ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s exports of non-textile products posted a negative growth of 0.65 per cent year-on-year to $4.58 billion in the first five months of the current fiscal year, data compiled by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) showed on Saturday.
The stagnation in export proceeds of the non-textile sector was noted since the start of the current fiscal year as demand slowed down in the buyers’ market. No growth was recorded in exports since September 2022 on a year-on-year basis.
In FY22, the non-textile exports posted a growth of 25.85pc.
In the value-added leather sector, exports of leather garments fell by 6.85pc. The export of leather gloves rose 4.64pc in July-November of 2022-23. Contrary to this, the exports of raw leather increased by over 100pc in the first five months this year from a year ago.
The export of cement dipped by 12.13pc during the five months this year from a year ago.
Pakistan is one of the main suppliers of global surgical instruments. However, these instruments are re-marketed in western countries by famous brands. As a result, the export value of these products remains very negligible.
The export of surgical instruments rose 7.61pc in 5MFY23 over the same period last year. The exports of pharmaceutical products also grew by 26.86pc.
The export of carpets went up by 7pc, while that of sports goods also recorded positive growth during 5MFY23 from a year ago. In the sports sector, the sales of footballs were up 60pc in July-November from a year ago. Pakistan is the official football supplier to the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Doha, Qatar.
PBS data showed the food basket posted negative growth of 1.05pc in July-November from a year ago.
Under this category, exports of rice witnessed a negative growth of 9.33pc year-on-year in July-November mainly because of a drop in the demand for basmati rice.
Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2022
