Though deprived of synthetic textile market Pakistan's dominance in cotton-based home textiles would get further boost in the post-quota era as the high world oil rates continue to put pressure on all manmade fibres while cotton prices decline in the world market.
According to the data released by the UN statistical division Pakistan, China and Turkey dominated the EU home textile market during the 1993-2002 decade to the detriment of exporters from India, the United States, Taiwan and South Korea.
The report states that China has overwhelming command in the synthetic textile market while Pakistan has an edge in cotton textiles.
Home textile exports from Pakistan increased by over 100 percent to the US this year while the exports are on constant rise to the EU. Pakistan's home textiles are restricted mainly to those manufactured from cotton yarn.
Pakistan's total share in home-made textiles produced from all materials was 9.05 percent only against 29.43 percent share enjoyed by China, 11.13 percent by Turkey and 10.73 percent by India.
However the country emerged as the second highest exporter of cotton made home textiles to EU after Turkey in 2002. Its market share in cotton-made home textiles in EU was 15.02 percent against 21.90 percent share enjoyed by Turkey.
The data for subsequent years are not available but the home textile exports from Pakistan are on the rise. China's share in cotton-made home textiles to EU was 12.50 percent while India grabbed 12.30 percent of the market.
Pakistan faired poorly in the EU market in home textiles made from synthetic fabric. Its share in EU market was only 3.01 percent.
China commanded 25.09 percent and Turkey 10.78 percent share. India too had a low share of only 3.01 percent in this category of home textiles.
In home textiles manufactured from blended textiles China had the loin's share controlling 40 percent of exports in Europe. Pakistan and Turkey commanded 7 and 7.66 percent of the EU market while India's share in this category was higher at 9.27 percent.
European Union and United States import home textiles worth over $16 billion annually that is about 45 percent of global annual home textile trade of $35 billion. Pure cotton-based products constitute only 25 percent of the home textile market.
Pure synthetic or blended products cater rest of the market. Pakistan thus would be entering the quota-free textile trade in 2005 with an edge in only 25 percent of the total home textile trade.
Pakistan thus is losing a major chunk of the world textile market that is dominated by higher blending of manmade fibres.
The sovereign guarantee given to a multinational for its PTA plant has impeded penetration of the country's textiles in world's synthetic textile market.
The use of synthetic fibres is much higher than other textile products, however the synthetic fibre use in these products is also higher than cotton.
Pakistan lags behind the rest of the textile manufacturers in the use of manmade fibres as it manufactures 74 percent of its textile products from cotton against world average of 48 percent cotton and 52 percent polyester fibre and other manmade fibers.
Chairman All Pakistan Textile Mills Association Arif Saeed has said Pakistan has a definite edge over its competitors in basic textiles. He said the textile industry has the capability to produce and finish top quality yarn and fabrics with equal efficiency both from cotton and synthetic fibres.
He said the industry is unable to compete in synthetic textiles as the basic raw material costs more than the world rates.
He said due to duty protection the rates of raw material provided by the synthetic raw material manufacturers are higher than world market rates of similar products.
He said the spinning industry could add five million spindles within two years if the synthetic textile raw materials are available at the international rates. He said the duty protection would go in 2007.
However by then it would be too late to catch up with the rest of the world in synthetic and blended textiles.
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