Pakistan has exported onyx manufactured items worth $6.878 million during July-December, 2006, showing an increase of 4.47 percent as compared to the corresponding period last year.
According to data compiled by Federal Bureau of Statistics, the exports of onyx products from the country during first half of the current fiscal year amounted to $6.878 million as against $6.584 million in July-December 2005, showing an increase of 4.47 percent or $0.294 million.
Market sources said the increase in onyx prices in the world had helped the country''s exports because the quantity of products was showing decline.
The data shows that during July-December, 2006 the country exported 3,934 metric tonnes as compared to 4,251 metric tonnes during the same period of last year.
The export of onyx products in December 2006 stood at $1.314 million as against $1.05 million in November 2006 and $1.068 million in December 2005.
The sources said that onyx products were part of marble and granite industry and its export was increasing significantly.
According to statistics provided by Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC) exports of the sector, including marble, granite and onyx products was amounted to $21 million in the fiscal year 2005-2006, which was 28 percent increase comparing with 2004-2005.
The sources said the estimated exports of marble and granite products stood at $18 million during the first half of the current fiscal year.
Marble industry criticised the FBS data and said the onyx exports did not reflect entire marble and granite exports. They said that there were 12 different customs codes in which the products were being exported and the data shows only one code.
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