ISLAMABAD: Exports of textile and clothing witnessed a negative growth of 16.23 per cent to $1.033 billion in March 2015 from $1.233bn in the same month last year, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data showed on Monday.

The fall was witnessed for the second consecutive month, after posting a positive growth of 10.23pc in January 2015.

During the first nine months (July-March) of 2014-15, the exports of textile and clothing also witnessed a negative growth of 1.57pc.

Product-wise details show that export of low value-added products, such as cotton yarn, dipped by 29.36pc; yarn other than cotton yarn 31.04pc and made-up textile excluding towels by 13.62pc. The export of art, silk dropped by 24.87pc; cotton carded 35.77pc and cotton cloth by 14.45pc.

Moreover, raw cotton export witnessed a steep decline of 85.72pc during the month from a year ago.

Exports of value-added products also witnessed a decline during the month. Knitwear exports decreased by 7.41pc and readymade garments by 5.20pc. The exports of bedwear dipped by 16.84pc and towels by 19.03pc. However, only tents exports witnessed a growth of 42.38pc during the month.

Total exports stood at $17.930bn in July-March 2014-15 as compared to $19.072bn in the same period last year, a decline of 5.99pc.

OIL AND FOOD PRODUCTS: Import bill of oil and eatables in July-March 2014-15 witnessed a decline of 9.15pc to $12.758bn from $14.044bn in the same period last year.

However, total import bill during the period increased by 2.92pc to $33.997bn from $33.032bn a year ago.

The import bill of food products witnessed a surge of 24.61pc to $3.868bn as compared to $3.104bn.

The import of wheat witnessed an increase of 72.77pc; pulses 32.23pc and all other products 61pc. Import bill of sugar also increased by 12.61pc.

Oil import bill reached $8.890bn during the period under review as against $10.940bn in July-March 2013-14, a decline of 18.74pc. Import of crude oil declined by 25.60pc and petroleum products by 14.29pc.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2015

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