Pakistan’s textile exports inch up by 0.86 percent in 1st quarter FY19

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s exports in textile and clothing group recorded an increase of 0.86 percent during the first quarter of the current fiscal year (July-September) 2018-19 as compared to the same period of last year.

The textile group’s exports from the country increased to 3.285 billion during July-September (2018-19) against export’s worth of $3.257 billion during July-September (2017-18), according to data issued by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Friday.

The products that contributed in positive growth in external trade included knitwear, the exports of which grew by 9.8 percent by going up from $646.8 million last year to $710.2 million during the corresponding period of the current fiscal year.

Similarly, knitwear increased from yarn other than cotton yarn also increased from $7.588 million to $7.9 million, showing growth of 4.35 percent while the exports of cotton cloth witnessed a nominal increase of 0.09 percent as it rose from $528.6 million to $529.1 million.

During the period under review, bedwear exports from the country increased by 2.89 percent, from $567.224 million to $583.62 million while the tents canvas and tarpaulin’s exports also increased by 3.54 percent from $16.13 million to $16.7 million.

The export of made up articles (excluding towels and bedwears) also increased by 0.34 percent by growing from $162 million to $162.55 million.

Meanwhile, the textile products that witnessed negative growth in trade included raw cotton the exports of which declined by 76.21 percent, from $29.6 million to $7.04 million while the exports of cotton yarn decreased by 2.25 percent from $320.9 million to $313.7 million, the PBS data revealed.

The towels’ export also went down to $184.23 million in the first quarter of the current fiscal year from $185.23 million, showing a decline of 0.55 percent, whereas export of ready-made garments decreased by 1.55 percent to $599.26 million in July-September (2018-19) from $608.69 million in the same period of last year.

On yearly and monthly basis textile exports in September, however, recorded a decrease of 4.91 percent and 18.53 percent when compared to the exports during September 2017 and August 2018 respectively.

The exports fell to $1.024 billion in September 2018 from $1.07 billion in September 2017 and $1.258 billion in August 2018.