.485 million during the same period of last year, indicating an increase of 32.88 per cent.

According to the statistics, the export of cotton cloth increased by 10.48 per cent to $500.251 million during the Jan-March period this year as against $452.771 million during the same period of last year; 47.39 per cent growth was registered in the export of tents, canvas and tarpaulin and stood at $25.498 million this year as against $17.299 million during the same period last year.

Moreover, the export of made up article registered a growth of 19.9 per cent during the Jan-March period this year as it stood at $113.211 million as against $94.419 million during the same period of the last year.