ISLAMABAD: Exports of textile and clothing products recorded an eight per cent growth year-on-year to $11.2 billion in the 10 months of 2017-18, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported on Monday.

The partial revival in the export proceeds is the outcome of the cash subsidy offered under prime minister’s exports enhancement package. The growth is recorded despite non-clearance of refunds/rebate of exporters. A hefty amount of refund/rebate has already been released in 9MFY18.

Data show the main driver of growth was the value-added textile sector as exports of ready-made garments went up 11.96pc in value and 13.44pc in quantity while those of knitwear edged up 14.65pc in value and 3.7pc in quantity during these 10 months. Exports of bedwear went up 4.77pc in value and 3.17pc in quantity.

The exports of towels posted a paltry growth of 0.52pc in value and 6.7pc in quantity while those of cotton cloth went higher by 1.12pc in value and 4.2pc in quantity during the period under review.

In the category of primary commodities, exports of cotton yarn witnessed an increase of 7.2pc while those of yarn other than cotton recorded a rise of 33.7pc.

Exports of made-up articles, excluding towels, increased 7.3pc whereas art, silk and synthetic textile exports grew 83.09pc during the period under review.

However, exports of tents, canvas and tarpaulin dipped over 39.7pc while proceeds from raw cotton surged by 31.97pc.

The total export proceeds posted a growth of 13.65pc to $19.2bn in July-April 2018 from $16.89bn over the corresponding period of last year. The non-textile exports went up by 21.2pc to $8bn in July-April 2018 from $6.6bn in the same period of last year.

Data show a mammoth increase of 128.96pc in exports of petroleum products, which along with petroleum crude and naphtha, led the increase in overall sector sales.

Exports of carpets and rugs fell by 5.12pc during July-April FY18 from a year ago. Foreign sales of sports goods went up by 7.3pc during the period under review, with football exports higher by 8.8pc. Tanned leather exports, however, shrank by 4.2pc in July-April from a year ago.

Leather products’ exports increased by 6.78pc during this period and were mainly led by sales of leather gloves. Footwear exports rose by 11.15pc during the period under review despite facing strong competition especially from Chinese exporters in Europe in spite of preferential market access.

Exports of surgical goods and medical instruments grew by 14.42pc and engineering goods by 11.78pc during these 10 months. Foreign sales of gur (jaggery) soared by 26.76pc, handicrafts 40.28pc, jewellery 10.95pc and molasses 215.98pc while the exports of cement fell by 9.37pc, and furniture 12.28pc during the period under review.

In the food basket, exports of rice witnessed an increase of 24.77pc owing to higher foreign sales of both basmati and non-basmati rice.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2018