ISLAMABAD, Jan 20: The export of non-textile products soared by 29.3 per cent in the first half year of current fiscal to $4.436 billion as against $3.43 billion over the last year mainly on the back of massive export of rice.

Though the export of these traditional products are on the higher side but sharply decelerates owing to decline in export of carpets and leather products during the period under review, suggested data of federal bureau of statistics issued on Tuesday.

The upward trend in the export of non-textile products has been witnessed since July 2008 indicating a natural diversification of the export base owing to highest-ever depreciation of Pak rupee, which was highly concentrated in few textile-based products.

But the carpets and leather products have witnessed declining trend in export proceeds since Dec 2008 owing to higher cost of doing business and high competition from China and Indian exporters.

The data released here revealed that the textile and clothing exports dipped by 1.74 per cent to $5.137 billion in the first half year as against $5.228 billion over last year despite depreciation of rupee, which should have made Pakistan’s products more competitive. It is also clear from the fact that the import of textile machinery also dropped by over 37 per cent during the period under review over last year showing that textile leaders were not making any investment to improve the competitiveness of their products.

Details of the traditional products showed that export of food group inched up by 68.82 per cent. Of these export of rice went up by 109.51pc during July-Dec 2008-09 to $1.123 billion as against $0.536 billion over last year.

In the rice group the export of basmati was up by 78.13 per cent, and others 161.97 per cent. This will be the highest export proceeds of rice from Pakistan in a half year owing to shortage of the commodity in the major rice producing countries.

This year the rice production witnessed growth, which yielded good foreign exchange for

the country. The export of fish products was up by 25.26 per cent, wheat 100 per cent, sugar 100 per cent, meat 49.64 per cent, spices 14.93 per cent, and other food items 5.17 per cent during the period under review over the last year.

Export of sports goods was up by 11.16 per cent, footwear 12.66 per cent, surgical instruments 4.59 per cent, engineering goods 89.41 per cent, cement 91.69 per cent, molasses 363.39 per cent during the period under review.

Among the textile group, the export of raw cotton was up by 229.69 per cent, cotton cloth 12.98 per cent, cotton carded 17.69 per cent, knitwear 1.74 per cent, towels 18.17 per cent and made up articles 2.71 per cent during the first half year of the current fiscal over last year.

However, the export of cotton yarn declined by 14.75 per cent followed by yarn 45.22 per cent, bedwear 9.32 per cent, tents 27.54 per cent, readymade garments 12 per cent, art, silk synthetic textile 5.34 per cent and other textile products 15 per cent during the period under review.

Though the dip in overall textile products was more than 4 per cent in Dec- 2008, over last year, the export of readymade garments was up by 6.38 per cent, art, silk, synthetic textile 37 per cent, made-ups 1.5 per cent and other textiles materials 6.27 per cent during the month under review over last year.