KARACHI, July 27: With the exception of Oceania region that include Australia and New Zealand and many small island countries, Pakistan‘s exports in all the major regions of the world have registered a marked increase, showing a healthy market diversification. Officials claim of major changes in Pakistan’s export structure as well as many as over 1,000 small and big items are now being sold in the foreign markets. This process is creating an altogether new class of small exporters from new places in the country.

While a year long market wise analysis of export is still awaited thanks to the messing up of the figures by the private sector data collection agency Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL), the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) has given a nine-month market analysis.

Pakistan’s export showed a healthy growth of 15.5 per cent in the North American region in the first three months of the current fiscal year. According to the officials, Pakistan’s exports to North America during July to March 2005 were increased to $2.62 billion from $2.26 billion in same period last fiscal year. The US absorbed 16 per cent more goods amounting to $2.42 billion, Canada 6.3 per cent more to $141.5 million and Mexico almost 20 per cent more to $45.67 million.

President Pervez Musharraf visited Mexico late last year and offered vast opportunities which apparently wait for a serious follow-up marketing efforts. Canada is home to a big number of Pakistani expatriates and South Asians and has potential to absorb at last five times more exports from Pakistan.

South America, for long has appeared to be situated on some planet outside the solar system. Last year’s visit of Pakistan has brought it somewhere in the sight of Pakistan’s exporters who marketed $96.63 million worth of goods, which were about 48 per cent more than exported a year ago.

Expiry of textile export quotas did create some problem for marketing goods in the European countries. Notwithstanding these problems Pakistan was able to maintain a growth of 10.72 per cent in the year 04-05. Total exports in first nine months stood at $2.89 billion as against $2.61 billion dollars.

An impressive 37.55 per cent growth has been noted in Pakistan’s exports to the East European countries. Market analysts attribute this growth of Pakistan’s exports to rise in supply of cotton fabric. After Pakistan’s bed sheets came under severe stress in the EU market, the East European countries and Turkey imported cotton cloth from Pakistan during 04-05 to convert it into bed sheets and market these in the EU.

Middle Eastern countries absorbed $1.58 billion this year as against $1.41 billion last year showing a rise of about 12 per cent, while African region posted an impressive rise of more than 46 per cent to $540.54 million. Market analysts expect a far more impressive growth in export of synthetic cloth to Africa this year.

Asian region also showed an encouraging increase of about 13 per cent in imports from Pakistan. Pakistan exported over $2 billion of goods in the nine months of 04-05 as against $1.85 billion. Afghanistan, the new emerging market for Pakistan absorbed about $375 million worth of goods which, was more than 20 per cent more than last year while India received goods worth $175.46 million against $50.63 million a year ago showing a phenomenal growth of more than 46 per cent.

The year 2004-05 has been a year of fluctuating fortunes for Pakistan. Export growth during July and August 04 was more than impressive as it outgrew the planners’ projection and far exceeded the proportionate export target. Exports came somewhat under pressure in September 04 when it remained behind marginally from the export target. Exports remained under severe pressures during November and December but showed some recoveries in January 05 when textile export quotas were dismantled. Since then, exports showed a remarkable growth and not only offset the losses of the earlier month but far exceeded the original export target of $13.7 billion and ended up at $14.41 billion which is 17 per cent more than the target.

Officials are still engaged in counting dollars and euros as they continue to pour in from the exports and they are convinced that final export figures would be more than $14.7 billion almost $1 billion more than the target.