ISLAMABAD, Oct 16: Pakistan's imports from Germany increased by 8.77 per cent to $611.838 million during the year 2003-04 as against $562.501 million a year earlier.

Official statistics compiled by the ministry of commerce showed that the raise in imports from the Germany was due to considerable increase in imports volume of machinery, railway vehicles and their parts, chemical materials and elements.

With this increase in imports, Pakistan's trade with Germany turned into deficit of $5.144 million in 2003-04.

Pakistan has been enjoying trade surplus with Germany since 1999-$89.476 million during the year 1999-2000, $112.554 million in the year 2000-01, $12.418 million in 2001-02, $17.300 million in the year 2002-03.

Further analysis of the statistics showed that Germany exports of chemical elements and compounds to Pakistan increased by 48.7 per cent in 2003-04 as against the previous year; dyeing, tanning and colouring materials by 22.7 per cent; medicinal and pharmaceutical products by 71.6 per cent; perfumes, cosmetics and toilet products by 42.2 per cent; chemical materials and products by 19.8 per cent; ores and concentration of non-ferrous metals by 163.8 per cent; vegetable and synthetic textile fibres by 126 per cent; raw cotton by 131 per cent.

And Germany exports of construction material including cement increased by 114.5 per cent in 2003-04 over the previous year; iron, steel and manufactures thereof by 3.31 per cent; manufactures of non-ferrous metals by 54.4 per cent; machinery (all kinds) and its parts by 6.63 per cent; road vehicles and their parts by 39.6 per cent; railway vehicles and their parts by 690 per cent and measuring, checking, controlling instruments by 24.5 per cent.

However, Germany exports of paper and paper board to Pakistan declined by 22 per cent during the year under review; old clothing and rugs by 8.8 per cent.

The statistics further revealed that Pakistan exports to Germany registered a marginal growth of 4.63 per cent during the year 2003-04 as it stood at $606.694 million in the year 2003-04 against $562.501 million in the previous year.

Product wise analysis showed that Pakistan exports of fish and fish preparation to Germany registered a growth of 36.7 per cent in 2003-04 over the previous year; rice (all kinds) by 6.97 per cent; fruits and vegetables by 52.7 per cent; tobacco manufactured by 171 per cent; cotton fabrics (woven) by 58.7 per cent; carpets and rugs by 32 per cent; clothing of textile fabrics by 4.22 per cent and sports goods, toys by 9.52 per cent.

However, Pakistan's exports of medicinal and surgical instruments to Germany declined by 3 per cent during the year 2003-04 over the previous year; made up articles of textile materials by 8.39 per cent; bags and sacks of cotton and jute, etc., by 16.8 per cent; special textile fabrics by 21 per cent; hides, skins and fur by 13.3 per cent; chemical material and products by 45 per cent leather by 75 per cent; cotton yarn by 77.6 per cent and synthetic fabrics including silk and woollen, etc., by 11.65 per cent.