ISLAMABAD, Sept 22: The export of non-textile products soared by 57.2 per cent to $1.73 billion during the first two months (July-August) of the current fiscal year against $1.1 billion in corresponding period 2007-08, mainly due to a substantial increase in export of edible products.

Led by high growth in export of food commodities, the trend showed that the fiscal year started with an impressive growth in export of traditional products, like rice, sports goods, leather products, footwear, surgical and engineering goods despite the fact that the input cost of such products witnessed a substantial increase during the period under review.

Data released here on Monday by Federal Bureau of Statistics revealed that however, textile and clothing exports dipped by 4.21pc to $1.759 billion as against $1.836 billion in the same months last year.

Export of food group inched up by 73.52pc. Of these export of rice went up by 147.34pc during July-August 2008-09. In the rice group the export of basmati rice up by 84.82 pre cent, others 326.49 percent.

This showed that Pakistan became one of the leading exporters of rice following export restrictions on rice from India, Vietnam, Thailand etc., due to shortages in the yield of the commodity last year.

The export of fish products export up by 31.53pc, fruit 1.46pc, sugar 100 per cent and meat 34.40pc.

Export of petroleum products increased by 39.65pc, sports goods 11.24pc, leather products 4.92pc, footwear 20.27pc, surgical instruments 16.60pc, engineering goods 44.20pc, cement 73.80pc, molasses 264.75pc, jewellery 183.20pc, gur 10.92pc during July-Aug 2008 over the same months last year.

On the other hand, product-wise details showed that export of readymade garments declined by 3.64pc, cotton yarn 21.24pc, cotton cloth 0.53pc, cotton carded 54.79pc, knitwear 8.52pc, bed-wear 12.51pc, made-up articles 0.94pc, other textile material 28.84pc during the period under review over the same months last year.

However, export of raw cotton was up by 236.34pc, towels 38.12pc, and tents 0.75 per cent.

Analysts said this showed a natural diversification of the export base, as share of textile and clothing in total exports declined to 50.4pc in the months under review from 62.5pc last year despite support of billions of rupees to the sector.

While the share of non-textile products soared to 49.58pc in July-Aug 2008 from 37.4pc last year, without any financial package from the government.

Analysts say that subsidies are not the real issue, but there is a need to address the structural weaknesses in the textile sector.

This also means that the production capacity of the sector has reached a saturation point.

With the exception of raw cotton and towels, all other major components of textile manufactures registered a negative growth despite a major depreciation of the rupee and an appreciable gain made by the currencies of the competitor countries, like India and China.