ISLAMABAD, Aug 23: Pakistan’s trade surplus with the US was increased by nearly 20 per cent to about $2 billion in 2002- 03 over $1.5 billion achieved the previous year.

Official sources told Dawn on Saturday that the increase was due to enhanced exports of textile and leather products during the year under review.

Pakistan has been enjoying significant trade surplus with the US since 1999. It was $1.476 billion in 1999-2000; $1.680 billion in 2000-01; $1.569 billion in 2001-02 and $1.881 billion in 2002-03.

Official statistics made available to Dawn on Saturday showed that Pakistan exported $2.616 billion worth of goods to the US during the year 2002-03 against $2.257 billion goods exported the previous year, showing an increase of 15.9 per cent.

US exports to Pakistan slightly increased by 6.85 per cent to $735.018 million during the year 2002-03 against $687.887 million of previous year.

Product wise major exports to the US showed that Islamabad exported $1.002 billion apparel and clothing accessories of textile to the US in 2002-03 against $0.811 billion the previous year, showing an increase of 23.5 per cent; exports of textile materials made-up including towels stood at $699.600 million against $616.866 million the previous year, registering an increase of 13.41 per cent; hosiery export was $43.366 million against $21.237 million the previous year, an increase of 104 per cent.

Exports of cotton fabrics (woven) to the US during the period under review stood at $290.859 million against $249.884 million in the previous year, showing an increase of 16 per cent; synthetic fabrics exports stood at $69.958 million against $63.692 million in the previous year, an increase of 9.8 per cent; special textile fabrics and related products at $20.315 million against $18.112 million in previous year, an increase of 12 per cent.

Pakistan exported $89.740 million worth carpets and rugs to US during the year 2002-03 against $95.639 million in the previous year, a decrease of 6 per cent; travelling rugs and blankets exports were $24.728 million against $19.337 million the previous year, an increase of 27.8 per cent; cutlery exports stood at $14.977 million against $13.492 million the previous year, an increase of 11 per cent; medical and surgical instruments export was moved up by 2.24 per cent to $51.177 million against $50.053 million the previous year, but sports goods and toys export was declined by 10.2 per cent to $50.277 million as against $56 million the previous year.

Islamabad exported leather goods worth $32.233 million during the year under review to the US against $3.925 million the previous year, showing an increase of 721 per cent, and rice export was increased by 33 per cent to $12.527 million as against $9.406 million the previous year, showing an increase of 33 per cent.

The US major exports to Pakistan in 2002-03 included $206.381 million machinery and its parts against $187.245 million in previous year, an increase of 10 per cent; $42.886 million worth aircraft parts against $32.784 million the previous year, showing an increase of 30.8 per cent; $23.212 million worth iron, steel and its products against $19.324 million the previous year, an increase of 20 per cent.

The US exported $55.752 million worth fertilizers manufacture to Pakistan during the year under review against $60.008 million the previous year, showing a decline of 7 per cent; $27.094 million worth chemical materials and products against $24.994 million the previous year, an increase of 8.4 per cent; $95.332 million worth raw cotton against $79.990 million the previous year, showing an increase of 19 per cent; $44.09 million worth chemical elements and compounds against $32.357 million the previous year, showing an increase of 36 per cent and $35.8m worth fixed vegetable fats and oils against $2.675m the previous year, an increase of 1236 pc.