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ISLAMABAD, Feb 11: Exports of textile manufactures surged by 14.21 per cent during the first seven months of 2003-04, as compared to the same period of previous year.
According to the provisional statement of external trade statistics released by the Federal Bureau of Statistics here on Wednesday, exports of textile manufactures amounted to $4,519.21 million, up 14.21 per cent from July-January 2002-03. This raised their share in total exports ($6,972.43 million) from the previous year's 64.49pc to 64.80pc for the period under review.
But even so, textile manufactures failed to remain abreast of the increase in finished goods exports which stood at $6,402.8 million, up 15.16pc from the corresponding period of previous year.
The textile manufactures, in spite of their impressive growth rate, suffered some decline in their share in finished goods exports to 70.58pc, as against 71.17pc for the period July-January 2002-03.
With the sole exception of tents, canvas and tarpaulin, all the sub-categories in textile manufactures posted substantial improvement in their unit price during the period under review.
What is more, almost all these sub-categories registered positive growth. The only exception were cotton yarn and readymade garments which quantitatively declined by 2.71pc and 25.47pc, respectively.
But, nevertheless, the export of yarn ($627.40 million) in value was up by 15.80pc, while the exports receipts of readymade garments ($583.36 million) showed a decline of only 7.86pc, denoting increase in unit price.
The export of cotton cloth (over 12,98,000 tons) surged by 12.20pc against receipts in dollars amounting to $922.31 million. These were up by about a quarter over the previous year.
The second highest source of foreign exchange among textile manufactures was knitwear with exports amounting to $800.11 million. This means an increase of 26.65pc against quantitative increase of 24.32pc (35,452,000 dozens).
Not too far behind was bedwear with exports worth $760.88 million, posting a growth rate of 3.97pc in quantity (134,416 tons) and of 8.17pc in value. Towels (56,416 tons) and art silk & synthetic textiles (445,654,000 square metres) registered growth rate of 11.58pc and 2.98pc against 19.83pc and 10.59pc increase in value ($216.94 million and $325.60 million), respectively.
Madeup articles (including other textiles), of which the quantity is not indicated, fetched $244.93 million, which is 22.55pc more than the comparable period of previous year.
OTHER MANUFACTURES: The exports in this category, involving substantial value-addition though, only inched up by 2.35pc to $1,216.51 million. But as a fraction of overall exports, their performance was down by 1.90pc to 17.44pc, as compared to corresponding period of previous year.
A closer look at the performance of sub-categories shows a rather mixed picture, particularly, in respect of traditional items. Among these, carpets, rugs and mats ($131.78 million), leather manufactures ($257.94 million) and surgical goods & medical instruments ($72.03pc) registered positive growth rates of 7.23pc, 4.56pc and 6.76pc, respectively.
But other traditional items did not fare as well. Thus the exports of sports goods (with exports worth $166.76 million) dropped by 6.73pc, footwear ($47.41 million) by 89.75pc and cutlery ($72.03 million) by 18.10pc.
A significant aspect of the export figures is the upsurge of two non-traditional sub-categories: chemicals & pharmaceutical products and engineering goods.
In aggregate, their exports amounted to $204.32 million, denoting an increase of over 14pc over the corresponding period of 2002-03. This improved their contributions to other manufactures receipts to 16.80pc, as against 15.08pc of the previous year.
Among other non-traditional items, gems ($12.92 million) and furniture ($5.16m) improved their performances by 9.21pc and 4.20pc, respectively, while the exports of manufactured onyx ($$6.32m) and jewellery ($13.74 million) dropped by 9.17pc and 2.92pc, respectively.
OTHERS: This category of miscellaneous items fetched $667.08 million, registering a growth rate of 61.03pc. Consequently, their share in total exports went up from 6.74pc of previous year to 9.56pc in the period under review.
PRIMARY COMMODITIES: The exports in this category amounted to $571.62 million, down 2.17pc from the corresponding period of previous year. Of this, nearly 62pc was the contribution of rice alone (354.33 million). This shows a steep rise in the share of rice from 50.09pc of the previous year.
As compared to the previous year, the quantity of rice exported in 2003-04 so far (1,025,881 tons) is up by 5.70pc against 21.08pc increase in value.
The major factors in decline in primary commodities total were the drop in exports of raw cotton and wheat. The country exported 22,868 tons of raw cotton during the period under review, that is 41.63pc less than last year against 12.20pc drop in value ($28.02 million) and wheat.
During the seven-month period under review, the quantity of wheat exported was 42,486 tons, close to half that exported during the same period of 2002-03 with little difference in value ($5.95 million). This shows an export price of a little over $140 per ton.
Fisheries exports ($96.75 million) were up by 12.24pc against an increase of 23.70pc in quantity (60,109 tons). The exports of fruits and vegetables fetched $52.97 million and $11.78 million, denoting increases of 7.40pc and 14.39pc, respectively.
