Pakistan's textile exports have registered 28 percent growth, to $3.341 billion, during the first four months (July-October) of the current fiscal year against last year's $2.610 billion, despite decline in some items.
The export of cotton yarn remained on top which fetched $428 million against $290 million of last year, showing 47.6 percent increase.
According to foreign trade figures, cotton cloth exports showed a growth of 41.7 percent amounting to $793.8 million against $559 million of last year. The exported quantity stood at 1,044,750 square metres (sqm) as compared to 773,210 sqm.
Knitwear exports declined by 11.2 percent from $680 million to $603.8 million, while bedwear attracted $636.2 million against $369 million, showing an increase of 72 percent.
The exporters sold 116,428 tons bead wear as compared to 67,472 tons of correspondent period of last year. The readymade garments attracted $453 million against $256.2 million, indicating about 77 percent growth, while towels exports increased by 28.7 percent.
However, other items like canvas, silk and other made-ups showed negative growth. The other manufacturers earned $907.3 million against $886.1 million, showing an increase 2.39 percent.
The figures show that primary commodities earned $434.6 million against $333 million, showing an increase 30.46 percent. Of this, Basmati rice was the major commodity, which attracted $204.7 million against $137.3 million, indicating 49 percent rise. However, other varieties of rice earned $103.5 million as compared to $77 million.
Raw cotton, fish, fruits, vegetables, tobacco, wheat, spices and oilseeds attracted $21 million, $57 million, $27.7 million, $4.6 million, $1.7 million, $9.4 million and $4.8 million, respectively.
The exports of sports goods declined by 1.74 percent, while leather manufactures increased by 37.4 percent. However, tanned leather exports declined by 27 percent.
The imports of machinery increased by 56.2 percent, of which power generating machinery took away $113.7 million against $107 million of last year. Imports of road motor vehicles showed a growth of 90 percent to $479.2 million against $252 million of last year.
Investors spent $242.7 million on import of textile machinery as compared to $250.2 million showing a decline of 3 percent.
The imports of aircraft, ship and boats increased by 20.7 percent to $33 million from $27 million. The figures show that private sector spent $38 million against $12 million on agricultural machinery and other related machinery.
According to statistics, both public and private sectors spent $157.6 million on sugar import against $0.916 million, showing an increase of 17109 percent.
The import of milk for infants increased by 82.8 percent, and dry fruit by 66.6 percent while wheat unmilled, dry fruit, tea, spices, soyabean oil and palm oil decreased by 5 percent, 22 percent 77 percent and 0.11 percent, respectively.
In agriculture and other chemicals groups, fertiliser manufactured increased by 38 percent to $69 million from $50 million; plastic material by 18.9 percent to $302.4 million from $254.2 million; medical products by 16 percent, but imports of insecticides declined by 23.4 percent from $77 million to $59 million.