ISLAMABAD: The exports of value-added textile products posted a growth of 12.8 per cent year-on-year to $4.4 billion in the first seven months of 2017-18, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday.

The export proceeds from the value-added sector rebounded after the textile division took some corrective measures for the speedy clearance of due refunds and early payments of cash export subsidies.

It also helped fuel the rise in overall imports.

Product-wise details show that exports of ready-made garments in the first seven months edged up nearly 14pc in value and 13pc in quantity while knitwear exports increased by 13.3pc in value, and 3.3pc in quantity during the period under review. Bed-wear exports also rebounded, going up by 5.6pc in value and 4pc in quantity. The export proceeds of towels also recorded a modest growth of 1.01pc in value and 5pc in quantity during the duration considered.

Further analysis shows that in the category of primary commodities, exports of cotton yarn witnessed a year-on-year decline of 1.4pc in value but increased 7.2pc in terms of quantity.

The exports of cotton cloth also dipped 1.6pc in value and 4.5pc in terms of quantity between July-January 2018 while carded cotton posted a steep decline of 95.7pc in value and 97pc in quantity from July-January.

On the other hand, exports of non-cotton yarn posted a growth of 29.9pc in value and 25.8pc in quantity while exports of made-up articles, excluding towels, increased 6.7pc.

Art, silk and synthetic textiles grew by 93.5pc during this period. However, exports of tents, canvas and tarpaulin dipped over 33.4pc. Proceeds from raw cotton also recorded a year-on-year increase of 48.7pc.

The total textile sector exports reached $7.72bn value-wise in July-January 2018 versus $7.2bn in the corresponding period of last year, reflecting an increase of 7.18pc. The share of textile and clothing sector in overall export proceeds stood at 59.6pc in the same period. Pakistan’s total exports in these seven months reached $12.95bn, up 11.05pc from $11.66bn in the same period last year.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2018